BajaNomad - Anyone else getting charged duty this year?

Anyone else getting charged duty this year?

philodog - 12-31-2018 at 12:21 PM

Crossing at Mexicali East, after the xray machine I had a young female customs employee give my trailer a thorough going over and at the end she comes up with a duty of $435. I asked for what and she said my surfboards, you're only allowed one. I had three surfboards and two windsurf boards. She also pointed out that I had a big bag of dog food and a tool box. This is the first time in 30 years I have been asked to pay duty. I was a bit incredulous so she called her supervisor over and I got it down to $200 but I still had to pay. Normally I would think it was just a case of mordida but I paid by credit card and got an itemized computerized list and receipt. Another friend got dinged a few weeks later over some normal vacation items and then another friend crossing at Algadones got a $16 charge for two small solar panels.
I'm not complaining about paying duty, $200 for 30 years is pretty cheap, and I'm sure any Mexican entering the US carrying all the crap I carry in my trailer would be taxed also. Just wondering if this is a new Mexican attitude towards tourists based on new US-Mexico trade/wall/immigration policies.

ReTire - 12-31-2018 at 12:26 PM

Really? I don’t understand the entire “duty” charge at all. Is it for the possibility that you might sell something?

Hoping your fee was in Pesos!

sancho - 12-31-2018 at 01:36 PM

Quote: Originally posted by ReTire

Hoping your fee was in Pesos!

Was wondering that, since he quoted $16 for solar panels,
I assume it dlls. Have heard of dog food being dinged.
The allowable non taxed 'personal' stuff is $350 dlls or I've
heard of $500. Guessing it is a case of the wrong Mex customs
Officer, but the supervisor thing is a bit worrysome

BajaMama - 12-31-2018 at 02:03 PM

Did you get the red light?

Alm - 12-31-2018 at 02:05 PM

Quote: Originally posted by ReTire

I don’t understand the entire “duty” charge at all. Is it for the possibility that you might sell something?

Underlying reasons that customs law makers were considering are irrelevant at this point.

Sport equipment is tax-free, generally. 3 surfboards - she might be right, amount should fit the purpose, i.e. for your own use.

Toolbox - probably free, as an item necessary to service the vehicle on the road. Depends on how big/new/expensive. The exemption on things not included in sport items on ground crossing is $US 300 per person. Plus, things that are really your personal - clothes, one photo camera etc. $300 is a new amount, until recently they allowed ~$100. Airport customs allow $500, but not ground crossings.

They are giving people a break most of the time. New Year and Christmas are "special circumstances" for Mexican law enforcement, any fines and duties that "might" be charged - will, even when they are not quite right. nothing new.

[Edited on 12-31-2018 by Alm]

Phil S - 12-31-2018 at 04:23 PM

Maybe Mexico is collection Trumps "wall rebuild" via charging the Canadians and gringo's when they "go south for the winter. Then they will forward it to Donald once they have collected 3 bil $

yumawill - 1-1-2019 at 07:36 AM

If you live close to the Line, as I do. You will see mas quantities of packaging tossed in parking lots at retail centers. Once unpack-aged, "new" items are now" used" and perhaps "personal" items. Not taxed for import. Anything not "Hecho in Mexico" is taxable as an import item. Think " children's bicycles or new clothing. Sad really, that Mexicans can't purchase these items locally. When will Mexico catch up with China and the U.S.? Perhaps once they figure out how to put water into round things called pipes. And that it is clean and Potable. Or sent to the sewage treatment plant. Until then, good luck to all you "smugglers". I mean it. Abuela, don't look away. You know I'm talking about you. All those "Baby" clothes!

baja Steve - 1-1-2019 at 08:19 AM

Yep: I got $490.00 for bringing used school books in, this was November

weebray - 1-1-2019 at 08:20 AM

Mexico is not run by US rules or standards, thank the lord. If you amortize two hunnert over thirty years, considering all the stuff you've illegally imported you're laughing. Same with police ticket shakedowns. The border has always been a crap shoot. Tho the chances are minuscule you may shoot craps. No news here.

Hook - 1-1-2019 at 08:28 AM

Please tell us, the duty was in pesos, correct?

I think this IS significant, if they are beginning to charge for sports equipment that normally gets let in free. How many fishing poles will be considered "normal"?

