BajaNomad

Rules for declaring items at the border?

OCEANUS - 6-23-2011 at 10:17 PM

I'm planning on bringing some furniture (bed, couches, table/chairs) down to our house in BOLA, and was unsure how to declare them at the crossing (TJ). They will be very visible in an open bed trailer, and will definitely attract the attention of customs officials.

These items are all used, and have been given to us by family members. Do I still need to mock up some form of receipt so I can declare an amount for a tax, or will these items be considered exempt?

David K - 6-23-2011 at 10:33 PM

Declare anything you obtained in Mexico that you are bringing across the border. This is usually a question asked by U.S. officers ("What are you bringing from Mexico?")... other questions include "How long were you in Mexico?" and "Where did you go in Mexico?" Don't lie... if the stuff was given to you, then that is the truth.

dtbushpilot - 6-23-2011 at 11:15 PM

I think he's going South DK......

OCEANUS - 6-23-2011 at 11:19 PM

David
I'm heading south to BOLA, crossing at San Ysidro.

oladulce - 6-23-2011 at 11:41 PM

The items you described are not exempt from import duty but you don't need any receipts etc. There are a couple of ways to approach it.

1.- Tell the Mexican customs agent the items are used and you're unsure of their value and see what numbers they come up with. They will often declare a value less than what you would have said. But this also leaves you at their whim and requires more effort on their part and they could feel the need to scrutinize your cargo. This can also be more time consuming, and is not my preferred method.

2. Report to the agent that you have some "used furniture" and make a brief list - 1 bed, 2 sofas, table and chairs- and apply a garage sale/thrift store price scale to come up the value of the load. Make it easy for the aduana agent and you'll have a happy aduana agent.

I used to get so worried about declaring used stuff I'd prepare a detailed itemized list, and start with an item's original price and depreciate it's value for each year I'd owned it, factor in inflation and keep all my notes in case they wanted to confirm, which never happened. And then duh, I finally realized they really don't care if the chair was your wedding gift in 1955 or you picked it up at the Goodwill on your way South. They will not ask you for purchase receipts for something that's obviously used. If the total value of your declared items is less than $1000 you can cross at the San Ysidro (TJ) border. Pay the duty and be on your way.

David K - 6-23-2011 at 11:57 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by OCEANUS
David
I'm heading south to BOLA, crossing at San Ysidro.


Wow, sorry... I was a bit too sleepy when I (thought) I read your question! LOL

Welcome to Nomad... beware that some Nomads can either be drunk or demented when responding/ posting here! :lol:

David K - 6-24-2011 at 12:23 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by dtbushpilot
I think he's going South DK......


Then my post will apply when he goes back north (am I off the hook?)! :light:

Hey Dave, when are you going to post your Santa Isabel/ El Volcan trip report/ photos???

You have had ample time to make up a good one!:light:

You hinted about it a couple times:

"I'm getting ready to start my report DK, it's difficult to know where to start, knowing that my story will be part of history is a humbling notion. I have looked at my pictures and stared at my keyboard for over a day now and can't seem to find an appropriate opening line.....perhaps my buddy Osprey could help me.........maybe something like "BANG BANG BANG BANG, four shots ripped through my flesh and I started on the biggest adventure of my life"..........or maybe I should wait for help from a better writer.......dt

[Edited on 5-4-2011 by dtbushpilot] "



"I may go ahead and post the true story....I know what we agreed on in camp but I'm having a hard time keeping it to myself. Having to weigh the historic significance against my own greed has been tougher than I had anticipated. Other members of the group have contacted me having the same feelings....we all want to honor the agreement that we made around the camp fire on Saturday night but question our motives.......

All I can say is that I will do my best to keep the promise that I made on Saturday night......

[Edited on 5-6-2011 by dtbushpilot]"


"posted on 5-12-2011 at 05:34 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by BajaGeoff
Finally got to catch up with all the reports DK! Great stuff....glad to hear the mission is still lost and there will be more trips like this in the future!

Don't jump to conclusions, I haven't done my trip report yet.....dt "

On 5-15:

"Don't get your panties in a wad, I just got home to Buena Vista this evening and I'm sitting here with a glass of wine decompressing. I'll get the trip report done soon.......but when I do everyone will know "the rest of the story".....are you sure they are ready for that?........dt"



[Edited on 6-24-2011 by David K]

larryC - 6-24-2011 at 06:55 AM

I do pretty much the same as Oladulce, I pull into the declare line and let the agents look at the load and tell me what I owe. Usually it is less than I would have declared.

