BajaNomad

How to declare items at border?

gpm414 - 8-4-2006 at 07:46 AM

I know that many of you do this often, so your guidance would be appreciated. I'm heading to Baja and have a few items to declare at the TJ border crossing. I know I could just take my chances with the red/green light lanes, but getting sideways with Mexican officials isn't part of my plan. So I pull off on the right "declaration lane" and park the rig. Now armed with my list of items and their value...where do I go from there? Who do I talk to? What is the duty amount? Who will I pay?

Declaracion

MrBillM - 8-4-2006 at 08:08 AM

I don't know about Tijuana, but at both Mexicali crossings, there is a table with an agent right there who will examine your receipts, look at the load and assist you in filling out the declaration form. They have forms in English and Spanish, although they are frequently out of the English version. No matter, what you have to fill out on the form is pretty elementary with a rudimentary knowledge of Spanish.

Once the form is filled out and the assessment computed, you take the form to the "Bank" located nearby, pay the amount and have the form stamped. You take it back to the original official and (usually) go on your way. At Mexicali, there are light standards at each stall and they have you press the button. Green light and you go. Red light and they are supposed to actually go through the load, but usually they just make a show of checking things.

Last year, the rates varied from 17 % (U.S. and others) to 19 % for Japan, China, etc. A big improvement over the original "Orient" rate of 54 %. Assessment is based upon Country of Origin.

Bil is right on , however he didn't

beercan - 8-4-2006 at 12:08 PM

emphasize the invioice or receipts enough. Try to have the originals or a good computer generated copy so that the costs/prices are clear. The last large items that I had to declare , I was charged 15% --solar panels , etc.

bajajon - 8-4-2006 at 02:29 PM

New at this also. Wife and I will be crossing the border in a couple of weeks at TJ. She has been purchasing alot of small items like sheets and pillow cases, canned food and beverages etc and wants to take some second hand funiture to a second home we just purchased near Mulege. I am sure we don't have receipts for any of the items. What happens then? I'll be taking my boat too and was wondering about the flare gun. I have been told to not take any firearms into Mexico. Will the flare gun be a problem?

Bruce R Leech - 8-4-2006 at 02:53 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajajon
New at this also. Wife and I will be crossing the border in a couple of weeks at TJ. She has been purchasing alot of small items like sheets and pillow cases, canned food and beverages etc and wants to take some second hand funiture to a second home we just purchased near Mulege. I am sure we don't have receipts for any of the items. What happens then? I'll be taking my boat too and was wondering about the flare gun. I have been told to not take any firearms into Mexico. Will the flare gun be a problem?


welcome bajajon
just make a list of the items that you don't have invoices for and put what you paid or a fir market value for them. the people there are not stupid they do that all day every day and they know what things are worth. they will except your list and tell you what your tax is. pay and your on your way to Mulege. we will see you when you get here.

Unless you have a truck load or boxes & boxes---

beercan - 8-4-2006 at 04:53 PM

there won't be much said !!

Standard flare guns stowed away have never been questioned. I carry them on both my boat and airplane !!

comitan - 8-4-2006 at 06:13 PM

Bruce

You are right about them being smart on values, 3-4 years ago I bought 2 boat seats $200.00 on the receipt showed him the receipt he charged for $400.00 value the real value I said nothing.:lol:

pacifica - 8-4-2006 at 06:43 PM

At what point or dollar amount does a customs broker have to get involved.


Cheers !

Salsa - 8-4-2006 at 07:06 PM

"Standard flare guns stowed away have never been questioned. I carry them on both my boat and airplane !! "

About 7 years ago I escaped jail by the skin of my teeth for having flair gun shells in my boat.

Here is my letter to Fred Hoctor that appeared in Western Outdoor News.

Fred
In July 1999 while returning from San Lucas Cove we were stopped at the
last federal inspection at one of the Ensenada toll booths, and they
found some spare flair gun shells in my boat. We had removed the flair
gun because the Vagabundos said it was illegal and you could go strait
to jail.
We almost got an extended vacation in Mexico. After being released to go
on twice, and their calling their supervisors, we finally got to go.
If you are correct, someone forgot to tell the federalles. I am not
going to risk it this year.

Don

[Edited on 8-5-2006 by Salsa]

Salsa, I am not going to say it's not going to ever happen ---

beercan - 8-4-2006 at 07:21 PM

but this subject was discussed long ago on this or the amigo board .

I believe a lot of what happens in some situations is entirely due to the individual response. I have been flying and boating in mexico for 26 years and I ain't seen it all yet !!
I have a few tales of my own and I had an experience much larger than the one you told and I walked away without any problem !! Not luck, but skill at handling people .

oladulce - 8-4-2006 at 07:48 PM

You get a $50 per person tax exemption (with an FMT visa), then it's $1000 worth of goods per vehicle before you need a broker.

San Ysidro will send you to Otay Mesa if you're over $1000 per car.

Sometimes they have made "exceptions" with the total declaration amount if it's close to $1000, and the time of day seems to make a difference at San Ysidro

Otay Mesa is more business-like. Ater you declare and pay the tax, there's no red light/green light- you WILL have your load inspected (at least this was my experience last month).

jerry - 8-4-2006 at 08:02 PM

when taking a flare gun into mexico be sure it stays in the boat
we stopped at the border on our way to san carlos and was told that