Gypsy Jan
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Posts: 4275
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Mood: Depends on which way the wind is blowing
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KNOW BEFORE YOU GO TO BAJA BC
Okaaaay, I have read through this several times and I am now officially confused
From the Official Baja Tourism agency (Baja California Secretaria de Tourismo)
"What is the value of merchandise that can be transported when entering Mexico by land without paying additional taxes?
For international passengers, up to $75 US dollars or the equivalent in foreign or Mexican currency, in one or multiple articles, except beer and
other alcoholic beverages, processed tobacco and also gasoline, except that contained in the gas tank according to the manufacturer's specifications.
(to consult limits/restrictions on these items visit www.aduanas.gob.mx). This does not include items of personal luggage (please see below).
Monetary amounts may be accumulated by the father, mother, and children when their arrival is simultaneous and in the same vehicle. If passengers are
not family related the franchise is individual, in all cases an invoice, sales slip, or any other document that proves the merchandise market value
will be needed.
Furthermore, adults that reside in the border region (The state of Baja California is considered in the border region) can import merchandise for
their personal consumption under the following criteria:
The market value of the merchandise doesn't exceed $150 US dollars daily or its equivalent in foreign or Mexican currency. In the case of adult border
residents that transport two or more border residents as passengers; the market value of the imported merchandise must not exceed the equivalent of
$400 US dollars in foreign or Mexican currency per vehicle.
It is also important to consult the list of animal and vegetable foods permitted, the ones that are restricted and those prohibited, before you bring
them in to México, not all foods can be imported.
For example beef is permitted if it's completely processed but ground beef (Meat balls and raviolis) is prohibited.
For more information visit: www.senasica.gob.mx
What items are duty free?
Each passenger (even minors) has the right to bring a personal luggage.
What items are considered as my personal luggage?
Each passenger (even minors) can bring into the country the articles mentioned next, whether new or used, as part of the personal luggage, without the
tax payment:
Items of personal use, such as clothes, shoes, even a wedding gown as well as hygiene and beauty supplies, as long as they are suitable for the trip's
length. In the case of babies, their travel, hygiene and entertainment items are permitted, such as a portable cradle, stroller, and walker, with
accessories included.
Clarifying notes:
It is considered an item of personal use, when because of its nature and quantity, the passenger reasonably needs it in the course of his trip,
considering the length and circumstances of the trip, the purpose of the trip, profession,
activity, and characteristics of the passenger.
As for toys, if toys are presented in a package (kit or set) that contains more than one piece, each package will be considered as a toy (five toys
permitted as personal luggage).
What are the guidelines for medicines? Can they be included in the $75 USD or $150 USD franchises? What medicines can you bring from abroad and which
are not permitted?
You can bring medicines of personal use. If they are psychotropic medicines, a prescription will be needed.
Medications are not included in the allowable dollar limit.
Are there foods that cannot be brought into Mexico?
The agency that regulates agriculture and food is SAGARPA (Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fishing, and Food). Therefore it
is convenient to get in touch with that agency or visit the website www.senasica.gob.mx. There you can find the products that you can introduce into Mexico as part of your luggage, and those --- such as animal
products, vegetables, aquaculture, and fish --- that are forbidden or represent serious health threats.
Do foreign legal residents living near the border, fall under the same guidelines applied to Mexicans living in that zone?
Yes, according to rule 3.4.1 applied in foreign trade by México, as long as they can prove their age and residence in such
areas to the customs authority. The following documents issued to the foreign resident are acceptable proof:
Immigration forms issued by the Migration Authority. In this case, the residence will have to be verified with a copy of the last phone or
electric bill, or the lease contract, with the last rent receipt that meets with the tax requirements and previous identification.
Visa or the document issued by the foreign government for the border residents to enter the territory. In this case the residence will not have to
be proved.
Voting card and a copy of the last phone or electricity bill, or lease contract, with the last rent receipt that meets with the tax requirements.
Do merchandise limits differ among tourists and foreign residents? What happens when foreign residents bring used home articles? Are they covered with
the rule of $75 USD? Does the $75 USD include food, alcoholic beverages and any other commercial item like new clothes or electronics?
The articles that a foreigner can introduce are stipulated in rule 3.2.2 applied to foreign trade by México. As for the used home articles that
foreigners bring, they must declare them when they enter the country, where according to the faculties that the customs law provides, a customs
officer will determine their market value and any taxes due.
What's the correct procedure for tax payment on imported items?
When a passenger brings additional merchandise, the passenger is required to import the exceeding goods and pay the corresponding taxes.
For the exceeding merchandise import, there are two procedures:
Simplified passenger procedure (contribution ticket)
Import through processed motion through a customs broker.
What is the tax payment for exceeding the monetary limits?
An overall rate of 16% is applied to the excessive amount.
