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OCEANUS
Nomad
Posts: 139
Registered: 10-11-2008
Location: Dana Point; L.A. Bay
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Rules for declaring items at the border?
I'm planning on bringing some furniture (bed, couches, table/chairs) down to our house in BOLA, and was unsure how to declare them at the crossing
(TJ). They will be very visible in an open bed trailer, and will definitely attract the attention of customs officials.
These items are all used, and have been given to us by family members. Do I still need to mock up some form of receipt so I can declare an amount for
a tax, or will these items be considered exempt?
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65410
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Declare anything you obtained in Mexico that you are bringing across the border. This is usually a question asked by U.S. officers ("What are you
bringing from Mexico?")... other questions include "How long were you in Mexico?" and "Where did you go in Mexico?" Don't lie... if the stuff was
given to you, then that is the truth.
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dtbushpilot
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3296
Registered: 1-11-2007
Location: Buena Vista BCS
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Mood: Tranquilo
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I think he's going South DK......
"Life is tough".....It's even tougher if you're stupid.....
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OCEANUS
Nomad
Posts: 139
Registered: 10-11-2008
Location: Dana Point; L.A. Bay
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David
I'm heading south to BOLA, crossing at San Ysidro.
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oladulce
Super Nomad
Posts: 1625
Registered: 5-30-2005
Location: bcs
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The items you described are not exempt from import duty but you don't need any receipts etc. There are a couple of ways to approach it.
1.- Tell the Mexican customs agent the items are used and you're unsure of their value and see what numbers they come up with. They will often
declare a value less than what you would have said. But this also leaves you at their whim and requires more effort on their part and they could feel
the need to scrutinize your cargo. This can also be more time consuming, and is not my preferred method.
2. Report to the agent that you have some "used furniture" and make a brief list - 1 bed, 2 sofas, table and chairs- and apply a garage sale/thrift
store price scale to come up the value of the load. Make it easy for the aduana agent and you'll have a happy aduana agent.
I used to get so worried about declaring used stuff I'd prepare a detailed itemized list, and start with an item's original price and depreciate it's
value for each year I'd owned it, factor in inflation and keep all my notes in case they wanted to confirm, which never happened. And then duh, I
finally realized they really don't care if the chair was your wedding gift in 1955 or you picked it up at the Goodwill on your way South. They will
not ask you for purchase receipts for something that's obviously used. If the total value of your declared items is less than $1000 you can cross at
the San Ysidro (TJ) border. Pay the duty and be on your way.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65410
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: | Originally posted by OCEANUS
David
I'm heading south to BOLA, crossing at San Ysidro. |
Wow, sorry... I was a bit too sleepy when I (thought) I read your question! LOL
Welcome to Nomad... beware that some Nomads can either be drunk or demented when responding/ posting here! 
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65410
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: | Originally posted by dtbushpilot
I think he's going South DK...... |
Then my post will apply when he goes back north (am I off the hook?)! 
Hey Dave, when are you going to post your Santa Isabel/ El Volcan trip report/ photos???
You have had ample time to make up a good one!
You hinted about it a couple times:
"I'm getting ready to start my report DK, it's difficult to know where to start, knowing that my story will be part of history is a humbling notion. I
have looked at my pictures and stared at my keyboard for over a day now and can't seem to find an appropriate opening line.....perhaps my buddy Osprey
could help me.........maybe something like "BANG BANG BANG BANG, four shots ripped through my flesh and I started on the biggest adventure of my
life"..........or maybe I should wait for help from a better writer.......dt
[Edited on 5-4-2011 by dtbushpilot] "
"I may go ahead and post the true story....I know what we agreed on in camp but I'm having a hard time keeping it to myself. Having to weigh the
historic significance against my own greed has been tougher than I had anticipated. Other members of the group have contacted me having the same
feelings....we all want to honor the agreement that we made around the camp fire on Saturday night but question our motives.......
All I can say is that I will do my best to keep the promise that I made on Saturday night......
[Edited on 5-6-2011 by dtbushpilot]"
"posted on 5-12-2011 at 05:34 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by BajaGeoff
Finally got to catch up with all the reports DK! Great stuff....glad to hear the mission is still lost and there will be more trips like this in the
future!
Don't jump to conclusions, I haven't done my trip report yet.....dt "
On 5-15:
"Don't get your panties in a wad, I just got home to Buena Vista this evening and I'm sitting here with a glass of wine decompressing. I'll get the
trip report done soon.......but when I do everyone will know "the rest of the story".....are you sure they are ready for that?........dt"
[Edited on 6-24-2011 by David K]
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larryC
Super Nomad
Posts: 1499
Registered: 8-11-2008
Location: BoLA
Member Is Offline
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I do pretty much the same as Oladulce, I pull into the declare line and let the agents look at the load and tell me what I owe. Usually it is less
than I would have declared.
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
Member Is Offline
Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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Tecate
With that load, I would try Tecate. Seems to be an easier crossing with a small load of used stuff.
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MitchMan
Super Nomad
Posts: 1856
Registered: 3-9-2009
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About 3 years ago I took an SUV full of obviously household used stuff (including small pieces of furniture) plus a new $200 futon couch to Baja. My
SUV was old, dented, and very dirty. I packed puttng the newer stuff on the bottom and the older stuff on top, threw some toilet paper rolls and old
rags around just to complete the meagerness aura. They stopped me at TJ. I told them it was furnishings for a house and they asked me how much I
thought the total value was in USD and I said $300 USD. They let me go without charging me anything. It was about 10am on a busy day for them.
Last year I took my dirty '98 4x4 Tacoma (the Taco is/was still beautiful) while towing my dirty and unkempt 15.5 ft fiber glass boat with a 40hp
motor on it. In the truck bed were some more household furniture and a boxed 8 hp outboard motor. They stopped me at TJ, I told them I was taking
the stuff to Baja for a fishing trip. They were very interested in the boxed outboard motor saying that it looked like I was taking it to baja to
"sell" it and that the manager would be over to inspect eveything more thoroughly. I smelled an import fee coming. I acted really antsy and pulled
out all the legal Mexican documents I had on all things Mexican connected to me and the initial inspector sensed my energy. I waited twenty minutes
while pestering the initial inspector. It was on a weekend at about noon so it was busy. The intial guy got fed up with me and sent me on my way
scot free.
I feel I was lucky, as I have read on this forum that the Mexican border inspectors only exemp $75 USD of value per person crossing into Baja and tax
the rest at 15%. Reading posts on this subject recently, I get the impression that the Mexican inspectors are being more rigorous these days and are
not so forgiving.
I don't know what the official actual current rules are for tax rates or exempted amounts with regard to value taken into Mexico. I wish I knew
definitively. Maybe a well informed Nomad will know?????
[Edited on 6-24-2011 by MitchMan]
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RnR
Senior Nomad
Posts: 839
Registered: 5-1-2010
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by MitchMan
I feel I was lucky, as I have read on this forum that the Mexican border inspectors only exemp $75 USD of value per person crossing into Baja and tax
the rest at 15%.
I don't know what the official actual current rules are for tax rates or exempted amounts with regard to value taken into Mexico. I wish I knew
definitively. Maybe a well informed Nomad will know?????
[Edited on 6-24-2011 by MitchMan] |
Your information is correct. $75 exemption, 15% import duty on the value over $75, up to a maximum of $1,500 value. Over $1,500 in value, you must
use the services of an import agent. The $1,500 value is per person with a maximum of two persons(imports)/vehicle.
Otay crossing will handle any types of imports. TJ inspectors may send you to Otay if the value is suspect, the import is complicated, it's crowded,
it's hot, it's cold ......
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Pescador
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3587
Registered: 10-17-2002
Location: Baja California Sur
Member Is Offline
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After building a house and hauling lots of stuff, the method I found that works the very best is to type up a list of what you are bringing and then
declare a value of what the used items are. On your list put the name in English, second column, put the item in Spanish and then put the declared
value in dollars. I have crossed at Tijuana but prefer to cross in Tecate, because it is easier and less problem. I pull into the declare lane
(which is always closed) and go into the office on the left hand side, declare the list, pay my 16%, get a receipt, and then show the papers to the
guy when I pull through.
I have another friend who brought almost everything down and he would take pictures as he was loading the items and kept everything in a list
format, so that if the agent had any questions he could show where in the pile that particular item was.
I have not had any problem with the actual declaration and usually make the cost low, but if you put it ridicuously low, you can be challenged.
The new immigration officers at Otay are college educated and have computer lists as to range of values. At Tecate, I have never been challenged. An
example was a leather recliner that I declared for $45 dollars and a mattress and boxsprings for $25.
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dtbushpilot
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3296
Registered: 1-11-2007
Location: Buena Vista BCS
Member Is Offline
Mood: Tranquilo
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| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
| Quote: | Originally posted by OCEANUS
David
I'm heading south to BOLA, crossing at San Ysidro. |
Wow, sorry... I was a bit too sleepy when I (thought) I read your question! LOL
Welcome to Nomad... beware that some Nomads can either be drunk or demented when responding/ posting here! |
And some of us can multitask and be drunk and demented at the same time.....don't attempt it without professional supervision.......
DK, the "lost mission" story is almost finished, I wanted to give all the partisipants ample time to spend their share of the bounty before posting
"the rest of the story".....
"Life is tough".....It's even tougher if you're stupid.....
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65410
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: | Originally posted by dtbushpilot
| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
| Quote: | Originally posted by OCEANUS
David
I'm heading south to BOLA, crossing at San Ysidro. |
Wow, sorry... I was a bit too sleepy when I (thought) I read your question! LOL
Welcome to Nomad... beware that some Nomads can either be drunk or demented when responding/ posting here! |
And some of us can multitask and be drunk and demented at the same time.....don't attempt it without professional supervision.......
DK, the "lost mission" story is almost finished, I wanted to give all the partisipants ample time to spend their share of the bounty before posting
"the rest of the story"..... |
Excellent!!
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oladulce
Super Nomad
Posts: 1625
Registered: 5-30-2005
Location: bcs
Member Is Offline
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Can you park in the declare area at Tecate when towing a trailer without blocking traffic? We'd much prefer to cross there with small importations but
haven't wanted to risk causing a traffic jam and irritating the customs fellows.
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Bob and Susan
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8813
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Mulege BCS on the BAY
Member Is Offline
Mood: Full Time Residents
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oladulce...you were married in 1955...
you sure dont look that OLD
edit:
oh open trailer for the bola...bad idea
too much dirt
[Edited on 6-24-2011 by Bob and Susan]
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
Member Is Offline
Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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Tecate
| Quote: | Originally posted by oladulce
Can you park in the declare area at Tecate when towing a trailer without blocking traffic? We'd much prefer to cross there with small importations but
haven't wanted to risk causing a traffic jam and irritating the customs fellows. |
Yup. I did it in the middle of the week at about 2PM. Customs guy came over, looked around then went back to reading his newspaper....no duty paid,
did not block traffic.
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Marla Daily
Nomad
Posts: 418
Registered: 9-2-2003
Location: Loreto, BCS
Member Is Offline
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Mexico: New Import Rules for Passengers (2008)
To link to this article, copy this persistent link:
http://www.loc.gov/lawweb/servlet/lloc_news?disp3_l20540560_...
(Jun. 02, 2008) According to the General Rules on Matters of Foreign Trade for 2008 that were published officially in the Mexican federal official
gazette on April 30, 2008, passengers who come into the country by land, air, or sea may import up to US$3,000 in merchandise without having to use
the services of a customs broker and without paying an overall tax rate of 15 percent. According to the Rules, this importation ceiling is in addition
to the ordinary duty-free importation allowance of US$75, or US$300 during tax holidays. The Rules, which came into force on May 1, 2008, clarify that
computer equipment may be imported without having to go through a customs broker for a maximum value of US$4,000, the total sum of merchandise.
Previously, passengers who imported more than US$1,000 in merchandise had to pay for the services of a customs broker, in addition to having to pay
the corresponding importation duties. The Treasury Secretariat also stated that the allowance of US$300 of duty-free importation for the summer tax
holiday period will be in effect from June 27 to July 28 this year. During the Christmas holidays, the allowance will start on November 24, 2008, and
end on January 9, 2009. In December 2007, the Treasury Secretary published a resolution in which the allowance of US$50 for importing duty-free
merchandise on ordinary days was increased to US$75.
************************************************************
A few weeks ago we crossed at Tecate with a trailer load of furniture and fixtures, tile, etc. headed to Loreto. We went under the assumption that
were were allowed $300 per person; we had a list typed of the items with very low craigslist values; the items came to less than $600 and we were
passed through with barely a pause. At Tecate they looked at the list, handed it back to us and waived us through. Easy-peezy.
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MrBillM
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 21656
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Out and About
Member Is Offline
Mood: It's a Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah Day
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Paying Up.
(4) Golf-Cart Batteries.
(2) 12V Marine Batteries.
(2) New Tires (Mounted) for Samurais.
$30 Duty. No Waiting. Official took care of the paperwork.
I guess.
Thank God the Good Old Days aren't completely gone.
[Edited on 6-25-2011 by MrBillM]
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Bob and Susan
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8813
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Mulege BCS on the BAY
Member Is Offline
Mood: Full Time Residents
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so bill some day as you drive away...
there will be another truck waiting just around the bend to take yours...
you'll be whining then
this is not the 60's anylonger
do not take bills advice
stop and declare
leave with a clean slate
do the right thing
pay no mordita
what if the usa guys did this?
would the american public approve?
would you approve
the fees to import are small
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