BajaNomad - Import tax for bringing vacation food into Mexico

Import tax for bringing vacation food into Mexico

postholedigger - 5-31-2008 at 04:17 PM

This is a question I've had for some time. I few times in the past, a large group of us 20-25 people have gone in to Baja for the weekend or vacation and I'd been tasked with taking our food (which is admittedly a fairly large sum) down to our destination. The others would cram into a couple of minivans. 2 times so far I've been sent to Mexican secondary and made to pay taxes for bringing our meals down.
Now I do have to say that my Spanish is not nearly adequate, and for that I apologize. I'm trying to learn. The first time, I luckily got an English speaker and he told me I had to pay the tax for bringing food into Mexico. I wasn't smart enough to ask questions and figured I had no choice. So I paid. Afterwards someone told me that they've never had to pay to bring food down. The second time though, the lady I talked with didn't speak English and her and her colleague mocked and laughed at my attempts to communicate in broken Spanish. I tried to communicate that I was bringing food down for a bunch of people who had just crossed in the minivans that they'd just let through. All I got was more mockery and insistence that I have to pay. I managed to snag a different official and he spoke English and explained to me that she was convinced that I was a Chinese restaurant owner bringing food to stock my restaurant (I'm not Chinese, and I don't own a restaurant, Chinese or otherwise). I assured them that I wasn't and showed my ID which shows my real country of origin. He believed me and tried to get the original customs official to just let me go but she didn't want to and she wouldn't let me go without paying taxes. After over an hour, out of sheer frustration I paid the $40 "tax" so I wouldn't have to spend more time throwing myself at a wall. I really wanted to eat the receipt she gave me right in front of her. :fire:

I know there's this rule that each person is only allowed to bring $50 worth of stuff into Mexico if you aren't an FM3 holder. But is there any provision for this kind of thing when one person is transporting multiple people's stuff in one van while the people it belongs to ride in another? In hind sight we probably should have had me in front and have the other 2 vans follow me into secondary were I to be pulled over. But barring that, is my only recourse to make a convincing case to the random inspector and try to do away with my Asian looks?

BajaWarrior - 5-31-2008 at 04:26 PM

I have been asked before the value of the food we bring in but we have never brought in the volume of food you speak of. By the way, having the FM-3 doesn't get you any kind of discount at the border or larger than a $50 deduction per person unfortunately.

We pass throught Declaration delaring construction materials on a regular basis and they have also asked about the food, I do the quick math and tell them it's under $100 (when both of us). That's about it.

They're faily strict about the food thing when it comes to foreigners. You may want to keep your fellow travelers close by or divide the food better.

DENNIS - 5-31-2008 at 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by postholedigger
The second time though, the lady I talked with didn't speak English and her and her colleague mocked and laughed at my attempts to communicate in broken Spanish.

I've never met a Mexican who would do this. They are gracious to a fault. I'm not suggesting this didn't happen to you but, it's pretty unusual.
How much food did you have? These inspectors have heard it all and probably can't be blamed for playing it by the book.
Do you have any good recipes for egg foo yung?

joel - 5-31-2008 at 06:12 PM

On the whole, I've found Mexican customs far more lenient than U.S. when it comes to importation. The limits are far lower in Mexico than the U.S., however but that's a question of the law not the attitudes of the officials.

UnoMas - 5-31-2008 at 08:49 PM

Never had a problem crossing the border with large amounts of food, mainly meat, into Mexico. You are doing something that is more suspect than your food. Try letting someone else pack the food down, or split it up between vehicles at least until you cross, then you have no problems till Guerro Negro and maybe not there either.
I think there might be a bit more to this than what you have posted........

Diver - 5-31-2008 at 09:08 PM

We often bring cases of food-goods to Baja in our camper and never had a problem.
Now if you had a car or truck load of food, that would probably be looked on differently.
Maybe split the food and suitcases between more than one vehicle next time ??

So much for helping the Mex economy

Sharksbaja - 5-31-2008 at 09:26 PM

I always just bring stuff you can't get easily. Yea I know that can be a long list but I hate lugging food around when i can easily stop and get adequate supplies. What happened to supporting the local stores?

IDEA :light:

With the money you save in gasoline go out a few times and have a ~~few~~ bunch of fish tacos and beers! :smug:

Diver - 5-31-2008 at 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sharksbaja
I always just bring stuff you can't get easily. Yea I know that can be a long list but I hate lugging food around when i can easily stop and get adequate supplies. What happened to supporting the local stores?

I'm not sure what the others' situation is but unfortunately, I have some dietary problems that require a few foods that I can't find easily in Baja. Other than that, we spend PLENTY towards the Mexican economy; I LOVE a good fish taco !!

postholedigger - 5-31-2008 at 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS

Quote:

Originally posted by postholedigger
The second time though, the lady I talked with didn't speak English and her and her colleague mocked and laughed at my attempts to communicate in broken Spanish.