Tecate

bajaguy - 6-24-2011 at 07:13 AM

With that load, I would try Tecate. Seems to be an easier crossing with a small load of used stuff.

MitchMan - 6-24-2011 at 07:56 AM

About 3 years ago I took an SUV full of obviously household used stuff (including small pieces of furniture) plus a new $200 futon couch to Baja. My SUV was old, dented, and very dirty. I packed puttng the newer stuff on the bottom and the older stuff on top, threw some toilet paper rolls and old rags around just to complete the meagerness aura. They stopped me at TJ. I told them it was furnishings for a house and they asked me how much I thought the total value was in USD and I said $300 USD. They let me go without charging me anything. It was about 10am on a busy day for them.

Last year I took my dirty '98 4x4 Tacoma (the Taco is/was still beautiful) while towing my dirty and unkempt 15.5 ft fiber glass boat with a 40hp motor on it. In the truck bed were some more household furniture and a boxed 8 hp outboard motor. They stopped me at TJ, I told them I was taking the stuff to Baja for a fishing trip. They were very interested in the boxed outboard motor saying that it looked like I was taking it to baja to "sell" it and that the manager would be over to inspect eveything more thoroughly. I smelled an import fee coming. I acted really antsy and pulled out all the legal Mexican documents I had on all things Mexican connected to me and the initial inspector sensed my energy. I waited twenty minutes while pestering the initial inspector. It was on a weekend at about noon so it was busy. The intial guy got fed up with me and sent me on my way scot free.

I feel I was lucky, as I have read on this forum that the Mexican border inspectors only exemp $75 USD of value per person crossing into Baja and tax the rest at 15%. Reading posts on this subject recently, I get the impression that the Mexican inspectors are being more rigorous these days and are not so forgiving.

I don't know what the official actual current rules are for tax rates or exempted amounts with regard to value taken into Mexico. I wish I knew definitively. Maybe a well informed Nomad will know?????

[Edited on 6-24-2011 by MitchMan]

RnR - 6-24-2011 at 08:37 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by MitchMan
I feel I was lucky, as I have read on this forum that the Mexican border inspectors only exemp $75 USD of value per person crossing into Baja and tax the rest at 15%.

I don't know what the official actual current rules are for tax rates or exempted amounts with regard to value taken into Mexico. I wish I knew definitively. Maybe a well informed Nomad will know?????

[Edited on 6-24-2011 by MitchMan]


Your information is correct. $75 exemption, 15% import duty on the value over $75, up to a maximum of $1,500 value. Over $1,500 in value, you must use the services of an import agent. The $1,500 value is per person with a maximum of two persons(imports)/vehicle.

Otay crossing will handle any types of imports. TJ inspectors may send you to Otay if the value is suspect, the import is complicated, it's crowded, it's hot, it's cold ......

Pescador - 6-24-2011 at 08:38 AM

After building a house and hauling lots of stuff, the method I found that works the very best is to type up a list of what you are bringing and then declare a value of what the used items are. On your list put the name in English, second column, put the item in Spanish and then put the declared value in dollars. I have crossed at Tijuana but prefer to cross in Tecate, because it is easier and less problem. I pull into the declare lane (which is always closed) and go into the office on the left hand side, declare the list, pay my 16%, get a receipt, and then show the papers to the guy when I pull through.
I have another friend who brought almost everything down and he would take pictures as he was loading the items and kept everything in a list format, so that if the agent had any questions he could show where in the pile that particular item was.
I have not had any problem with the actual declaration and usually make the cost low, but if you put it ridicuously low, you can be challenged. The new immigration officers at Otay are college educated and have computer lists as to range of values. At Tecate, I have never been challenged. An example was a leather recliner that I declared for $45 dollars and a mattress and boxsprings for $25.

dtbushpilot - 6-24-2011 at 08:45 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K
Quote:
Originally posted by OCEANUS
David
I'm heading south to BOLA, crossing at San Ysidro.


Wow, sorry... I was a bit too sleepy when I (thought) I read your question! LOL

Welcome to Nomad... beware that some Nomads can either be drunk or demented when responding/ posting here! :lol:



And some of us can multitask and be drunk and demented at the same time.....don't attempt it without professional supervision.......

DK, the "lost mission" story is almost finished, I wanted to give all the partisipants ample time to spend their share of the bounty before posting "the rest of the story".....

