How to get an RFC in Mexico...as a Boater (but really for anyone!)

A lot of boaters choose to remain boating in Mexico because of it's excellent waters, amazing people and thriving cruising community. If you're staying for multiple years, you should get your residency, and then your RFC, which is a tax registration number. While an RFC isn't currently required, it appears as if the government is SLOWLY, moving that way. Currently you'll need one to open a real bank account, purchase a car from any reputable dealer, buy property, or get a job. It's free...but you need to jump through some hoops.

Links you'll need that are mentioned in this video:
Link to look up and print your CURP: https://www.gob.mx/curp/
Link to schedule your RFC appointment: https://citas.sat.gob.mx/
(Once on the appointment page, select 'Registrar Cita' and then 'Inscripción al padrón de contribuyentes Personas Físicas' - your browser should be able to translate this page into English for you)

Interesting tidbit I learned: Individuals’ RFC numbers are 13 letters long: four letters for the name, six numbers for the birthdate, and three extra alphanumeric digits called “homoclave” which make the RFC number unique— as the rest of the structure could be shared by more than one taxpayer— and are generated through an algorithm based on the 10 first digits.

The four letters are: the first letter in the paternal last name, the first vowel in the paternal last name or second vowel if the first letter is a vowel, first letter in the maternal last name and the first letter in the first name. In the case of foreigners with no maternal last name, the last two letters in the RFC are the first two letters in their fist name. The six numbers for the birthdate follow the YYMMDD structure.