BajaNomad - border crossing with stuff

border crossing with stuff

absinvestor - 12-30-2011 at 08:36 AM

I am bringing back with me to El Burro a new refrigerator, a new house generator and an internet satellite dish. Currently the refrigerator is in the original shipping crate and the generator and satellite dish are in shipping boxes. It is obvious that these 3 items are brand new. I am crossing the border in a motorhome with tow car. I would like to leave the refrigerator in the shipping crate but I can remove it and make it look like more like a second motorhome refrigerator. I will cross at Tecate. Any opinions as to whether to "unwrap" the new stuff?

DENNIS - 12-30-2011 at 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by absinvestor
I am bringing back with me to El Burro a new refrigerator, a new house generator and an internet satellite dish. Currently the refrigerator is in the original shipping crate and the generator and satellite dish are in shipping boxes. It is obvious that these 3 items are brand new. I am crossing the border in a motorhome with tow car. I would like to leave the refrigerator in the shipping crate but I can remove it and make it look like more like a second motorhome refrigerator. I will cross at Tecate. Any opinions as to whether to "unwrap" the new stuff?

Sure. Make it look used. Throw a six-pak in there if it will soothe your conscience. Make up a few "adjusted" receipts as well.
While you're doing these things, keep in mind your country-men who are being extorted by cops in Mexico for not having their dogs in freakin' seat belts, or didn't stop at invisible stop signs.

The days of searching for moral high ground are over. It's all about the money now.

absinvestor - 12-30-2011 at 08:53 AM

Thanks. Looking at the drinks the wife has bought to bring back we'll have many items to put in that extra refrig.

David K - 12-30-2011 at 08:55 AM

Or you could abide by local laws and just offer to pay the tax... Even easier, is to buy these things in Mexico? Whichever is cheaper, I guess?

BajaBlanca - 12-30-2011 at 08:56 AM

we just crossed 2 days ago with a bunch of new items .... "officially" we were told that we had the right to $150.00 each

The customs inspector asked us how much we had and then he actually lowered it a bit and taxed us on the lower amount LOL

we came out waaaaaaaaaay ahead. whew.

absinvestor - 12-30-2011 at 09:25 AM

David K- I was more worried about the hassle and time delay than paying the tax.(Trying to park a motorhome with tow car in Tecate is a real challenge!) I wanted a certain brand of a propane refrig that was not available in Mexico. The generator and satellite dish are portable and will be used as much in the US as in Mexico but the refrigerator will be permanently used in Mexico. Guess I should be more familar with the local laws- what Mexican tax would I legally owe and where and how would I pay it??

larryC - 12-30-2011 at 09:41 AM

The tax is somewher near 16 to 17%. The sat dishes that I have brought accross have never been a problem. Generators, they always seem to look at. I would take the refer out of the crate and make it look like it was being used in the motor home. Who knows at Tecate you may just get the green light and go right through. If you do get questioned about values just be aware that they have the ability to check prices of things on the internet, so you can't low ball it too much.
Good luck
Larry
PS the tax is paid right there at the border crossing, you'll get a reciept and everything.

[Edited on 12-30-2011 by larryC]

David K - 12-30-2011 at 09:42 AM

What Larry said...

absinvestor - 12-30-2011 at 09:52 AM

Thanks. Helpful info as alway. Ron

Woooosh - 12-30-2011 at 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS

Quote:

I'm with Dennis... take a shot at a green light and drive right through if you can. The refer will be "used" or "in use" and as you said, the satellite dish and portable generator will go back and forth with you across the border and is not meant to be left behind in Mexico. Unlike the USA, there is no shame in trying to get around paying a fee. They expect you to try to get through without paying and will treat you just as nice if you get caught as if you had pulled over to the "declaration lane" straight away.

[Edited on 12-30-2011 by Woooosh]

Lee - 12-30-2011 at 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Woooosh
Unlike the USA, there is no shame in trying to get around paying a fee. They expect you to try to get through without paying and will treat you just as nice if you get caught as if you had pulled over to the "declaration lane" straight away.

[Edited on 12-30-2011 by Woooosh]

Bingo!

Still, have your paperwork in order and be prepared for the red light scenario. No sweat.

vgabndo - 12-30-2011 at 02:49 PM

Maybe I was wrong, but I thought it was a game from the start!

My washing machine had never been wet, but by the time I was through antiquing it and packing it so the lid couldn't be opened, it went through on it's "adjusted" receipt without even a raised eyebrow. Cheap!