David K - 6-24-2011 at 09:11 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by dtbushpilot
Quote:
Originally posted by David K
Quote:
Originally posted by OCEANUS
David
I'm heading south to BOLA, crossing at San Ysidro.


Wow, sorry... I was a bit too sleepy when I (thought) I read your question! LOL

Welcome to Nomad... beware that some Nomads can either be drunk or demented when responding/ posting here! :lol:



And some of us can multitask and be drunk and demented at the same time.....don't attempt it without professional supervision.......

DK, the "lost mission" story is almost finished, I wanted to give all the partisipants ample time to spend their share of the bounty before posting "the rest of the story".....


Excellent!!:bounce:

oladulce - 6-24-2011 at 12:03 PM

Can you park in the declare area at Tecate when towing a trailer without blocking traffic? We'd much prefer to cross there with small importations but haven't wanted to risk causing a traffic jam and irritating the customs fellows.

Bob and Susan - 6-24-2011 at 12:28 PM

oladulce...you were married in 1955...

you sure dont look that OLD:o:o

edit:
oh open trailer for the bola...bad idea
too much dirt:light::light:



[Edited on 6-24-2011 by Bob and Susan]

Tecate

bajaguy - 6-24-2011 at 05:47 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by oladulce
Can you park in the declare area at Tecate when towing a trailer without blocking traffic? We'd much prefer to cross there with small importations but haven't wanted to risk causing a traffic jam and irritating the customs fellows.





Yup. I did it in the middle of the week at about 2PM. Customs guy came over, looked around then went back to reading his newspaper....no duty paid, did not block traffic.

Marla Daily - 6-24-2011 at 07:13 PM

Mexico: New Import Rules for Passengers (2008)

To link to this article, copy this persistent link:
http://www.loc.gov/lawweb/servlet/lloc_news?disp3_l20540560_...

(Jun. 02, 2008) According to the General Rules on Matters of Foreign Trade for 2008 that were published officially in the Mexican federal official gazette on April 30, 2008, passengers who come into the country by land, air, or sea may import up to US$3,000 in merchandise without having to use the services of a customs broker and without paying an overall tax rate of 15 percent. According to the Rules, this importation ceiling is in addition to the ordinary duty-free importation allowance of US$75, or US$300 during tax holidays. The Rules, which came into force on May 1, 2008, clarify that computer equipment may be imported without having to go through a customs broker for a maximum value of US$4,000, the total sum of merchandise. Previously, passengers who imported more than US$1,000 in merchandise had to pay for the services of a customs broker, in addition to having to pay the corresponding importation duties. The Treasury Secretariat also stated that the allowance of US$300 of duty-free importation for the summer tax holiday period will be in effect from June 27 to July 28 this year. During the Christmas holidays, the allowance will start on November 24, 2008, and end on January 9, 2009. In December 2007, the Treasury Secretary published a resolution in which the allowance of US$50 for importing duty-free merchandise on ordinary days was increased to US$75.
************************************************************

A few weeks ago we crossed at Tecate with a trailer load of furniture and fixtures, tile, etc. headed to Loreto. We went under the assumption that were were allowed $300 per person; we had a list typed of the items with very low craigslist values; the items came to less than $600 and we were passed through with barely a pause. At Tecate they looked at the list, handed it back to us and waived us through. Easy-peezy.

Paying Up.

MrBillM - 6-24-2011 at 07:47 PM

(4) Golf-Cart Batteries.
(2) 12V Marine Batteries.
(2) New Tires (Mounted) for Samurais.

$30 Duty. No Waiting. Official took care of the paperwork.

I guess.

Thank God the Good Old Days aren't completely gone.

[Edited on 6-25-2011 by MrBillM]

Bob and Susan - 6-25-2011 at 04:23 AM

so bill some day as you drive away...

there will be another truck waiting just around the bend to take yours...
you'll be whining then

this is not the 60's anylonger

do not take bills advice
stop and declare
leave with a clean slate
do the right thing

pay no mordita

what if the usa guys did this?
would the american public approve?
would you approve
the fees to import are small

monoloco - 6-25-2011 at 06:16 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by oladulce
Can you park in the declare area at Tecate when towing a trailer without blocking traffic? We'd much prefer to cross there with small importations but haven't wanted to risk causing a traffic jam and irritating the customs fellows.
When I go through with my trailer they just let me pull off to the side and park while I go in to do the paperwork, they even let me leave my rig there while I went over to the bank to get some pesos to pay my duty. They were very easy to deal with, just took my word on what I was importing and the values, and didn't dig through my load.

nbacc - 6-25-2011 at 07:47 AM

We crossed with a trailer full of household (beds etc) things allused except for a few. Told them it was all used ( it was off Craigs list and garage sales), they looked and came up with a figure, we haggled with them a bit, payed and were off to San Felipe. We expected to pay something and thought it was fair. Nancy

OCEANUS - 6-25-2011 at 09:02 AM

Thank you to all the Nomads who offered their experiences/advice. I will make up a list and present it to the office guys at the crossing. We too expect to pay a bit - just hopefully not too much because it is all used.

