BajaNomad

buying electrical and plumbing in Canada or Ensenada

Bajagypsy - 3-19-2009 at 09:18 AM

The Gypsy's are planning on going to our new house in Asuncion at the begining of May, and I have some questions.

We are bringing a trailer down of electrical supplies and plumbing supplies. What are we required to do at the Mexican boarder?

We are also bring our old dishes, linen, and general household stuff down with us as well. What are we required to do at the Mexican boarder for this stuff?

I did do a search, but the information was not new, and just wanted to know if there were any changes.

Thanx!

[Edited on 3-19-2009 by Bajagypsy]

David K - 3-19-2009 at 09:58 AM

With your FM-3 visa you have one time, no fee import of your personal belongings (when you move to Mexico).

Otherwise, there is a tax on anything you bring in that could be purchased in Mexico...

There is a ton on Nomad about this... others with first hand knowledge are the ones to ask... Bob & Susan, BajaRob, BajaLou... all have knowledge on this as they live there...

Bajagypsy - 3-19-2009 at 10:16 AM

Thanx David, just wondering what the fees are, in relation to this.

Bajagypsy - 3-19-2009 at 02:29 PM

Our big delimea is in if we bring stuff down with us (i.e. pex piping for our plumbing), or if we will find what we need down there. Can anyone help us?

CaboRon - 3-19-2009 at 02:46 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bajagypsy
Our big delimea is in if we bring stuff down with us (i.e. pex piping for our plumbing), or if we will find what we need down there. Can anyone help us?


You have a high chance of buying substandard products if you buy in Mexico, even US branded goods may be defective ...

CaboRon

Bajagypsy - 3-19-2009 at 02:51 PM

CaboRon, do you know what they are going to ding us at the border if we bring it down with us?

Al G - 3-19-2009 at 03:01 PM

Gypsy...My last trip I brought in a number of new items. I declared them all and showed my receipts. He looked through them and pulled out 2. I do not remember all of the stuff, but had about 10-11 receipt. he tossed all back to me except my new flat panel TV and about a $75 Polaris Belt and some oil. He said the rest I was allowed. ($200+-)
He charged me 15% on $575 +- and then deducted $75 from the 15% due. I found them to be very reasonable. If you are coming soon you may beat the new tariffs. I would not think building materials would be any more then new TVs. I had left all my doors open, but he only wanted to see the TV, so the whole process including paying the bank took less then 30 minutes. Good luck!

Bajagypsy - 3-19-2009 at 03:02 PM

when do the new terifs take effect, it will be my luck to get down there when the change, and it will be like a million %:spingrin:

Al G - 3-19-2009 at 03:07 PM

Not sure they would apply to things you bring in personally...not sure when as they seem to be postering and may have to go through Mexican congress. I think you have a month or two.

Bajagypsy - 3-19-2009 at 03:15 PM

YEAH I'll just slide under the radar!!!!:saint:

fishbuck - 3-19-2009 at 03:43 PM

If you bring it all the way from Canada won't you have to pay a tariff crossing the US/Canada border too?
If you were careful I would imagine that you could find everything you could possibly need in Tijuana.

That's where I take care of all my plumbing needs.;D:cool:

Al G - 3-19-2009 at 04:05 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Al G
Gypsy...My last trip I brought in a number of new items. I declared them all and showed my receipts. He looked through them and pulled out 2. I do not remember all of the stuff, but had about 10-11 receipt. he tossed all back to me except my new flat panel TV and about a $75 Polaris Belt and some oil. He said the rest I was allowed. ($200+-)
He charged me 15% on $575 +- and then deducted $75 from the 15% due. I found them to be very reasonable. If you are coming soon you may beat the new tariffs. I would not think building materials would be any more then new TVs. I had left all my doors open, but he only wanted to see the TV, so the whole process including paying the bank took less then 30 minutes. Good luck!

Opps... Now I cannot remember if he deducted before or after figuring the 15%...May take me a while to find that receipt."He charged me 15% on $575 +- and then deducted $75 from the 15% due."

BigWooo - 3-19-2009 at 04:08 PM

If I'm not mistaken you only have 6 months after getting your FM3 to import your personal goods. Other than that there is a higher limit you can import tax free, but I don't know what that is.

If you go through San Isidro make sure you are declaring less than $1000.00 in goods. (We've been turned around and sent to Otay before trying to import more than that).

If you are importing more than $1000 in goods, you need to go in at Otay (I think you can go to Mexicali also).

The last time we imported was in 07. We had $981.00 usd of goods and the import tax was $1318 pesos. The peso was about 10/1 then, so the import tax was approx. 13%

We had both new and used goods. For the new goods we had the original receipts and for the not-new furniture, we made a list of what we had along with what we thought was a fair value (not ridiculously low). The import person accepted the values and we just paid the 13% import tax. Everything we had was U.S. made. It the items are made in a non-NAFTA country the import tax can be much more, up to 25% depending on the country.

I've been researching PEX for the house we're getting ready to build and plan to use it also, but as far as I've been able to determine there's no place in Baja that has PEX supplies. Make sure you have all the fittings and tools you'll need before you go. If someone knows of a PEX supplier in Baja, that would be good info to know.

Here's a list of the items with the new tariff:

http://mexicotrucker.com/wp-content/plugins/download-monitor...

Edit: percentage tax was wrong.

[Edited on 3-20-2009 by BigWooo]

Bajagypsy - 3-19-2009 at 04:45 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by fishbuck
If you bring it all the way from Canada won't you have to pay a tariff crossing the US/Canada border too?
If you were careful I would imagine that you could find everything you could possibly need in Tijuana.

That's where I take care of all my plumbing needs.;D:cool:


I'm looking into that as well, I don't think so as our final destination is Baja.

Thanx BigWoo for the advice and link.

Bob and Susan - 3-19-2009 at 04:54 PM

make your pex manifold there
before you come so you can get all the parts

DT.IN.LB.BAJA - 3-21-2009 at 09:26 AM

Good info to know, many thanks to all the great Nomads !!!!!!!