BajaNomad

Amount of stuff I can LEGALLY take to Mexico?

vandy - 5-2-2009 at 05:29 PM

I am bringing down about $400 worth of new supplies/gear for self and friends in Baja.
Do I have to get into the "declare" lane?

I'll be crossing in Tecate.
Thank you

DENNIS - 5-2-2009 at 06:10 PM

What kind of "stuff" are you talking about?

BigWooo - 5-2-2009 at 06:35 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
What kind of "stuff" are you talking about?


If it's construction materials, appliances or some other household items, then I'd declare it. If it's camping gear for them to use, or something similar, I wouldn't worry about it.

In the non commercial borders you can declare up to $1000 dollars and pay duty. If you're declaring over $1000 dollars you need to go to Otay.

I've never heard anything about anyone declaring at Tecate. I'd like to know how it goes if you do.

DENNIS - 5-2-2009 at 06:44 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by BigWooo
I've never heard anything about anyone declaring at Tecate. I'd like to know how it goes if you do.



One thing to know about Tecate.........They don't get a lot of traffic and they'll pull over a lot of cars just for something to do. I watched this happening.
Now..I'm not suggesting that one consider passing through without paying taxes but..............

norte - 5-2-2009 at 07:25 PM

You are a long time poster, Vandy. Is this a test?

vandy - 5-3-2009 at 01:41 AM

This is my first time through in a vehicle with a new AC window unit, floor jack, screenhouse, fishing stuff, batteries, leds, etc.

Thanks for the info. I'm not going to sweat it. Probably take 'em all out and use them before I go. Hell, the inside of my car will have them dirty in a short while.

I just thought there was like a $450 worth of new purchases allowed to cross without taxes. I still don't know if that's true, and if so do I don't know if I am legally required to declare them if they are under the $ limit.

DENNIS - 5-3-2009 at 06:42 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by vandy

I just thought there was like a $450 worth of new purchases allowed to cross without taxes. I still don't know if that's true, and if so do I don't know if I am legally required to declare them if they are under the $ limit.


Actually, that is a million dollar question. I've been told 150 bucks but since I'm not Mexican, I'm not even allowed that. Told that at Mexico customs, San Ysidro.
Different inquiries will produce different answers regardless of what it says in the book, if in fact there is one. The interpretation at the moment is what you live by.
Sad to say, it drives people to do the illegal thing...smuggle. The problems which the Mexico customs people have would be greatly reduced if they would be open and consistant with their regulations.

vandenberg - 5-3-2009 at 06:55 AM

vandy,
go through SY, take the nothing to declare lane. If you get the red light, with the stuff you have in your car,$ 450.00 worth, you have nothing to worry about.
In other words, "don't sweat the small stuff":no:

rhintransit - 5-3-2009 at 07:10 AM

I've been taxed for an 'ac unit.' actually it was a 12 volt/propane/electricity cooler/refrig but it was early morning (in Tecate), I got the red light, they had to wake the inspector who was not amused, etc. I was so relieved he focused on only that (and not the generator and many hundreds of dollars of other stuff under piles of innocuous stuff) that I didn't notice until after I left that the 'bill' listed it as an air conditioner. had I known he thought it was a window unit I would have demonstrated what it actually was...or not, as I wanted to get my 'stuff' further down the road without more inspection. he had been most indignant that I couldn't import 'that' and wanted to know what I paid, etc. I told him it was used, and I paid about 200 bucks, and got dinged for 60. cheap compared to what I had in the car.
I'd bury the ac unit deep.

msteve1014 - 5-3-2009 at 07:58 AM

$150 sounds right. Each time I have things to declare they add up the total and deduct $150. That is the amount we paid tax on. And yes, hide the good stuff.

DENNIS - 5-3-2009 at 09:59 AM

Now, look at us. Aiding and abetting a criminal. Don't HIDE it. Just BURY it. Morality is all in the wording.

Ah, well, like I said on another thread a few moments ago....I'm bored.

bajajazz - 5-3-2009 at 10:11 AM

If I were in serious doubt I'd go to the nearest Mexican Consulate in the United States and ask for the latest edition of a pamphlet they produce that spells out exactly the dollar amount of goods that holders of FM2 and FM3 Visas can bring into Mexico without paying duty.

The last reading on it I had was that individuals could bring in $300. USD worth of goods. A couple with the appropriate visas can double that, to $600. USD.

Having the pamphlet in hand is good protection against the Border agents who are most likely making it up as they go along, depending upon their reading of how much they can soak you for.

rpleger - 5-3-2009 at 10:19 AM

I keep all my receipts on a clipboard and have it sitting on the front seat when I cross going south, I have not been stopped since I started that, (7years now)
so it must have some effect...nothing but green lights.

bajagrouper - 5-3-2009 at 11:12 AM

This is from the Aduana Mexico site:

Which items may be included in my personal luggage exempt from duty?

