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tominvt

Mar 22, 2011, 9:51 AM

Post #1 of 4 (3834 views)

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Meneje de Casa question

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I’m a new member and first I'd like to say that there is a tremendous amount of good information here for the person willing to search and read.

I'm in the initial stage of permanently relocating to Mexico. My area of choice is the Tulum vicinity in Q'Roo. I've been visiting the southern states, Q'Roo, Campeche, Tabasco, Chiapas and Oaxaca for over 20 years now and a recent layoff (about 1 year prior to my planned retirement) has pushed the moving process forward.

If I understand correctly, the Meneje de Casas will permit me to move my household possessions into Mexico duty free. My question is this: Woodworking is my hobby and I’d like to know if I should expect trouble moving my woodworking equipment under the Meneje de Casa? I’m talking about table saw, band saw, planer, wood lathe, drill press, metal lathe, grinder, a variety of power hand tools, etc,. etc.

I can understand that someone might think this is an inventory for a woodworking business, but my intention is to build my own furniture and complete the finish work on the house I will have built, then resume my hobby of building what I want when I want.

Thanks for any help anyone with experience can offer, I’m sure you’ll be getting more questions from me in the near future.

Tom

Maesonna

Mar 23, 2011, 12:18 PM

Post #2 of 4 (3773 views)

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Re: [tominvt] Meneje de Casa question

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Been there, done that, no problem with the woodworking tools (a collection similar to yours). Differences in details were that it was about 12 years ago, and was under the name of my husband, a Mexican national.

You may want to note the correct spelling of menaje to help give you better search results.

tominvt

Mar 23, 2011, 12:30 PM

Post #3 of 4 (3770 views)

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Re: [Maesonna] Meneje de Casa question

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Thanks so much Maesonna for your reply and info.

I realized as soon as I posted my question that I'd misspelled Menaje, but don't know how to correct it. I have searched on the correct spelling and got a lot of good info.

Now I'm hoping to hear from a few other members with first-hand experience.

robt65

Mar 24, 2011, 11:32 AM

Post #4 of 4 (3682 views)

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Re: [tominvt] Meneje de Casa question

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Hello Tom,

About two years ago now, I moved from NOB to Queretaro. I also was quite skeptical about bringing my extensive collection of all kinds of woodworking, mason, plumbing, electrical, a professional ceramic tile cutting machine, a 5500 watt portable generator, and welding tools. Believe it or not, one full (and I mean full) 16 foot enclosed cargo trailer full and another (I had rented a storage space until I could return to get the other tools) load with many more not only tools but stains, different kinds of glue, fasteners, door hinges and hardware and many more supplies. Many of these were new (never used) and I did pay duty on them. I was only allowed one load of duty free. I should have had a bigger trailer! (smiling) It was suggested to me to make out a very thorough Meneje de Casa as well as using used or setting prices of what the tools could have been bought for at the time. I did all of the above. I did pay the duty at the time. I do not recall the amount, but I do recall that I was very content to pay it as the tools were worth much more to me. I could never have sold them for what I brought them for or what they were actually worth to me. The duty while (I believe if memory serves me correctly (was a few hundred dollars) and in my thinking was worth every penny. I still have those tools today and use them all the time in Mexico. I think the key was making sure that I listed everything including all required make, model and serial numbers of all power tools. Actually more interest was paid tho those items than any others. I don't know if that helps you come to any decisions but that's how I kept my tools. I once saw a response on this forum (and have seen the same response since) from a fellow in AG, who said bring every possible tool that you have (or something to that effect). I am very happy, and have not regretted, to this day that I adhered to that suggestion.

robt65

(This post was edited by robt65 on Mar 24, 2011, 11:34 AM)