Thanks again, and wish us luck.

Living in a "No-Whining" Zone !

MrBillM - 6-25-2011 at 10:07 AM

I always LOVE those with that SMUG "someday you'll get it" attitude.

Never have. Doubt that I ever will, but if it makes anyone warm and fuzzy to think so, go ahead.

In the meantime, I will pay the Mordida EVERYTIME it works out to my advantage. I have no desire to reform THEIR system.

BTW, I have NEVER solicited the opportunity to pay and go. I have ALWAYS done as the Official instructed. Whichever way that goes.

In the meantime, you (along with Annie) can keep thinking about "Tomorrow, Tomorrow" and I'll do as I please TODAY.

CDB - 6-25-2011 at 10:51 AM

I moved a whole household of stuff one pickup or minivan load at a time going through the Mexicali crossing. Even with the pickup loaded to the lumber rack with furniture, I was never stopped, just waved through. My last time down I got the red light to go to the inspection area, but was once again waved through. Go figure.

Jim/Liisa - 6-25-2011 at 11:24 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by CDB
I moved a whole household of stuff one pickup or minivan load at a time going through the Mexicali crossing. Even with the pickup loaded to the lumber rack with furniture, I was never stopped, just waved through. My last time down I got the red light to go to the inspection area, but was once again waved through. Go figure.


Have you gone over lately since they have changed the agents?

nbacc - 6-26-2011 at 06:45 AM

Lately? How lately are you talking about? How often do they change agents? Nancy

Jim/Liisa - 6-26-2011 at 05:19 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by nbacc
Lately? How lately are you talking about? How often do they change agents? Nancy


President Colderon Ordered All the existing agents replaced by younger more educated and trained persons that have to pass a security check. Most all the old Agents where let go due to bribes and other reasons.

I think this took place I'm only guessing about 2 years ago.

Jim/Liisa - 6-27-2011 at 10:50 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by nbacc
Lately? How lately are you talking about? How often do they change agents? Nancy


Here's an artical about the change of Agents at Mexican border...

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2009/08/200981725850217193.html

nbacc - 6-27-2011 at 12:11 PM

The change did not work............At least not at the border in El Centro.

Jim/Liisa - 6-27-2011 at 04:33 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by nbacc
The change did not work............At least not at the border in El Centro.


You meen Calexico/ Mexicali? Anybody with a loaded pickup or trailer that I have seen has been pulled over even with a green light.
I'm sure when backed up you may get away with not being pulled over.
I to will be taking used funiture and new fixtures down soon. not looking forward to the out come with these Agents. So far since I have been going down with a loaded pickup they have checked the bed and the cab.
One realy stupid question one Agent had asked was what I intended to do with the empty gas cans? I told him for gas when I get down to San Felipe. Then I repied they are suppose to be empty when you cross the border arent they?

[Edited on 6-28-2011 by Jim/Liisa]

nbacc - 6-28-2011 at 06:41 AM

supposed to be but have never had them taken away and they were full. Nancy

Sneaky dude

mcfez - 6-28-2011 at 07:06 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by CDB
I moved a whole household of stuff one pickup or minivan load at a time going through the Mexicali crossing. Even with the pickup loaded to the lumber rack with furniture, I was never stopped, just waved through. My last time down I got the red light to go to the inspection area, but was once again waved through. Go figure.


Well....I see you made it home Chuck.

Too bad we forgot to give you those Boysenberries as you drove off to the sunset. Wonder what the tax would had been for five pounds :lol:

Pescador - 6-28-2011 at 04:10 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by oladulce
Can you park in the declare area at Tecate when towing a trailer without blocking traffic? We'd much prefer to cross there with small importations but haven't wanted to risk causing a traffic jam and irritating the customs fellows.


When you enter at Tecate, there are three lanes, far left and far right are no declare lanes, the one in the center is a declare lane, which is usually closed. I asked the officer there where I should park and she said in the center, come across and declare, then take either lane, to the right or left and go through.