BajaNomad

Importing Solar Panels

El Jefe - 5-24-2005 at 02:53 PM

Does it make any difference in the import duty if the solar panels that I purchase in AZ are assembled in Tijuana?

It would be a bummer to have to pay 30% on $13,000+ in solar panels that are hecho en Mexico. But I have a feeling that the NAFTA rules are not going to favor a little guy like me.

Bob and Susan - 5-24-2005 at 03:30 PM

you'll pay 24%

what is the address of the manufacturer in TJ??

El Jefe - 5-24-2005 at 04:25 PM

Kyocera Mexicana, S.A. de C.V.
Blvd. Buenavista Otay, #2055
Mesa de Otay
Tijuana, BC, Mex
011-52-66-82-0111

I just got an email from the above stating that they do not have a distributor there. They do have one in La Paz, however. They sent the distributor my email, and I await his contact. Octavio Orozco, anybody know him or his company? All I have is a name so far.

Thanks, Tom

Bruce R Leech - 5-24-2005 at 04:39 PM

try to buy them first in Baja.

meme - 5-24-2005 at 04:43 PM

I don't know about Mulege or La Paz but to buy them here in San Felipe they are Really spendy! get a Much better buy out of Victorville Ca. we have bought several there! Our house is totally solar!

Bruce R Leech - 5-24-2005 at 05:36 PM

try Mexicali

Bob and Susan - 5-24-2005 at 05:40 PM

Bruce,
Do you have a source in Mexicali???

Tom...this info is outstanding...I'm sure the TJ location could sell panels
You would just need to talk to the correct person.

I know, I'll try next week.

We're ready to get some panels too

latitude26n - 5-24-2005 at 06:09 PM

Jefe

If you do end up importing the panels would you please post how the experience goes?
Things that would be helpful to know:
- which border crossing you chose,
- Manufacturer vs Dealer or retailer receipts
- if you needed "certifcates of origin" and how you got them.

and any other tips you come up with.

Thanks.

If you had planned to buy the panels from Arizona Wind &
Sun, we've found that it's hard to beat their prices and selection. Their prices on panels and batteries start out at some of the lowest you'll find for the "good stuff" and the lack of sales tax makes them hard to beat.

Even with the cost of delivery, our experience has been that Wind & Sun will be cheaper than anyone else- even the place in Victorville.

http://www.solar-electric.com/

Let us know if you locate this Kyocera guy in La Paz. Maybe he's a distrubutor for the Shell panels that we like too. But as hard as those panels are to get, I'm not holding my breath.

Classic example....

Hook - 5-24-2005 at 07:16 PM

.....of why NAFTA AND CAFTA are nothing but the SHAFTA for the average citizen and a greased skid for corporations.

Oh, but it's so beneficial for the 3rd world country's economy.......bullshirt! It's a one-way street.

El Jefe - 5-24-2005 at 07:31 PM

Yes, Arizona Wind and Sun it is. I had a nice long talk with Pat the business owner today and he told me most of the ins and outs of how he will work with you to make it as inexpensive as possible. Maybe inexpensive isn't the right term here. It costs a lot! He seems to be a good guy, and took the time with me on the phone.

As it is, I may go to AZ to pick up as much as I can carry in my truck, and the rest (batteries and framework for rack) will have to be shipped.

It's a shame that we can't get any kind of government rebate of discount because of the ecologicalness of it all like in the states.

I have a good feeling that nobody is going to beat their prices, even when I add the tax at the border. But I do want to check out local suppliers in Los Cabos and La Paz...just doing my due diligence. If I can net about the same cost locally, I'll go for that. But I can't afford charity right now, so lowest responsible bidder is going to get my business. Global economy, ya know.

My builder Ian is a really honest and straight forward guy, and his recommendation after doing many of these systems in the houses he has built is to go through AZ W&S.

Bob, if you can swing it to buy panels direct I'd love to hear about it. Maybe they have seconds or blems that would work just fine. Who knows? We have a Mexican corporation if that helps.

Bob and Susan - 5-24-2005 at 08:12 PM

Friday I'm importing my tractor...
Every kid wants a tractor!

I'll ask the broker about importing the solar panels...for sure
and I'll look into getting panels in TJ next week.