PaulW - 1-1-2019 at 08:40 AM

Last time I crossed with stuff at San Luis they routed me to secondary and I walked to the customs guys office had to pay with credit card in US dollars. Guy would not take US or MX cash.
I wonder if other crossings require CC?

philodog - 1-1-2019 at 08:52 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Hook

Please tell us, the duty was in pesos, correct?

I think this IS significant, if they are beginning to charge for sports equipment that normally gets let in free. How many fishing poles will be considered "normal"?

No, dollars.

ReTire - 1-1-2019 at 09:06 AM

No, dollars.[/rquote]

Ouch!

Bubba - 1-1-2019 at 09:14 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Hook

If they start charging for fishing rods I'm screwed...

DawnPatrol - 1-1-2019 at 09:15 AM

In the paper this morning the new President of Mexico has announced the duty to be lowered to 8%

sancho - 1-1-2019 at 10:35 AM

Has been the case in the past. used clothing for donation has
been refused entry, some bizarre theory it will be sold. Was
a guy yrs. back bringing dentistry equip for donation, had
to pay duty. Mexicali West charged a guy $.50 a can to
bring over a couple 12 pals of beer. Just have to go with
it

ReTire - 1-1-2019 at 11:03 AM

So it’s hit or miss with it. Ah well....thanks for the heads up. Guess I won’t be surprised if it happens.

Going to cross with minimal provisions and stock up on the other side.

bajaguy - 1-1-2019 at 11:11 AM

I believe the VAT (Value Added Tax) on purchased items was reduced to 8% along the border zone. Have not heard anything about Customs duties being reduced

Quote: Originally posted by DawnPatrol

In the paper this morning the new President of Mexico has announced the duty to be lowered to 8%

DaliDali - 1-1-2019 at 11:46 AM

Concerning "sports equipment"
The below are the limits

For all other items see>>>>

https://www.mexadventure.com/mexico-travel/Items_Bring_Mexic...

Sports and recreational equipment:
Two sets of personal sports equipment that can be transported by one person, such as racquets
Four fishing rods
One surfboard.
One musical instrument and accessories that can be transported by one person
One tent and set of camping equipment
One pair of binoculars
One telescope

Alm - 1-1-2019 at 03:10 PM

One surfboard - female aduanera was right then. "Usually" their attitude is lax, a striking contrast to the US or Canadian border. Can't complain.

willardguy - 1-1-2019 at 03:21 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Alm

One surfboard - female aduanera was right then. "Usually" their attitude is lax, a striking contrast to the US or Canadian border. Can't complain.

you sure can! its won't do any good but one surfboard is ridiculous

mtgoat666 - 1-1-2019 at 04:22 PM

Quote: Originally posted by DaliDali

Concerning "sports equipment"
The below are the limits

For all other items see>>>>

https://www.mexadventure.com/mexico-travel/Items_Bring_Mexic...

Sports and recreational equipment:
Two sets of personal sports equipment that can be transported by one person, such as racquets
Four fishing rods
One surfboard.
One musical instrument and accessories that can be transported by one person
One tent and set of camping equipment
One pair of binoculars
One telescope

To explain a truck full of excessive amounts of sports equipment I have several times told the border inspector that we are a group of 20 campers, and i am carrying much of other peoples stuff because i am the guy with the truck, and no we are not convoying but rather all meeting at our destination... never had to pay duty yet.

azucena - 1-1-2019 at 04:39 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Bubba

Quote: Originally posted by Hook

If they start charging for fishing rods I'm screwed...

maybe they can use it to pay for the wall

Bubba - 1-2-2019 at 08:03 AM

Quote: Originally posted by azucena

Quote: Originally posted by Bubba

Quote: Originally posted by Hook

If they start charging for fishing rods I'm screwed...

maybe they can use it to pay for the wall

It's a start

55steve - 1-3-2019 at 03:22 PM

Earlier this year I was hauling a wine fridge & a generator down to San Quintin along with a lot of other stuff. I was sent to x-ray and upon further inspection sent to Aduana (sp?) to pay a $400 peso tax....no big deal.

gnukid - 1-3-2019 at 06:39 PM

I always say I am driving and my family is flying when they get uptight about 5x sports gear, then start telling all about the family until they get bored and leave.

AKgringo - 1-3-2019 at 06:59 PM

Quote: Originally posted by gnukid

I always say I am driving and my family is flying when they get uptight about 5x sports gear, then start telling all about the family until they get bored and leave.