- Suitcases, trunks, and the necessary bags to carry your belongings

- New or used goods for personal use, such as clothing, footwear and personal hygienic products, in reasonable quantities, according to the length of your trip and that they may not be subject to commercialization

- Medications for personal use. In the case of psychotropic substances you must present the corresponding medical prescription

- A photographic camera, a video camera and, if it is the case, its power charger; up to 12 rolls or reels of unused film or videocassettes; photographic printed or filmed material; a cellular telephone; a pager; a pair of binoculars; a typewriter; a new or used portable computer: laptop, notebook, omnibook or another of similar kind; a new or used portable photocopier or printer; a portable radio set to record or play sound, or both

- Two personal used sport articles that can be normally transported by one person; a camping tent and camping gear; a wind surf with or without sail; four fishing rods with their respective accessories

- Five laser discs, five DVD discs, 20 compact discs (CDs) or magnetic tapes (audiocassettes); books and magazines in reasonable quantities and that they may not be subject to commercialization

- Five toys that can be normally transported by one person

- A musical instrument, that can be carried by one person

- Persons with disabilities may include those items for personal use that due to their characteristics may replace or reduce their disability

- Adult passengers may bring, in addition to the above-mentioned items, up to 20 packages of cigarettes, 25 cigars or 200 grams of tobacco, and up to three liters of wine, beer or liquor. Passengers must fulfill all the applicable non-tariff regulations and restrictions when importing additional amounts of cigars

schwlind - 5-3-2009 at 11:19 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajajazz
The last reading on it I had was that individuals could bring in $300. USD worth of goods. A couple with the appropriate visas can double that, to $600. USD.


That was our experience last year crossing at SY... A friend was driving his truck (alone) loaded with our used stuff and my husband and I were following him. Our friend got a green light, but the inspection "police" were waving him over to inspections immediately. Since the truck was loaded to the gills the inspector did not look too eager to unpack it, but asked what we had... and the value of the contents.

We were told we were allowed only $300 duty free because only one person was in the vehicle carrying the items. If two people had been in the truck then the amount would have been $600 duty free... (maybe if 3 people had been in the truck... we could have brought in 900 duty free?????... but I'm only guessing about that)

Bottom line... the inspector was a good guy, very friendly and actually helpful.. He even reduced the duty from 55 to about 37 USD... not sure why, but we weren't complaining!

DENNIS - 5-3-2009 at 02:06 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by schwlind
Bottom line... the inspector was a good guy, very friendly and actually helpful.. He even reduced the duty from 55 to about 37 USD... not sure why, but we weren't complaining!


Some of them actually see the big picture. It's nice when they do.

bajalou - 5-3-2009 at 03:06 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by schwlind
Bottom line... the inspector was a good guy, very friendly and actually helpful.. He even reduced the duty from 55 to about 37 USD... not sure why, but we weren't complaining!


Did he ask if you needed a receipt? If you said "No", he pocketed the payment.

Bajahowodd - 5-3-2009 at 03:23 PM

Cynicism is not helpful. So many of the Mexican public servants have had to deal with insanely low wages. That has created a culture of mordita. until the Mexican government really makes an effort to compensate their officers reasonably, I really cannot condemn those who seek to increase their income. Is is right? No! Do you need to feed your family? Yes! It won't be easy, as cultural things die slowly, but if the goal is to put an end to the shakedown, the mordita, those folks need to be able to make a decent wage. That being said, if ever this actually occurs, a realistic wage, and someone still wants to be a renegade profiteer, then, the full measure of the law should be brought against them.

vandy - 5-3-2009 at 05:11 PM

Thanks to all.
I'll carry receipts to keep them honest if they try to keep me honest.

Kind of hard to bury my items in a small car; I'll post a trip report in a week or so.

schwlind - 5-3-2009 at 05:46 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajalou
Quote:
Originally posted by schwlind
Bottom line... the inspector was a good guy, very friendly and actually helpful.. He even reduced the duty from 55 to about 37 USD... not sure why, but we weren't complaining!


Did he ask if you needed a receipt? If you said "No", he pocketed the payment.


We made payment at a cashier located within the inspection area. ...and yes we were given a receipt.

nbacc - 5-3-2009 at 07:41 PM

I have only gone through into Mexicali..........we went through the declare lane and had all receipts for all new things (alot of stuff as we were furnishing our house). We had a trailer full! He asked us to pull up, asked how much it was worth, we told him, he pulled a reasonable $ amount out of his head, asked if we needed a receipt, we said no and off we went. We have had this expericnce several times. Always the same and a bit different. I think it depends on who is inspecting that day.