I once took almost all the materials for a 7 x 8 foot bodega disguised as a 48" tall "camper shell" on my PU bed utility trailer!
I paid duty on the contents, some studs and siding, a concrete mixer, but the rafters, roofing, windows, right down to the Simpson hardware was screwed into the "camper". :lol:

I say enjoy the game. For many years, almost all of our extra money went into traveling to and building a casita in Mexico. Thousands of dollars, a few hundred pesos at a time, was plugged into the Loreto economy as our primary shopping spot. To make it possible for us to do that, I saved all I could at the border.

nbacc - 1-1-2012 at 05:37 PM

Everything is negoiated............depends on who you are talking to at the moment. Just be prepared to pay "something" WE have taken lots of things through, some big and some small. the big stuff we declared and hummmmmmm different everytime. Enjoy the adventure!!!!!!!!!!! Nancy

Bajafun777 - 1-2-2012 at 10:15 AM

Yea, the percentage Mexico charges to bring things into Mexico should be the same for them on the way into the USA. The percentage which is close to 17% is high and just another means to get into your pocket. However, what the heck didn't we just give Mexico the NAFTA agreement because it was all in favor of USA, Yea Right!! LOL Have friends that do trucking business and they won't agree with anyone that NAFTA was good for American Business. I guess what I am saying is that as usual the USA does itself in and does not make other Countries not just Mexico play fair back with us. We won't even discuss China because our dealings with them are totally worse than anything we have done with Mexico.

If you do not have receipts go to a store that sells the make of whatever you have and pull sales receipt of them to put on your things. We did this with a washer and dryer we took over and there was no problem. Make sure you have Mexican Money as they make you pay at the bank for whatever they charge if they do it the correct way. Seems like the old days of $20 dollars slipping into someones hand to cross something over without all the B.S. is gone which is probably a good thing in some areas,LOL. Take Care & Travel Safe---- "No Hurry, No Worry, Just FUN" bajafun777

propane

captkw - 1-2-2012 at 10:58 AM

hola,and not long ago the "game" the other direction,,getting freon, back across the border into Sd by pianting the bottle's (freon) to look like propane...LOL.......K&T

absinvestor - 1-2-2012 at 08:12 PM

Thanks but Larry C and BajaFun seem to have a difference of opinion on where the money is paid. The nearest bank is 3 or 4 blocks away and parking a larger motorhome with tow car at the bank could be a nightmare. Does anybody know for sure whether it is paid at the bank or border crossing. (If I need to drive and park at the bank I may leave the car on the US side and return for it??) Thanks again for all the good info.

absinvestor - 1-2-2012 at 08:41 PM

Also, I was going to cross on Sunday and the bank would not be open?

BajaWarrior - 1-3-2012 at 05:26 AM

http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=55856&pag...

Update on Taking Imports Through Tecate -

In a word - Easy. (With an interesting twist at the end!)

As stated in my original question, I was more concerned about the parking for two full sized pickups, both with trailers, rather than the importation process itself.

We arrived at the border at about 7:30 am and were the only ones in the DECLARE area. Plenty of room to park the two trailers. One parked in the actual lane under the roof structure. The other one farther back in the lane leaving a gap for the semi truck traffic crossing right to left on their way to the US crossing.

I had two lists/manifests/receipts prepared, one for each vehicle. One list had six items for about $700 USD. The other list had about 25 items for about $1,500 USD.

When I entered the Aduana office, there were three officials standing there having coffee around a plate of donuts/pastries on the counter. They all kinda glanced at each other trying to decide who was going to have their breakfast interrupted. They looked at the stacks of papers I put on the counter and finally one put down his cup and said "let's go look". He took a quick look in the truck parked at the office, (with the short list), looked up the road at the other truck and must have decided that the 150 ft was too far to walk and that his coffee was getting cold.

We returned to the office, they nodded to me and toward the platter, the officer filled out the declaration form, and I had a piece of pastry. Walked next door to the bank, HSBC, paid with pesos, No Dollars Accepted, and returned to Aduana.

The fee was about 1/3 of what I expected and on the way back into the office realized that the declaration/payment was only for the first vehicle with the $700 value. I pointed this out and distinctly said that I wanted to process both without moving the two trailers.

The officer just shrugged his shoulders, and said in english, "Oh, just go. You'll probably get the green light anyway." And continued breakfast discussions with the other guys!

[Edited on 11-14-2011 by RnR]
To ElCap - Sorry, just noticed your U2U from about two weeks ago. Hope everything went well.

[Edited on 11-14-2011 by RnR]

larryC - 1-3-2012 at 01:56 PM

When I said that the tax is paid right there, I was thinking of San Ysidro, my bad, Tecate is probably different. San ysidro is really easy for me, so that is where I usually cross when heading south.
Larry

yellowklr - 1-3-2012 at 04:40 PM

Blanca mentioned that they told her she gets 150 Per Person exemption.......last time I checked its 75 per person did something change? Or is this fee she was quoted maybe for Mexcian Citizens???

DENNIS - 1-3-2012 at 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by yellowklr
Blanca mentioned that they told her she gets 150 Per Person exemption.......last time I checked its 75 per person did something change? Or is this fee she was quoted maybe for Mexcian Citizens???

I've been told a half dozen different things at the border including I get nothing because I'm not a National.
We just have to play the cards as they're dealt on the day we cross.
Eeees Meseeeco.