Brilliant! I'll bet scrolling through a smart phone full of family photos would get you on your way even faster.

I know that always sends me into 'escape' mode!

Lee - 1-3-2019 at 07:13 PM

1 surfboard has been de rigueur for a long time. Enforcement, obviously, has been spotty. Anyway, it's all about how stuff is interpreted by the agent on duty.

gnukid - 1-3-2019 at 08:07 PM

Also explain why the boards are not the same, one is a tow-in board, one is stand-up pipe machine, the other is just for shore-break and give them different sport names like surf board, skurfer, smufferer and make her practice saying it and why. The sails and kites too. They setup these women as a joke to bug you, and the guys are watching on a surveillance monitor laughing, so out do them. You are allowed one of each separate sport THING. egg one frisbee, one snorkel, one DVD, one telescope etc. Make up words and hold the board in the air and talk it up and wave it around a bunch, knock her with it. I meet her all the time, once she made unload the entire van, I had 90 bottles of wine! I said sorry it's not wine it's actually a young grape juice I made that'll one day become wine so it's not wine. She is just playing with, you need to out do her silliness and start in on her with stories, she will walk away and come back a few times, then let you go. Or pay if you are in a hurry. Slowing down and chatting with her and laughing at her silliness while you know the camera is on you and they are laughing at you is good practice to relax on vacation. She'll get embarrassed frustrated and leave.

[Edited on 1-4-2019 by gnukid]

Bubba - 1-4-2019 at 06:43 AM

Quote: Originally posted by 55steve

Earlier this year I was hauling a wine fridge & a generator down to San Quintin along with a lot of other stuff. I was sent to x-ray and upon further inspection sent to Aduana (sp?) to pay a $400 peso tax....no big deal.

That's reasonable, the OP not so much.

mtgoat666 - 1-4-2019 at 07:41 AM

Quote: Originally posted by gnukid

They setup these women as a joke to bug you, and the guys are watching on a surveillance monitor laughing, so out do them.

I had 90 bottles of wine! I said sorry it's not wine it's actually a young grape juice I made that'll one day become wine so it's not wine. She is just playing with, you need to out do her silliness and start in on her with stories, she will walk away and come back a few times, then let you go.

“The women are a there as a joke. Men are watching the CCTV laughing.”

Me thinks you are a sexist and delusional trust fund baby.

Alm - 1-4-2019 at 01:15 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Bubba

That's reasonable, the OP not so much.

Either scenario is not reasonable, IMO. The duty is what - 20%? Duty MXN400 = USD20 means she estimated wine fridge and generator worth USD 400 altogether, less USD 300 exemption.

USD 400 for 4 boards (5 total, one exempt) means USD2,300 estimated value - a bit on the higher side but not totally impossible. She did slash the price to more realistic USD 200 after negotiations. The OP probably had other items above the exemption limit as well.

Explanations about carrying items for other group members or family - might work, yes, though technically you are the sole importer of all this stuff right there and then. This is Mexico, officers are often incompetent and lazy. Once they let you through without asking anything, next time they estimate old boards like new, and then will buy your story about "joining the group" or "presents for grandchildren". They don't do their job, what else is new...

chatolj - 1-4-2019 at 01:37 PM

So if duty is paid on extra items (surfboards or fishing rods) and an itemized receipt is given, would one be able to get a refund if said items were somehow shown to have been brought back to entry point.
I have an itemized list attached to my boat TIP that shows 20 fishing rods and reels and lots of extra tools and electronic equipment. When Aduana sees the list they have always chilled out. Seems there should be a way to bring personal items that are not being sold down south to get back and forth even if they pass the standard published limits.
????????

JoeJustJoe - 1-4-2019 at 02:27 PM

Quote: Originally posted by chatolj

So if duty is paid on extra items (surfboards or fishing rods) and an itemized receipt is given, would one be able to get a refund if said items were somehow shown to have been brought back to entry point.
I have an itemized list attached to my boat TIP that shows 20 fishing rods and reels and lots of extra tools and electronic equipment. When Aduana sees the list they have always chilled out. Seems there should be a way to bring personal items that are not being sold down south to get back and forth even if they pass the standard published limits.
????????

I don't kill fish for fun, so I'm at a loss why would someone need 20 fishing rods, reels, four surf boards like the OP, or 90 jugs of grapefruit juice, when you visit Mexico or even take to your ex-pat home?

