BajaNomad

15 hp honda going south, any duty?

Howard - 7-15-2015 at 02:58 PM

Looking for first hand experience or someone who knows the actual rules on bringing down a 10 year old Honda 15 HP kicker motor. It will go on a boat that is already down south.

Worst case scenario, if discovered in secondary in the back of my camper, is there duty to be paid or is it a freebee crossing the border? I most certainly will get pulled into secondary as I will be in a cab over camper and if they find it which they will, as there is no real place to hide it, what happens?

If I thought it was truly a freebee or cheap enough I would go to the declare lane and fess up and pay a small amount.

Anyone with personal experience on the actual rules?

woody with a view - 7-15-2015 at 03:03 PM

they will think you want to sell it. try to get a fake receipt for maintenance and they might believe you. or show them your TIP and tell them it's for that boat. good luck.

Howard - 7-15-2015 at 03:07 PM

Woody, I thought the same thing about they think it would be for sale.

Anyone know the actual duty % and if it can be done at the TJ crossing?

rts551 - 7-15-2015 at 03:09 PM

First hand experience on a johnson 15hp. Did not care that it went on a boat. Wanted tax/duty. I had a receipt..did not matter, he went right to a book and looked up the value. This was in Tecate 3 years ago.

Bob and Susan - 7-15-2015 at 03:09 PM

nope...you pay

I brought 2 tranmissions up for rebuilds...paid import

I brought down a replacement engine for my car...paid import

you need to document the year...use the serial number to find the year

then a value...you can google that

document both just in case

then let them value it
if you don't agree...bring out the papers

they can google it for value...
tax is 16% of the value

Howard - 7-15-2015 at 03:32 PM

Just out of curiosity, what if there is an impasse on the price? I give them a receipt, they disagree and where do they get their price from, they actually take the time to Google it?



If need be I can pay the 16% on say around $500-$1,000, do you think that price on the receipt will fly? Is there a penalty if I don't declare it, they find it or just pay the 16%?



I am a Residente Pemenente, does that give me any financial breaks?

SFandH - 7-15-2015 at 04:03 PM

First hand, real world experience, maybe 3 years ago.

I went south through TJ with a used outboard (40 hp) in my trunk.

Stopped to declare it. They turned me around, wouldn't let me in, told me I had to go through Otay during business hours M-F.

Alm - 7-16-2015 at 12:40 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Howard  

Anyone know the actual duty % and if it can be done at the TJ crossing?

I "think" it's a usual 16%. Another question is: 16% of what price?

No, TJ doesn't collect any tax, everything is free, just don't tell anybody :lol:
Quote: Originally posted by Howard  

Is there a penalty if I don't declare it, they find it

Why would people ever declare anything if there was no penalty, what do you think? Don't remember how much penalty, they gave me a flyer once in TJ after I had declared and paid for some solar stuff, and there were some horrible words in the flyer like 200% or 300% and "confiscation". Another question is - will they apply this penalty or not.
Quote: Originally posted by Howard  

I am a Residente Pemenente, does that give me any financial breaks?

It did - when you were moving in. Now that you've already moved, you have same rights (if not less) as a Mexican. Meaning, 16% on anything over $US 300 per person exemption.

And, as usual, the big question is - will they follow the letter of the law or not. Typically, it's enough to mention that this is all for your "casita", to bring the heat a few notches down. Status in itself doesn't matter much, but not being a transient does, as I've noticed.

[Edited on 7-16-2015 by Alm]

Bob and Susan - 7-16-2015 at 04:43 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Howard  
Just out of curiosity, what if there is an impasse on the price? I give them a receipt, they disagree and where do they get their price from, they actually take the time to Google it?

If need be I can pay the 16% on say around $500-$1,000, do you think that price on the receipt will fly? Is there a penalty if I don't declare it, they find it or just pay the 16%?

I am a Residente Pemenente, does that give me any financial breaks?


when I imported my tractor I had a receipt...they still looked it up on ebay by googling it for a price

you CAN haggle if you are close...but their word is final

I see people getting caught at the border all the time...they are treated differently and ALWAYS pay...I think its still 16% but everything is included

I've heard all sorts of stories here about a free amount...if you have something that's not coming back you pay...

a boat motor without a boat is taxed...remember you can be stopped even AFTER you cross...keep your receipt

it's only fair...you would want this to happen in the usa

BAJA.DESERT.RAT - 7-16-2015 at 04:53 AM

HOLA Howard,

two different friends and at two different times brought new honda outboards down to los barriles.

they had receipts from mechanics that stated they brought the motors to the U.S. for warranty work and are returning BACK to with the motors.

they did declare the motors and they were allowed in without fees.

so, if you know a mechanic or can just shop around for one that will give you a receipt, you should be home free.

if need be, just go to a honda outboard motor shop and buy some oil or whatever and start doctoring up the bill.

better still, if you can mount it on a boat and go across you should be fine as long as you have the boats' papers.

good luck,

BIEN SALUD, DA RAT

chuckie - 7-16-2015 at 04:58 AM

Whats wrong with just doing it right? Why do so many people try to cheat the Mexicans on stuff like this..Are they just cheap? I guess so....If you cant afford to live in Baja, Don't live in Baja....