For me...this is an EXCELLENT string..thanks

Bruce R Leech - 5-24-2005 at 08:54 PM

Bob Please let me know how you do on the tractor?

bajajudy - 5-24-2005 at 09:42 PM

This is a a quickie and I do not have any first hand information but I have always heard that certain elements of a solar systems were duty free. It would certainly be worth looking into.

Jefe...sorry I missed La Jefa...But now you know where I am!
Hasta la proxima

latitude26n - 5-24-2005 at 11:45 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by El Jefe

As it is, I may go to AZ to pick up as much as I can carry in my truck, and the rest (batteries and framework for rack) will have to be shipped.


We found it to be cheaper the other way around- we would have spent more on gas to go to AZ than it cost to UPS the panels to us (this is for a much smaller system than it sounds like you're getting tho).

But the battery shipping can be very costly so we made arrangements to purchase the batteries (Concorde "Sun-Xtender" AGM's) through an online source out of New Mexico, but will pick them up from the distrubutor in Azusa.

Wind -Sun is so busy that they just said "it can't be done" when we asked if we could buy the batteries from them and pick up them up from the distributor ourselves.

But the smaller Mon-and-Pop operation in New Mexico got on the phone to Condorde and within a few minutes had it all arranged. Every little bit of savings helps.

Another good resource is www.backwoodssolar.com
They have custom fabricated their own junction and circuit breaker boxes, connectors and other useful solar gadgets that you won't find elsewhere. Nice and helpful guy there also.

Importing/ smuggling solar equipment

BajaRob - 5-26-2005 at 07:33 AM

I'm sure I will get some flak for this, but most of the goods headed southbound come through the lanes marked " Nothing to Declare". I know of one instance when over $12,000 worth of solar goods came across in this manner. I am not encouraging the practice but simply stating the reality. It is due in part to the excessive rate of duty that is applied. Of course I would never engage in smuggling. :saint:
Rob

[Edited on 5-26-2005 by BajaRob]

latitude26n - 5-26-2005 at 09:49 AM

We learned an interesting lesson recently when we sold our former place in BCS and were trying to scrape together all the "improvements" and deductions we could come up with in order to reduce the 35% capital gain tax.

All of the items such as solar equipment that we had "smuggled" over the years could not be applied to reduce the amount of tax that we owed on the sale.

We still have secret compartments and techniques for bringing down some things. But for the big ticket items that will stay with the property when we sell it, we will now pay the 17-24% Import duty to be able to write off thousands of $ later on.

Bruce R Leech - 5-26-2005 at 09:58 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by latitude26n
We learned an interesting lesson recently when we sold our former place in BCS and were trying to scrape together all the "improvements" and deductions we could come up with in order to reduce the 35% capital gain tax.

All of the items such as solar equipment that we had "smuggled" over the years could not be applied to reduce the amount of tax that we owed on the sale.

We still have secret compartments and techniques for bringing down some things. But for the big ticket items that will stay with the property when we sell it, we will now pay the 17-24% Import duty to be able to write off thousands of $ later on.


this is a vary good point . on big items like soler systems. you can figure 35% savings on this plus the duty . you should think about buying in Mexico . this apples to all materials used in construction of your house.save Mexican receipts for everything.

Anonymous - 5-28-2005 at 11:10 AM

Mr. Bob, why didn't you buy your tractor in Mexico?
Why importing?
For the Santa Rosalia and Mulege area (Leech : not ara!) you can buy any tractor in Hermosillo.
John Deere, Case, McCormick, Cat, all there.
Mainland? Not a good idea?
CD Constitution, got all as well.

But Gringos don't want making business in Mexico, right?
Stupid enough you pay a lot of tax for any import, but buying in Mexico doesn't come to you.

Importation

MrBillM - 5-28-2005 at 01:12 PM

I have a neighbor who just brought down a Used Backhoe and the importation was relatively easy. He contacted a broker in Arizona who handled all of the paperwork for about $250 and he paid 17 % duty at the border on the purchase price. They were somewhat skeptical of the price written on the invoice, but finally said OK.

Anonymous - 5-30-2005 at 09:27 AM

well, MRBillM
like you explain, that is exactly how Gringos are:
Better cheating with a fake invoice than paying the Mexicans.
Better paying a Gringo Broker the same money the mex.Customs might charge on an invoice with the correct sales price.