Oh I agree completely, the Mexican people as a whole are VERY gracious and have been VERY lenient with me in my attempts at their language. That's probably why I was a little irked at her for openly laughing and mocking me. That was the first time I was ever laughed at (though I probably deserve to be laughed at even more) for trying my best to come up with sentences that made some sort of sense.

...and believe it or not, a white guy I know has the best recipe I know for egg foo yung :lol:

postholedigger - 5-31-2008 at 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by UnoMas
You are doing something that is more suspect than your food.
...
I think there might be a bit more to this than what you have posted........

um...no.
This really is all there was to it. I had my duffel bag of beach clothes and 25 other peoples' food in an Explorer.

Now go off find out who REALLY killed JFK :lol:

postholedigger - 5-31-2008 at 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sharksbaja
IDEA :light:

With the money you save in gasoline go out a few times and have a ~~few~~ bunch of fish tacos and beers! :smug:

You know, I try telling that to my peeps... They usually look at me with a quizzical expression...then the hysterical laughing starts.

fulano - 5-31-2008 at 11:30 PM

Next time they pull you over drop a copy of NAFTA in their laps and ask them why they are charging you any customs fees.

http://www.sice.oas.org/Trade/NAFTA/NAFTATCE.ASP

[Edited on 6-1-2008 by fulano]

bajalou - 5-31-2008 at 11:36 PM

I know others who live here in Baja and have been bringing a month's food supply from US (over $350 worth) who were required to pay duty. They have limits and when you try to get around them, sometimes you get caught and have to pay.

Bob and Susan - 6-1-2008 at 05:27 AM

25 other peoples' food in an explorer :lol:

you MUST HAVE looked like a "Chinese restaurant owner"

i've crossed ALOT and the border guys ALWAYS waive at the food and look for "other " stuff

food isn't interesting to them :light:

Don Alley - 6-1-2008 at 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bob and Susan
25 other peoples' food in an explorer :lol:

you MUST HAVE looked like a "Chinese restaurant owner"

i've crossed ALOT and the border guys ALWAYS waive at the food and look for "other " stuff

food isn't interesting to them :light:

We've stopped the last few trips and presented them with a list of manufactured items to pay duty on. Even then we've had a red light. But it never occurred to me to declare food, and it never seemed to matter to them.

We bring a few item that we can't get down here, like a case of Cherry Coke, that seems to draw more interest at army checkpoints. :biggrin:

postholedigger - 6-1-2008 at 10:52 AM

I swear to God. I go down to the local store and the first thing I get is, "Chino?"
No, no...Soy Japones!

Bob and Susan - 6-1-2008 at 11:13 AM

ok post...post the picture of yourself!!!

we'll make the decision :spingrin:

fulano - 6-1-2008 at 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by postholedigger
I swear to God. I go down to the local store and the first thing I get is, "Chino?"
No, no...Soy Japones!

In Latin America, "chino" is a general term for an Asian.

nobigwoop - 6-3-2008 at 07:41 PM

I live in Baja, and it is typical for gringo residents to cart lots of food down here. We've been doing it for two years, as have all our friends. We don't go though the declare line, just the regular lines at the border. 19 times out of 20 we'll get a green light -- end of story. Once in a while we get a red light, and pull over. When they see shopping bags in the back seat, they wave us through. It's also common for gringos living down in Baja to shop for parties in the states, and bring it across the border -- tons of two-buck-chuck wine, booze, the works. Haven't heard of anybody getting stopped for this. That having been said.... Sometimes one gets stopped and charged, like you did. For whatever reason. Those times, you pay whatever you have to pay, and the other 19 times you go through you won't even have to stop. I.e., it evens out in the end if you come down here often. But yeah, good to split food between vehicles if you can, limits losses due to duty/tax charges.

bajabound2005 - 6-4-2008 at 06:53 AM

Postholedigger: where are you crossing and are you going to the Declare lane? We regularly shop for LOTS of food in the states and bring it back (meat is less expensive in the US and some things you just can't find in Baja). In 50 crossings, we once got the red light. The agent opened the back door and saw the grocery bags and ice chests. She asked, "Comida?". We said, "si". She closed the door and waived us through. This was at San Ysidro.

David K - 6-4-2008 at 08:18 AM

I have been going to Mexico for over 40 years (with parents the first 6) and we are campers and have always brought our own food... never questioned... Food brought south for your own consumption while on vacation is allowed.

In recent years, we tend to eat as much local food as possible to enjoy the experience of Mexico even more... when we are in towns.

In the future, I would suggest that each van/ car carry a portion of the food instead of you hauling all of it... or at least you be in front of your caravan instead of the end of it... and all of you pull into secondary if you get the red light.

There are many group trips going to Baja (schools, churches, tours) and hauling food for the group is not uncommon.

Best of luck next time... and where are you in the states because I bet you are a great cook?!

postholedigger - 6-4-2008 at 08:33 PM

Cool. Thanks all for weighing in. I'll try to heed the advice when I can. I'll definitely lobby on behalf of the fish tacos and Dos Equis, though. :coolup: