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oladulce
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Duty free allowance with an FM2?
When entering Mexico by vehicle, is it true that the duty free allowance is greater with an FM2 or 3 than the $50 you get with a tourist card? If so,
how much can I deduct from the my importation total?
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wessongroup
Platinum Nomad
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Mood: Suicide Hot line ... please hold
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What total .... 
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oladulce
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I'm trying to keep the "value" of the items we'll declare to less than $1000, so the "total" we will claim will depend on how much we can lop off the
top (if any). 
I haven't imported anything since I've had an FM2 and didn't know if the rumor was true that the allowance is greater than with a FMM
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Gypsy Jan
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$400 for Items for Personal Use
That's my understanding.
No need to declare. Take everything out of boxes and bang it up a little bit to make it look used.(Just kidding.)
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow mindedness.”
—Mark Twain
\"La vida es dura, el corazon es puro, y cantamos hasta la madrugada.” (Life is hard, the heart is pure and we sing until dawn.)
—Kirsty MacColl, Mambo de la Luna
\"Alea iacta est.\"
—Julius Caesar
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vandenberg
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We're in the same boat. Will return from Sacramento shortly with "some goodies"
Somehow I was under the impression that the allowance was $300.00 per person.
Tell me it is so, someone.
And your traffic report from the 5 and 405, has me again convinced to go the Bakersfield, 395 & 15 way, to get to the line. Thanks.
[Edited on 4-12-2011 by vandenberg]
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GC
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We just brought some patio furniture down through Otay and they took $75 off each for my wife and I. I thought it was supposed to be $150 each with
an FM-2, but failed to convince anyone. Still think it should be $150--be sure to point out that you are a legal resident with an FM-2 to the person
who values your goods and you might get the greater amount deducted. They charged us 16% duty on the ajusted total.
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DENNIS
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I believe the decision to give allowances is arbitrary. I've been told two or three amounts by the Mex inspectors, but came away with the conclusion
the allowance is for everybody, FM or not.
There's also an allowance for US bound traffic. Nothing new.
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akshadow
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I think there is a different amount for FMM if you fly compared to driving. Lower if driving. I have had them "exemp" nothing, $75 for each my wife
and I, and one time $450 each when we brought back a washer and a dryer. I have never gotten a definitive answer that I could reference back to a
regulation.
What ever the inspector and or the supervisor say it is, is what the regulation is for that time and trip.
Ron San Felipe Oct, Nov. Feb. Mar. April. remainder in Juneau Ak
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vandenberg
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So it seems that the way to go is, send some scouts out ahead of you, to get the rate for the day, report by cell ( hope it works that day), and, if
it doesn't suit you, wait for a better day. Then, better be fast, before it changes.
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Dave
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
I believe the decision to give allowances is arbitrary. |
Of the same opinion. I'm constantly told there are increased limits for FM3/2 holders yet can find no evidence to support it. Neither can I find
exceptions for Mexican citizens other that typically around Christmas where there's usually an increase.
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mtgoat666
Platinum Nomad
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| Quote: | Originally posted by vandenberg
So it seems that the way to go is, send some scouts out ahead of you, to get the rate for the day, report by cell ( hope it works that day), and, if
it doesn't suit you, wait for a better day. Then, better be fast, before it changes. |
actually, the solution is smuggling. everyone does it, so it must be OK!
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Dave
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Smart
| Quote: | Originally posted by oladulce
I'm trying to keep the "value" of the items we'll declare to less than $1000, so the "total" we will claim will depend on how much we can lop off the
top (if any).
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Typically, anything over 10,000 pesos and Aduana strongly suggests you use an importer. They have redirected me to Otay on several occasions.
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oladulce
Super Nomad
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The bed of our truck looks loaded because of a bunch of small and bulky items like glass block and buckets of concrete color even though the actual
value of the items isn't huge. The chauffeur doesn't want to risk getting redirected to Otay Mesa from the San Ysidro crossing since we're towing a
travel trailer, so we'll just start off at Otay. I'll let you know what the personal-allowance-of-the-day is for tomorrow and whether it made any
difference to present our FM2's.
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marv sherrill
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how do they know if its a "one time " declaration?
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Dave
Neither can I find exceptions for Mexican citizens other that typically around Christmas where there's usually an increase. |
Contrary to the Urban Folklore that says the rules are relaxed...in the interest of Christmas Spirit.
yuk yuk yuk
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
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| Quote: | Originally posted by oladulce
The bed of our truck looks loaded because of a bunch of small and bulky items like glass block and buckets of concrete color even though the actual
value of the items isn't huge. |
Unfortunately, building materials [not only wood] are high on the sht-list. Hope that doesn't affect your crossing.
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tiotomasbcs
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Look for this on previous posts. Many of us have come thru Otay with trailers full of used goods, ie furniture, etc. Make up your own invoice! They
were impressed with Chico's Used Furniture- East LA, and I valued allmy own stuff down to 1/4 it's value: I mean Chico?! They were satisfied and
didn't leave the office to inspect my goods. Unless they look real shiny/new, you put the value! Nothing new: beat it up, scratch it up, throw
dirt on it! Just appear ready to pay your taxes but on one quarter the value. Drive away smiling and you actually did pay for your import of
goods!! Tio
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MitchMan
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I crossed two times at TJ with household goods, one of which I was also pulling my boat across on the way to La Paz
The first time, everything that was new, I put on the bottom under all the used stuff and out of sight. I covered most stuff completely with used
bath towels that were of faded and different colors. Just for good measure, I threw several rolls of unwrapped toilet paper indescriminately about,
but made sure they were in plain view. Made sure that all my windows were dirty and the car was obviously unwashed. I wore beat up old ragged
clothes. They asked me what I thought the overall value of everything was. I told them that everything was used and old and not worth more than $300
total. (Actually, the value of the new and used stuff together was probably closer to $3,000.) He waved me on after looking at the "mess" in the
back of the dirty SUV.
The next tme thru I was pulling my boat. They waived me over and the only problem they had with me was the fact that I had my kicker out boar hp
motor in the bed of the truck (and not on the boat itself) in the original box that the 8 hp motor came in. They said the problem was that it looked
like I was hauling the 8 hp motor into Baja to sell it, otherwise, they said, it would have been mounted on the boat and not in the box. They let me
get through only because the manager was too busy to come over to my truck to assess the value of the motor. I lucked out.
[Edited on 4-13-2011 by MitchMan]
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Dave
Elite Nomad
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Duude!
| Quote: | Originally posted by MitchMan
Just for good measure, I threw several rolls of unwrapped toilet paper indescriminately about, but made sure they were in plain view. Made sure that
all my windows were dirty and the car was obviously unwashed. I wore beat up old ragged clothes. |
Too funny.
You don't have to work that hard...really. Mexican customs agents didn't just fall off turnip trucks. You're not pulling a fast one. People
get away with stuff either cause they're not worth messing with or they have bigger fish to fry.
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toneart
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If you get the green light, sometimes they will pull you over anyway. That has happened to me at San Ysidro. At Tecate, most of the time they want to
inspect. But sometimes they are not even looking at the vehicle as I cross.
They have never asked me for my immigration documentation. They are only interested in what you are carrying on which they can charge duty. So, my
point is, whether you have an FM2, FM3, or FMM it doesn't seem to matter.
If you do have an FM2 or FM3, you might pull that card to see if they are any more lenient. If you are actually importing anything of value it is best
to make an invoice of your own and actually declare before the inspection begins.
Again, consistency is not a Mexican virtue. Can you spell w-h-i-m?
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