gpm414
Junior Nomad
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Registered: 8-2-2006
Location: Summer: Oregon Winter: Baja
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How to declare items at border?
I know that many of you do this often, so your guidance would be appreciated. I'm heading to Baja and have a few items to declare at the TJ border
crossing. I know I could just take my chances with the red/green light lanes, but getting sideways with Mexican officials isn't part of my plan. So
I pull off on the right "declaration lane" and park the rig. Now armed with my list of items and their value...where do I go from there? Who do I
talk to? What is the duty amount? Who will I pay?
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MrBillM
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Declaracion
I don't know about Tijuana, but at both Mexicali crossings, there is a table with an agent right there who will examine your receipts, look at the
load and assist you in filling out the declaration form. They have forms in English and Spanish, although they are frequently out of the English
version. No matter, what you have to fill out on the form is pretty elementary with a rudimentary knowledge of Spanish.
Once the form is filled out and the assessment computed, you take the form to the "Bank" located nearby, pay the amount and have the form stamped.
You take it back to the original official and (usually) go on your way. At Mexicali, there are light standards at each stall and they have you press
the button. Green light and you go. Red light and they are supposed to actually go through the load, but usually they just make a show of checking
things.
Last year, the rates varied from 17 % (U.S. and others) to 19 % for Japan, China, etc. A big improvement over the original "Orient" rate of 54 %.
Assessment is based upon Country of Origin.
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beercan
Senior Nomad
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Bil is right on , however he didn't
emphasize the invioice or receipts enough. Try to have the originals or a good computer generated copy so that the costs/prices are clear. The last
large items that I had to declare , I was charged 15% --solar panels , etc.
* libs, all about choice until you choose different
* B. Hussein Obama - an Empty Suit for Empty Minds.
* Annoy a liberal - Work hard and be happy!
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bajajon
Newbie
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Registered: 7-17-2006
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New at this also. Wife and I will be crossing the border in a couple of weeks at TJ. She has been purchasing alot of small items like sheets and
pillow cases, canned food and beverages etc and wants to take some second hand funiture to a second home we just purchased near Mulege. I am sure we
don't have receipts for any of the items. What happens then? I'll be taking my boat too and was wondering about the flare gun. I have been told to
not take any firearms into Mexico. Will the flare gun be a problem?
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Bruce R Leech
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6796
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Mood: A lot cooler than Mulege
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| Quote: | Originally posted by bajajon
New at this also. Wife and I will be crossing the border in a couple of weeks at TJ. She has been purchasing alot of small items like sheets and
pillow cases, canned food and beverages etc and wants to take some second hand funiture to a second home we just purchased near Mulege. I am sure we
don't have receipts for any of the items. What happens then? I'll be taking my boat too and was wondering about the flare gun. I have been told to
not take any firearms into Mexico. Will the flare gun be a problem? |
welcome bajajon
just make a list of the items that you don't have invoices for and put what you paid or a fir market value for them. the people there are not stupid
they do that all day every day and they know what things are worth. they will except your list and tell you what your tax is. pay and your on your way
to Mulege. we will see you when you get here.
Bruce R Leech
Ensenada
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beercan
Senior Nomad
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Unless you have a truck load or boxes & boxes---
there won't be much said !!
Standard flare guns stowed away have never been questioned. I carry them on both my boat and airplane !!
* libs, all about choice until you choose different
* B. Hussein Obama - an Empty Suit for Empty Minds.
* Annoy a liberal - Work hard and be happy!
* Arguing facts & truth to libs is like bringing a warm smile to a gun fight.
* Lets win the War on Terror
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comitan
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Bruce
You are right about them being smart on values, 3-4 years ago I bought 2 boat seats $200.00 on the receipt showed him the receipt he charged for
$400.00 value the real value I said nothing.
Strive For The Ideal, But Deal With What\'s Real.
Every day is a new day, better than the day before.(from some song)
Lord, Keep your arm around my shoulder and your hand over my mouth.
“The sincere pursuit of truth requires you to entertain the possibility that everything you believe to be true may in fact be false”
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pacifica
Newbie
Posts: 15
Registered: 7-9-2006
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At what point or dollar amount does a customs broker have to get involved.
Cheers !
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Salsa
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"Standard flare guns stowed away have never been questioned. I carry them on both my boat and airplane !! "
About 7 years ago I escaped jail by the skin of my teeth for having flair gun shells in my boat.
Here is my letter to Fred Hoctor that appeared in Western Outdoor News.
Fred
In July 1999 while returning from San Lucas Cove we were stopped at the
last federal inspection at one of the Ensenada toll booths, and they
found some spare flair gun shells in my boat. We had removed the flair
gun because the Vagabundos said it was illegal and you could go strait
to jail.
We almost got an extended vacation in Mexico. After being released to go
on twice, and their calling their supervisors, we finally got to go.
If you are correct, someone forgot to tell the federalles. I am not
going to risk it this year.
Don
[Edited on 8-5-2006 by Salsa]
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beercan
Senior Nomad
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Salsa, I am not going to say it's not going to ever happen ---
but this subject was discussed long ago on this or the amigo board .
I believe a lot of what happens in some situations is entirely due to the individual response. I have been flying and boating in mexico for 26 years
and I ain't seen it all yet !!
I have a few tales of my own and I had an experience much larger than the one you told and I walked away without any problem !! Not luck, but skill
at handling people .
* libs, all about choice until you choose different
* B. Hussein Obama - an Empty Suit for Empty Minds.
* Annoy a liberal - Work hard and be happy!
* Arguing facts & truth to libs is like bringing a warm smile to a gun fight.
* Lets win the War on Terror
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oladulce
Super Nomad
Posts: 1625
Registered: 5-30-2005
Location: bcs
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You get a $50 per person tax exemption (with an FMT visa), then it's $1000 worth of goods per vehicle before you need a broker.
San Ysidro will send you to Otay Mesa if you're over $1000 per car.
Sometimes they have made "exceptions" with the total declaration amount if it's close to $1000, and the time of day seems to make a difference at San
Ysidro
Otay Mesa is more business-like. Ater you declare and pay the tax, there's no red light/green light- you WILL have your load inspected (at least this
was my experience last month).
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jerry
Super Nomad
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Registered: 10-10-2003
Location: loreto
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when taking a flare gun into mexico be sure it stays in the boat
we stopped at the border on our way to san carlos and was told that
jerry and judi
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