Duty on appliances

Import Duty RE: Appliances

Hey Jeff!
There's a lot of variables you've got to look at when balancing the difference in the costs:
What kind of Visa do you have?
Do you plan on making one "big trip down" with a household's worth of brand new appliances, or are you bringing one or two slightly used units?
Have you already taken advantage of the "menaje de casa" one-time exemption?

If you're driving across the Border into Baja Norte, bringing a brand new washer/dryer combo (for example) you'll be looking at a 25% import duty tax.

At the Border, you're supposed to stop at the Aduana (Customs) office before crossing, and provide a list of the items you're bringing, along with the value of each item (For stuff you've just purchased, bring the receipts too.).
The Aduana agent will check the total declared value of the items, and after subtracting the ($50?) allowance each traveller gets automatically, will tell you what the 25% duty works out to.

I've heard from other folks that they've (very gently) complained to individual Aduana agents about the excessive duties and had their fees reduced, but I'm not sure how "legal" that'd be.

Pay the duty, take your receipt and head back to your vehicle. Drive to one of the "Items to Declare" lanes, and wait to see if you get the red light or the green light. If you get a red, pull into the inspection area where you're directed, and hand over your import duty tax receipt along with your declaration form. After the inspection's finished, you're all finished with the importation-related stuff for good.

After all of that stuff, combined with the hassle of (maybe) needing a trailer for your appliances, or at least filling up your vehicle with appliances, you might want to think twice about buying your appliances in Baja.

A friend of mine told me he checked with the Costco website to confirm the prices, then faxed the (Mexican!) store location directly to confirm them, and realized he could buy them at a Costco in Baja without all the Customs BS or hauling stuff from the SF Bay area to Cabo San Lucas. He bought the same "Kirkland" brand W/D combo from (Mexican) Costco that I have at my US residence. It's made by the Whirlpool factory, and he paid pretty much the same as what I paid up in the US.

Good luck, and drive safely! Cameron

Freezer?

Local Economic Development...

Amen!

The 25% is on new - much different for used.

We buy all our appliances here

And they usually work

There are many used appliance places in Baja, two of them, right down the street from me. They both carry some killer antique stoves and appliances as well as the refurbished items. They offer immediate service on any appliance if need be.
Electra is a major chain here in Mexico and it is similar to Sears although not nearly as extensive. They carry lots of name brand appliances, furniture, tv's and stereos for around the same prices as the u.s.

Where do you get your new appliances

Different Duty Depending on Port of Entry?

Elektra

must be a real fancy "pawn shop" as they are everywhere. Haven't seen anything used in there either.
Also, a pretty inexpensive way to transfer funds if the need arrises.
Machados is one of the two I was referring to! They have supplied the "neighborhood".

Duty on Appliances

Quote:

Originally posted by Cameron Hey Jeff! There's a lot of variables you've got to look at when balancing the difference in the costs: What kind of Visa do you have? Do you plan on making one "big trip down" with a household's worth of brand new appliances, or are you bringing one or two slightly used units? Have you already taken advantage of the "menaje de casa" one-time exemption? If you're driving across the Border into Baja Norte, bringing a brand new washer/dryer combo (for example) you'll be looking at a 25% import duty tax. At the Border, you're supposed to stop at the Aduana (Customs) office before crossing, and provide a list of the items you're bringing, along with the value of each item (For stuff you've just purchased, bring the receipts too.). The Aduana agent will check the total declared value of the items, and after subtracting the ($50?) allowance each traveller gets automatically, will tell you what the 25% duty works out to. I've heard from other folks that they've (very gently) complained to individual Aduana agents about the excessive duties and had their fees reduced, but I'm not sure how "legal" that'd be. Pay the duty, take your receipt and head back to your vehicle. Drive to one of the "Items to Declare" lanes, and wait to see if you get the red light or the green light. If you get a red, pull into the inspection area where you're directed, and hand over your import duty tax receipt along with your declaration form. After the inspection's finished, you're all finished with the importation-related stuff for good. After all of that stuff, combined with the hassle of (maybe) needing a trailer for your appliances, or at least filling up your vehicle with appliances, you might want to think twice about buying your appliances in Baja. A friend of mine told me he checked with the Costco website to confirm the prices, then faxed the (Mexican!) store location directly to confirm them, and realized he could buy them at a Costco in Baja without all the Customs BS or hauling stuff from the SF Bay area to Cabo San Lucas. He bought the same "Kirkland" brand W/D combo from (Mexican) Costco that I have at my US residence. It's made by the Whirlpool factory, and he paid pretty much the same as what I paid up in the US. Good luck, and drive safely! Cameron

$1000 limit at customs?

In Otay the Customs Agent you would go to is in the parking lot right across from the government spot....

no problem...you just pay a different rate.

Gas Range...

Importing Appliances

electrical variations

Mex Electric