Maybe, they might think you're trying to sell those items the first time, and trying it again.

What happened to just follow the law so much on this site? Every country has their own rules, exclusions, tariffs, and Mexico is no different.

If you don't want to follow their rules, then smuggle the good in, or make up lies or talk them to death like Gnukid does

Goyo - 1-4-2019 at 05:00 PM

JJJ - Most surfers travel with at least two surfboards in case one snaps. Although I've never snapped a board in half, it can happen. You don't want to be on a surf trip and have your only board break - especially if you're on a 2-week or 3-week trip. I travel with three boards: a longboard for tiny waves and for fishing; a smallish shortboard for medium sized surf and a longer shortboard for the big days. Although this may seem excessive to a non-surfer, it's actually quite normal. We're not trying to be over-indulgent gringos. But I'm glad to know the customs rule because I didn't know about it.

By the way, most surfers I've known enter Baja through Tijuana or Tecate. I've never heard of anyone getting charged the duty. In recent times, more and more surfers are entering through Mexicali because it's supposed to be much faster to get down into Central Baja. So maybe it's a new phenomenon for the Mexican authorities to be seeing surfboards in Mexicali?

Alm - 1-4-2019 at 11:37 PM

Quote: Originally posted by chatolj

Seems there should be a way to bring personal items that are not being sold down south to get back and forth even if they pass the standard published limits.

I suspect there IS a perfectly legal way buried somewhere in their papers. They did ask me once (when charging duty) whether I was going to bring them back. But I decided it was easier to pay relatively small charge than going through extra paperwork and/or trying to get a refund on the way back. It's inconvenient to jump between Northbound and Soutbound lanes on Tijuana crossing. Besides, nearly all my stuff on that trip was not going back, it was for my own use in Baja, for years to come. She only singled out a few items to pay for.

[Edited on 1-5-2019 by Alm]

sd - 1-5-2019 at 08:42 AM

4 fishing rods allowed per person. Several years ago, after making several trips with more than 4 rods, I was asked how many rods were in my case. This was at the airport, before I pushed the green/red light.
I had 6. They took me into an office, and explained that I was over the allowed number.

They were very professional, charged me $60 US if I recall, and sent me on my way. I explained that different poles were for different fish, they didn't care. And they gave me a receipt.

Interesting as reels are not mentioned.

You do not get your money back when you leave with the same 6 rods.

Bubba - 1-5-2019 at 08:54 AM

Quote: Originally posted by sd

4 fishing rods allowed per person. Several years ago, after making several trips with more than 4 rods, I was asked how many rods were in my case. This was at the airport, before I pushed the green/red light.
I had 6. They took me into an office, and explained that I was over the allowed number.

They were very professional, charged me $60 US if I recall, and sent me on my way. I explained that different poles were for different fish, they didn't care. And they gave me a receipt.

Interesting as reels are not mentioned.

You do not get your money back when you leave with the same 6 rods.

I've flown in with rod cases many times and was never asked how many rods per case. Heck, I used to duct tape two rod tubes together and Alaska Air only charged me for one, customs said nothing either.

RnR - 1-5-2019 at 10:00 AM

This thread now sheds a little light on what may have almost happened to us at Tijuana/El Chaparal crossing southbound in October.

We were three people and had five "boards" with us. Two surfboards and three kiteboards.

The Customs guy asked us why we had so many boards for three people. I told him the honest answer that they were for different sports and different purposes and he went along with the explanation but did say that we "had too many boards".

I didn't pursue the matter but now that I see this thread his comment makes more sense. We may have been very close to paying some duty.

So, note to self - If you have to pay duty, keep the receipt handy for next year. You may not be able to get a refund when the items leave the country at the end of your visit but you sure do not want to have to pay duty AGAIN on the SAME board when you bring it back south again next winter.

Make sure that the description on the receipt has some sort of unique identifying comment (serial number)to prove that it is the same item. (Or add some note yourself and scribble an unreadable signature on the form)

[Edited on 1-5-2019 by RnR]

DawnPatrol - 1-5-2019 at 10:53 AM

Quote: Originally posted by bajaguy

I believe the VAT (Value Added Tax) on purchased items was reduced to 8% along the border zone. Have not heard anything about Customs duties being reduced

Quote: Originally posted by DawnPatrol

In the paper this morning the new President of Mexico has announced the duty to be lowered to 8%

Bajaguy, yes I was mistaken... thanks