GRINGO, dod you know where it comes from?
GREEN GO as it originally was.
GREEN the color of the American soldiers when occupying Mexico in the past.

But it is still valid todday > GRENN GO !
Or learn to live an honest lifestyle in this country.
Gringos want the benefits of Mexico, cheaper living as in the U.S. , better fishing, more friendly people, no street crime in Baja, etc, etc. But don't want to support the country they are living in.
(See story about fake invoice above)

Packoderm - 5-30-2005 at 09:58 AM

Hey Anon, I'm all for creating an atmosphere of complete honesty on the border - going both ways.

Found at Last

MrBillM - 5-30-2005 at 10:28 AM

The last HONEST man (or woman) has spoken. Unfortunately, he/she/it chooses to remain anonymous, no doubt out of modesty.

It probably takes a great deal of effort for "anonymous" to have gone through their entire life never telling a falsehood, never cheating in any way, including their taxes and never having EVER broken any law intentionally, including traffic laws.

My experience in life has been that people I've met have certain falsehoods that they feel are important to evade and others that they feel are justified, but the real truth is that it is all the same, either you're the one perfect person or you're just like the rest of us.

I'm simply melding into the Mexican culture where corruption is endemic. Should we not try to emulate the native culture ?

Take your sanctimony and wipe your sphincter with it.

[Edited on 5-30-2005 by MrBillM]
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As far as the broker goes, the reason my neighbor went through a broker in Arizona was that he was told that was the procedure to follow, and, in fact he had to wait until he got authorization from U.S. Customs to "export" the equipment. This was the most awkward of the provisions since he was given a 72 hour time frame to cross the border. While it may be quite possible for a person to simply drive across the border and go through the broker process (I have no idea), you would have to be a complete marooon to drive hundreds of miles with high-value goods without knowing that you could take it across.

[Edited on 5-30-2005 by MrBillM]

MrBillM

BajaRob - 5-31-2005 at 07:13 AM

Very well stated. How was the Poker Run?????

Poker Run

MrBillM - 5-31-2005 at 12:41 PM

I was told that the Poker Run run drew about 175 entries, down a little from last year, but still pretty good. The weather was great. Some high-thin overcast at the start, but completely clear by mid-afternoon. I didn't participate, but drove down to watch the start. Neighbors who did run said that the course chosen was rougher than last year in places, but you can always slow down (they did). There were no injuries or misadventures that I am aware of.

The after-run party was raucous and the celebrating went on past midnight. I'm happy that the family got a good turnout for Memorial Day Weekend, but I'm also glad that it doesn't happen very often.

don't you just love those anonymous--

beercan - 5-31-2005 at 01:08 PM

posts!!
I took my Arizona Wind and Sun invoice and declared what was too big to be "lost with the crowd" stuff and paid 15% tax to the Mexican government!!
I also pay the same "sale taxes" that the mexican people pay along with the" Pemex Tax" and others on down the line.

Just because I didn't feel it necessary to declare 100%. doesn't make me or many others "bad guys".
So as MRBILL says, "wipe your ----with your sanctmonious atitude!!

Bruce R Leech - 5-31-2005 at 01:46 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Anonymous
Mr. Bob, why didn't you buy your tractor in Mexico?
Why importing?
For the Santa Rosalia and Mulege area (Leech : not ara!) you can buy any tractor in Hermosillo.
John Deere, Case, McCormick, Cat, all there.
Mainland? Not a good idea?
CD Constitution, got all as well.

But Gringos don't want making business in Mexico, right?
Stupid enough you pay a lot of tax for any import, but buying in Mexico doesn't come to you.


I spent over 90,000 dollars on tractors and equipment in Mexico. how about you Anonymous?:lol:

Bob and Susan - 5-31-2005 at 03:16 PM

I would have LOVED to buy this tractor in Mexico...but it was not available
I looked and looked

Anything I can buy in Mexico I do....its cheaper and easier...period

I paid 25% to import the tractor this weekend

Where do you guys get 17%...they must see me comming!!! EVERY TIME!!!

Bruce R Leech - 5-31-2005 at 04:00 PM

that is right Bob and there is nothing wrong with buying your tractor in the U.S. and importing it into Mexico they are all made in the same place anyway and the Gov got their money.