BajaNomad - Household goods

Household goods

DianaT - 3-26-2007 at 09:42 AM

I did a search and have read the rules about the one-time duty free moving of household goods.

However, if we do purchase a second home in Baja, we will probably bring down a few things at a time.

How does that work? Do you have to declare everytime and pay?

As always, thanks
Diane

osoflojo - 3-26-2007 at 10:33 AM

I am sure there is a hard and fast book answer, but my humble exerience has shown that it mostly depends on where you cross. I have never been hassled or questioned about anything I have had at Tecate even with a red light. Not the same at Nogales, Algadones or TJ at least for me.

Bob and Susan - 3-26-2007 at 08:23 PM

"one-time duty free moving of household goods" what a hassel

we chose not to do it
we choose to bring down stuff a little at a time and collect stuff here
we got rid of alot of old collected junk

just get an fm3 so you can leave stuff in mexico and show it if you get the "red light"

the way you will be treated is sure different than if you had a tourist visa :light:

just import anything new that needs to come from the USA
that's a hassel but sometinmes unavoidable

DianaT - 3-26-2007 at 08:28 PM

Thanks---both of you.

Exactly the practical advice we are seeking.

Diane

[Edited on 3-27-2007 by jdtrotter]

Marinero - 3-26-2007 at 10:10 PM

On advise from those who came before, we crossed into Mexico at 5:45 Sunday Morning at San Ysidro. Shift change is at 6 am. In three trips with a massive trailer full of stuff ( We had fm3's) , they never asked to see anything and sent us on our way with no charge.

bill

Price - 3-27-2007 at 09:24 AM

We brought stuff every time we came down for a year - usually a whole van full - new and used stuff - NEVER a problem crossing in Mexicali :spingrin:

bajamigo - 3-27-2007 at 09:44 AM

We tried to cross at SY with an 18' trailer and were turned back twice, and told to go to Otay. Reason: the load was too big and had to be inspected. At Otay, we produced our FM 3's, and here's where the Catch Veintidos kicks in: we needed a customs broker, who, for a small consideration, valued all our worldly goods (including TV's, computers, furniture, etc.) at $500. So despite the FM 3, we wound up paying $165 in fees and import taxes.

So the answer is, not unepectedly, it depends.

backninedan - 3-27-2007 at 10:23 AM

My sister just went thru the same process at otay mesa. An fm-3 didnt mean much. She was charged a 200 brokers fee. Still, all in all, thats pretty cheap for all the stuff she had.

Thanks

DianaT - 3-27-2007 at 12:34 PM

When the time comes, we will probably just take some things in the back of our Toyota and not pull a trailer---then just see if the red-light hits.

We won't be taking a lot, and little at a time. I should have known it is one of those ----it depends. :yes:

Diane

Hook - 3-27-2007 at 01:15 PM

I am a member of the uninitiated when it comes to "importing" household goods.......but I hoped to receive my baptism in the next year or so.

One thing I am wondering........how is this payment accomplished to the aduana officials? Are you paying them direct? What form of currency, method of payment do they accept?

It will be one of the more farcical aspects of Mexican bureaucracy if a migra officer can't be trusted with the $20 FMT payment......but Aduana is trusted with hundreds in importation fees paid direct to them.

Bob and Susan - 3-27-2007 at 01:49 PM

in otay i've paid the bank directly and...

paid the broker who walked to the bank and paid the import fee

they take both dollars and pesoes

An 18 foot trailer is a little more stuff than what you would put in a pickup to cross

Any trailler that's packed WOULD have to be valued by an offical and a fee then collected.

That would NOT be unreasonable

Last week I watched a guy that had a trailer PACKED and needed it valued.
It WAS packed too
The officals wouldn't touch it....the broker would.
This is the price you "pay to play"

oladulce - 3-27-2007 at 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Hook
I am a member of the uninitiated when it comes to "importing" household goods
One thing I am wondering........how is this payment accomplished to the aduana officials? Are you paying them direct? What form of currency, method of payment do they accept?

If you keep the value of your load under $1000 ( that would be the amount after your FM3 or FMT exemption) you can do the importation yourself and they'll take you at San Ysidro. I make an itemized list and the Aduana man copies it, tallies it up and adds the tax. You take the copy to the bank window in the parking lot, pay the tax, and take the stamped copy back to the card table. The bank will take pesos or dollars for the import tax.

BajaWarrior - 3-27-2007 at 07:09 PM

Ditto the above. Although, I had better luck going through Otay in the past when building a home on the Pacific side. And, never have shown my FM-3, quicker without.

Keep it under a grand, and include a clear itemized list of all goods.

Taking a load through Mexicali East tomorrow, 8th load of materials/furniture since October 06'.

Good Luck and keep smiling!

[Edited on 3-28-2007 by BajaWarrior]

beachbum1A - 3-28-2007 at 05:05 AM

Understand that all the above posts are from Nomads who have taken household items across the border at different locations without a "Menaje de Casa", but wouldn't it be easier and less of a hassle if one prepared an brief inventory and had it approved by the Consulates Office in say San Diego, and then brought it through the border?

Bob and Susan - 3-28-2007 at 07:03 AM

the ONLY things we brought were clothes and important momentums from the past...

this is our third lifetime and WE WILL enjoy it...
we let the old stuff go...

we plan to spend our daughters inheirtance BEFORE we pass...

you just can't take it with you

BajaWarrior - 3-28-2007 at 07:05 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by beachbum1A
Understand that all the above posts are from Nomads who have taken household items across the border at different locations without a "Menaje de Casa", but wouldn't it be easier and less of a hassle if one prepared an brief inventory and had it approved by the Consulates Office in say San Diego, and then brought it through the border?

No, that is only more paperwork=more time and money. I'm tellin' ya, take it directly to Voluntary Declaration, 10 minutes tops. I have been importing goods for 6 months now for my new home without a problem.

BajaWarrior

DianaT - 3-28-2007 at 07:39 AM

How much is the tax? What percentage?

Thanks
Diane

vandenberg - 3-28-2007 at 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bob and Susan

we plan to spend our daughters inheirtance BEFORE we pass...

you just can't take it with you

Hey guys,
Problem with that reasoning is that you better have some knowledge of your time of demise. Otherwise it maybe tough going if you run out of funds before that time arrives :lol:

Bob and Susan - 3-28-2007 at 08:05 AM

govt pensions...

if the USA govt goes....we go :lol:

BajaWarrior - 3-28-2007 at 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jdtrotter
How much is the tax? What percentage?

Thanks
Diane

Diane, it can acually range from 17% - 25%, I don't know why but it does. Remember, that is based on your amounts. Also, there is a deduction for you and your man of $50 each, then it's taxed.

The important part is to get your load across, not to say at any amount, but, the purpose of your trip IS to get it across.

Keep smiling!