I read that liquor, if more than one-liter, can be brought back but you will be taxed at the border. Has anyone dealt with this?
With a SENTRI card I don't care to challenge "the system" and risk having SENTRI revoked.
John MDavid K - 11-14-2022 at 08:50 PM
3 cans per person, age 21+AKgringo - 11-14-2022 at 08:59 PM
When I crossed back a few weeks ago, I had some Heineken 0.0 in my ice chest. I didn't even think about declaring them, but I wonder if non-alcohol
brews even count?mtgoat666 - 11-14-2022 at 09:30 PM
I read that liquor, if more than one-liter, can be brought back but you will be taxed at the border. Has anyone dealt with this?
With a SENTRI card I don't care to challenge "the system" and risk having SENTRI revoked.
John M
Tell them you are a sovereign citizen and you do not recognize the usa government and you are not subject to usa laws.
Goat --
John M - 11-14-2022 at 09:49 PM
I'm sure that'll work...I probably will decline your suggestion.
JMJZ - 11-14-2022 at 10:11 PM
Probably not much.
Not sure any MX beers would be worth risking your Sentri pass.
Cross with a couple 6-pack's or so, or a couple growlers, and I'm sure you'd be ok.
David K - 11-14-2022 at 10:15 PM
John, you have the early manuscript of my road guide. The answer I gave above is in it, too. John Harper - 11-15-2022 at 08:24 AM
It's still a liter of alcohol (beer, wine, tequila, etc.) isn't it? No matter the proof or ABV.
Johnmtgoat666 - 11-15-2022 at 08:36 AM
from CBP
Alcoholic Beverages
One American liter (33.8 fl. oz.) of alcoholic beverages may be included in your returning resident personal exemption if:
-- You are at least 21 years old.
-- It is intended exclusively for your personal use and not for sale.
-- It does not violate the laws of the state in which you arrive.
Federal and state regulations allow you to bring back one liter of an alcoholic beverage for personal use duty-free. However, states may allow you to
bring back more than one liter, but you will have to pay any applicable Customs duty and IRT.
While federal regulations do not specify a limit on the amount of alcohol you may bring back beyond the personal exemption amount, unusual quantities
may raise suspicions that you are importing the alcohol for other purposes, such as for resale. CBP officers enforce the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,
Firearms and Explosives (ATF) laws, rules, and regulations and are authorized to make on-the-spot determinations that an importation is for commercial
purposes. If such determination is made, it may require you to obtain a permit and file a formal entry to import the alcohol before the alcohol is
released. If you intend to bring back a substantial quantity of alcohol for your personal use, you should contact the U.S. Port of Entry (POE) through
which you will be re-entering and make prior arrangements for the importation.
Also, state laws might limit the amount of alcohol you can bring in without a license. If you arrive in a state that has limitations on the amount of
alcohol you may bring in without a license, that state's law will be enforced by CBP, even though it may be more restrictive than federal regulations.
We recommend that you check with the state government about their limitations on quantities allowed for personal importation and additional state
taxes that may apply. Ideally, this information should be obtained before traveling.
In brief, for both alcohol and cigarettes, the quantities eligible for duty-free treatment may be included in your [$200,] $800 or $1,600 returning
resident personal exemption, just as any other purchase should be. But unlike other kinds of merchandise, amounts beyond those discussed here as being
duty-free are taxed, even if you have not exceeded, or even met, your personal exemption. For example, your exemption is $800 and you bring
back three liters of wine and nothing else, two of those liters will be dutiable and IR taxed. Federal law prohibits business-to-private
consumer shipping of alcoholic beverages by mail within the United States.
[Edited on 11-15-2022 by mtgoat666]David K - 11-15-2022 at 08:48 AM
When spefically asked about beer cans, the border agent said to me THREE (yes that is 36 oz total) but close enough to the one liter limit per person.
Just keep things easy and drink all your beer while in Baja... Same thing for produce. While many fruits and veggies are permitted, some border agents
are not familiar with which ones (even though they have the list) and still may send you to Secondary (where they will send you on your way with the
permitted produce). Just give away uneaten produce to the military checkpoint guys if you don't have any other place to donate. The Secondary wait may
be 20 minutes before they come out to tell you to go home.
Other forbidden items are eggs, uncooked chicken, and pork (even if it is U.S. deli meat). Once a product goes into Mexico, it is considered from
Mexico when you cross back north. No plants, sea shells, or excessive soil on your vehicle from off roading.
David K - 11-15-2022 at 08:57 AM
Yes, eggs, un-cooked chicken, any kind of pork product (along with a few fruits and vegetable are forbidden. Doesn't matter if they are from the U.S.
because once in Mexico, they are Mexican. The fear of economic disaster from some Latin American disease attacking U.S. produce is enough.
Many years ago at Tecate, my ice chest was inspected and it had an unopened package of Oscar Meyer deli slices... Confiscated with a big warning from
the U.S. official. He then gave me the list of approved/ forbidden items crossing north from Mexico. I hope he had some good sandwiches that night.
LOL
Here is a more recent list I picked up but it is about the same as the one from 20 years ago:
Tell them you are a sovereign citizen and you do not recognize the usa government and you are not subject to usa laws.
Seems like I always get behind someone who does that. dravnx - 11-18-2022 at 04:07 PM
I'm travelling, not driving. TMW - 11-18-2022 at 06:49 PM
Just remember John, it doesn't matter if the beer you bring back is Mexican or American it all count. As David said 3 beers per person of legal age.
Also 1 fifth of liquor per person and you don't pay any tax on it unless they've changed the law in the last year.TMW - 11-18-2022 at 06:52 PM
As I said 3 beers per person even if you take it down with you from the US side.David K - 11-18-2022 at 09:35 PM
