How to use the aguinaldo calculator
- Salary and pay period: your base pay per day, week, quincena or month, in pesos. The calculator turns it into a daily salary the usual way: weekly pay ÷ 7, quincena ÷ 15, monthly ÷ 30.
- Aguinaldo days: 15 is the legal minimum. Many companies give more (20 or 30 days), and federal government employees receive 40 days under the Ley Federal de los Trabajadores al Servicio del Estado.
- Start date and last day: if you started before January 1, you get the full amount. If you started during the year, or left before December 31, the aguinaldo is prorated by the days you worked.
The rule in the law
Article 87 of the Ley Federal del Trabajo (LFT) says workers are entitled to a yearly aguinaldo, paid before December 20, equal to at least 15 days of salary, and that anyone who has not completed a year of service is owed the proportional part for the time worked. It applies to every employee in a subordinate relationship: full-time and part-time staff, and household workers (trabajadoras del hogar) as well.
Aguinaldo = daily salary × aguinaldo days × days worked ÷ 365 (the last factor is 1 for a full year).
Worked examples
- Full year, monthly pay of $9,000: daily salary 9,000 ÷ 30 = $300; 300 × 15 = $4,500.
- Started on July 1, daily salary $400: July 1 to December 31 is 184 days, so 400 × 15 × 184 ÷ 365 = $3,024.66.
- Left on March 31 after years at the company, $9,000 a month: 90 days of the year, so 300 × 15 × 90 ÷ 365 = $1,109.59, which belongs in the final settlement (finiquito).
Income tax (ISR)
Under article 93, section XIV of the Ley del ISR, the aguinaldo is tax-free up to 30 times the daily UMA. With the 2026 UMA of 117.31 pesos (in force from February 1, 2026 to January 31, 2027, published by INEGI), the exempt amount is $3,519.30. Anything above that is added to the month’s taxable income and the employer withholds ISR on it, so the net amount depends on your salary and the monthly tax table. The calculator shows the exempt and taxable parts but not the withholding itself.
Good to know
- The deadline is fixed by law; paying in installments or in January is not compliant unless every part arrives before December 20.
- If the aguinaldo is not paid, Mexico’s federal labor defense office, PROFEDET, gives free advice. Labor claims generally expire one year after they become due (LFT art. 516).
Results are estimates for information only, not legal or tax advice. Your payslip, your contract or collective agreement, an accountant or PROFEDET can confirm your exact amount.
Frequently asked questions
When must the aguinaldo be paid in Mexico?
Before December 20 of each year, according to article 87 of the Ley Federal del Trabajo. Employers may pay earlier, but not later.
Do I get an aguinaldo if I quit or was fired?
Yes. You are owed the proportional part for the days worked that year, and it must be included in your finiquito: daily salary × 15 × days worked ÷ 365.
Is the aguinaldo taxed?
Only above 30 UMA. In 2026 the first $3,519.30 is exempt from ISR; the rest is taxed together with that month’s pay.
How many days of aguinaldo do government workers get?
Federal government employees covered by the Ley Federal de los Trabajadores al Servicio del Estado receive 40 days. Private-sector workers get at least 15, or more if their contract says so.
Last updated: October 14, 2026