MICK - 7-16-2015 at 06:00 AM

The question is, will the motor stay in Baja forever? If the boat will come back to the states then your not cheating them by not paying the tax. Having a rubber raft or boat to take it across is not cheating in that case. If it is going to stay in Baja then just be reasonable and declare it. If the price is near what it is worth then you will be OK. I never have a problem if I declare a reasonable amount. It never hurts if it looks old also.
Good luck
Mick

BajaRat - 7-16-2015 at 11:25 AM

Quote: Originally posted by chuckie  
Whats wrong with just doing it right? Why do so many people try to cheat the Mexicans on stuff like this..Are they just cheap? I guess so....If you cant afford to live in Baja, Don't live in Baja....



You're really gonna p off The Donald chuckie :lol:
Oh and Howard, buy another motor, pay the import on both, sell one and pay for the whole shebang with the profit. Win win Viva Mexico !


[Edited on 7-16-2015 by BajaRat]

chuckie - 7-16-2015 at 12:24 PM

Ah well!!!! Some days are like that....Just cant get the point in trying to cheat the Mexicans...I have been hauling stuff down there for over thirty years....Put it in the truck or on the trailer, in plain sight.if they ask ,.tell em what you have at the border....Sometimes they want duty, sometimes they don't...all seems to be a wash in the long run....

Alm - 7-16-2015 at 07:00 PM

Wow... The OP didn't ask how to trick the Aduaneros. Nomads, hospitable as usual, offered plenty advice on that ;) .... And those ideas sound feasible to me. But Aduana word is final, always.

What "free amount"? There is $300 exemption per person, nothing else. If items are coming back North, you might get lucky and avoid paying, but I would like to hear first-hand accounts on that. There should be some paperwork done, they will enter some info into computers. They offered me such an option once, and I declined, I prefer to pay 16% than worrying about things that may or may not happen if I don't bring it back.

Btw, I don't understand the comments on not being able to afford to live in Baja. Depending on how you live, it can be cheaper than NOB. If you've got used to have money to burn NOB, and are doing the same in Baja - it's up to you. Most gringos that I've seen, are trying to stay within their budgets, often rather modest.

Hook - 7-16-2015 at 07:20 PM

I think the 300.00 exemption is for items deemed "personal goods", or some such descriptor. I doubt an outboard would qualify.

Look at it this way, Howard. If you buy it in the US AND pay the 16%, it's still much cheaper than buying it new in Mexico.

I never declare, have been caught, and have never been "fined" at Nogales. They just make you pay the 16%.

But dont try and offer the agent a lesser amount as a "bribe". Those days are over, at my crossing. Everything monetary occurs in the oficina, these days. Going the bribe route might dramatically increase your chances of a heavy fine...............or worse.:o

SteveWil - 7-16-2015 at 11:05 PM

If you were bring it down with a small inflatable there would be no problem, It is anybody guess if you will be charge any tax with only a motor. Had a friend that took down a 9.8 down with no problem.

chuckie - 7-17-2015 at 02:18 AM

Well that makes it easy...Just buy a boat to avoid the tax on the motor..

pangajohn - 7-17-2015 at 07:06 AM

3 motors in 3 years crossing at Mexicalli visable in trailer. Honda 115, honda 75 and a 15hp kicker. No questions. "Have a nice trip".
Maybe just really lucky or because I had my dog?

chuckie - 7-17-2015 at 07:11 AM

That's been my experience, don't play games, no problems....I mean were talking 100 150 bucks here, chump change....

vandenberg - 7-17-2015 at 07:31 AM

Quote: Originally posted by chuckie  
That's been my experience, don't play games, no problems....I mean were talking 100 150 bucks here, chump change....



Nice to be affluent !!:biggrin::biggrin:

chuckie - 7-17-2015 at 08:09 AM

Nope just realistic, with the money most folks have already invested in Baja, it is what it is.....

Alm - 7-17-2015 at 10:01 AM

Hook - no, $300 by land or $500 by air (since last year) is exemption on top of duty-free personal items, and can be anything as long as it's not prohibited. They don't care whether you bring ten boxes of new flip-flops (personal item), or an outboard - you pay tax on the part exceeding $300. Only construction materials are taxed from the very first board and nail, no exemption.

Very little can be included in duty free personal items - as I recall, it's 2 photo cameras, one laptop, a suitcase of two of clothes etc. Stuff that a tourist would bring on a few weeks vacation.