The Chapala government started receiving payments for 2026 property taxes and SIMAPA water and sewage service fees on Friday, January 2, six days ahead of the announced end of its full staff vacation period.
The impuesto predial (property tax) may be paid in person at the cashier windows located on the ground floor at City Hall. Office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays. Payments are accepted in cash, by certified check, most credit and debit cards or bank transfer.
The Catastro land registry office has assigned a team of assistants in blue vests to help guide taxpayers through the process. They are currently seeing 200-250 customers each day, with wait times averaging 30-45 minutes per person. On a visit to City Hall early this week, the waiting areas were nearly vacant by 2 p.m.
Mobile cashier units will visit several local housing subdivisions and gated communities in the coming weeks. Ask at the homeowner’s association offices for specific dates and times.
Consult the pagos en linea section on the chapala.gob.mx website for instructions on downloading a receipt to pay bills at OXXO stores or BBVA bank branches.
A 15 percent early-bird discount is applied automatically for annual bills paid in full by any method during January and February. Discounts drop to five percent in March and April.
The 50 percent discount offered to seniors, pensioners, retirees and the disabled only applies for a maximum of 1.5 million pesos of the property’s tax value, ruling out an advantage for most foreign homeowners. Persons who qualify by living at the address must present a valid ID and proof of property ownership.
Water and sewage service bills are payable at any SIMAPA office or the window adjacent to the City Hall lobby, open weekdays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Chapala, Ajijic and San Antonio branches open on Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The utility offers the same discounts as for annual predial payments.
Taxpayers are advised to take copies of their 2025 predial and SIMAPA bills to facilitate payment procedures.