If a person doesn't want to pay taxes, can he go back to U.S.A with his items? In what cases can the items be confiscated?
Every person has the right to return as long as he/she passed through the "declaration" lane. If a person passes through the "no declaration lane"
with unauthorized items, the items will be confiscated.
How can a complaint be filed in the inspection station if someone believes he/she has been treated unfairly?
Red Phones have been installed to immediately make a complaint about a possible act of corruption or any aspect that can be considered as an illicit
act committed by inspectors.
The devices are red handsets without a keyboard. To make a complaint all you need to do is pick up the speaker and you will be connected to a call
center where you will receive help from trained personnel. The devices will be identified by a sign.
What is the correct procedure to give charity donations?
Application must be made using the format referred as "Tax release authorization to foreign trade in the importation of donated merchandise, according
to the article 61, section IX of the Mexican Customs Law" to import merchandise without tax payment.
For more information, please consult www.aduanas.gob.mx, where the procedure is detailed.
When is the tax payment necessary?
When transporting merchandise that exceeds the franchise or when it is not personal luggage.
What documents do I need when crossing in my vehicle to Mexico and what will I be asked for in the customs office?
Vehicles that are property of foreign residents can travel inside a limit of 20 kilometers parallel to the border line and in the border region (The
state of Baja California is considered in the border region), as long as they have foreign plates or a document that states foreign circulation, both
must be valid, in case the owner is not driving the vehicle he/she must be on board the vehicle with an authorized foreign resident driver."
“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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DavidE
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3814
Registered: 12-1-2003
Location: Baja California México
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Mood: 'At home we demand facts and get them. In Mexico one subsists on rumor and never demands anything.' Charles Flandrau,
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GJ it may help to specify which of the hundreds of statements of fact declared therein are of interest to you...
A Lot To See And A Lot To Do
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Gypsy Jan
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4275
Registered: 1-27-2004
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Mood: Depends on which way the wind is blowing
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Hi DavidE
Just trying to make humorous comment about bureaucratic language which doesn't resemble simple, easy-to-understand communication in any way.
The fact is we go across the border to shop about once every month and since they remodeled the San Ysidro entrance gates to Baja, the aduana pulls us
over about 50% of the time now as opposed to almost never in previous years. They show no interest in our coolers with groceries, but they do look
under the hood at our engine compartment and inspect the undercarriage.
Sometimes they have a dog check out our vehicle and that gets noisy because of the big Great Dane with us who takes offense to a strange dog
approaching "HIS" vehicle.
“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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bent-rim
Nomad
Posts: 294
Registered: 7-31-2007
Location: Marin County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Living la vida mota
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That's like reading a post from "ramuma53".
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CortezBlue
Super Nomad
Posts: 2213
Registered: 11-14-2006
Location: Fenix/San Phelipe
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Does it really matter what the rules are?
How many times have all of us tried to explain that we can bring in $300 of goods because we have an FMx. It doesn't matter because they will make
the decision of what can come in or not.
Until we have a Mexico document that explains the rules that we can shove into their face to read, again, it doesn't matter.
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DavidE
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3814
Registered: 12-1-2003
Location: Baja California México
Member Is Offline
Mood: 'At home we demand facts and get them. In Mexico one subsists on rumor and never demands anything.' Charles Flandrau,
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Scotch tape a photo of a sports illustrated swimsuit model to the air cleaner the next time you're crossing south.
I did that at Nogales and the aduanero laughed so hard he forgot to look inside the camper. He called his buddies over to leer.
A Lot To See And A Lot To Do
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by CortezBlue
Until we have a Mexico document that explains the rules that we can shove into their face to read, |
I can't imagine how poorly a gesture such as that might go, but here's their website with their rules:
http://www.aduanas.sat.gob.mx/aduana_mexico/2008/pasajeros/1...
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BajaBlanca
Select Nomad
Posts: 13195
Registered: 10-28-2008
Location: La Bocana, BCS
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It really doesn't matter. Each one of the Mexican border agents has his or her understanding. That is the conclusion i have come to. There is no
rhyme or reason.
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by BajaBlanca
It really doesn't matter. Each one of the Mexican border agents has his or her understanding. That is the conclusion i have come to. There is no
rhyme or reason. |
It's been my experience that they only reinterpret the rules when they're going to give you a break. We can see the sun setting on this game too.
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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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| Quote: | Originally posted by BajaBlanca
It really doesn't matter. Each one of the Mexican border agents has his or her understanding. That is the conclusion i have come to. There is no
rhyme or reason. |
Just like crossing back into the US of A
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nbacc
Senior Nomad
Posts: 770
Registered: 12-27-2008
Location: Northern California
Member Is Offline
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totally de0ends on who you get and how he/she is feeling on that day
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