Forums > General > General Forum

1 2 View All

julian3345

Jan 5, 2005, 11:27 AM

Post #1 of 27 (2378 views)

Shortcut

duty on books

Can't Post | Private Reply

Well, it seems that the MX government passed a new law... in force as of November 2004 ... that 17% duty will be charged on shipments of books from abroad...doesn't seem to matter if the books are new or used. The staff at Correos here in Jerez researched this very carefully and gave me the bad news today that unless I paid the impuesto, they would be forced to return the books I had ordered from Powell's. I suppose this just cancels out the savings on postage offered by Powell's, but it seems a short-sighted policy at best. Just one more thing to be added to one's wish list for visiting friends and relationsto carry to Mexico. Sorry to be the bringer of bad news. Joan

Rolly

Jan 5, 2005, 12:10 PM

Post #2 of 27 (2322 views)

Shortcut

Re: [julian3345] duty on books

Can't Post | Private Reply

Thanks for the update. The cost of reading just went up. But it's still cheaper than movies and more enlightening than TV.

Rolly Pirate

not_ally

Jan 6, 2005, 6:50 AM

Post #3 of 27 (2275 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Rolly] duty on books

Can't Post | Private Reply

Yes, good to know. I knew it was too good to be true.
----------------------------
"The first question I ask myself when something doesn't seem to be beautiful is why do I think it's not beautiful. And very shortly I discover there is no reason." John Cage

julian3345

Jan 8, 2005, 3:52 PM

Post #4 of 27 (2190 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Rolly] duty on books

Can't Post | Private Reply

A friend has suggested having books sent to a Mexican resident of my town at his home address. He's convinced that duty will likely not be charged. I may try this ruse. Joan

Carol Schmidt

Jan 8, 2005, 5:17 PM

Post #5 of 27 (2171 views)

Shortcut

Re: [julian3345] duty on books

Can't Post | Private Reply

I just got a package of four Christmas gift books from Amazon.com and there was no duty, though my mailing service charged me 60 pesos--10 pesos per pound on books. I asked the woman at the counter, who also owns the company, if there was now a duty on books shipped to Mexico, and she said she hadn't heard of any new law. Oh well, I was glad to escape duty, if only this time.

Carol Schmidt

kirkswig

Jan 8, 2005, 5:36 PM

Post #6 of 27 (2166 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Carol Schmidt] duty on books

Can't Post | Private Reply

Me too, no duty on the book I ordered from Amazon that arrived a couple of days ago.

To boldly go where no wig has gone before.

julian3345

Jan 8, 2005, 11:02 PM

Post #7 of 27 (2138 views)

Shortcut

Re: [kirkswig] duty on books

Can't Post | Private Reply

Doesn't surprise me that if there is indeed any such "new" law it would be inconsistently applied...hope your luck holds!! Joan

geri

Jan 11, 2005, 1:51 PM

Post #8 of 27 (2056 views)

Shortcut

Re: [julian3345] duty on books

Can't Post | Private Reply

I not only got charged duty on books recently from Amazon, but Amazon sent them to Germany then back to Mexico and there was an additional handling charge, even though I had paid it. A friend also experienced this (from Powells I believe) and inside the box was an M bag receipt. The books were sent M bag to Germany then to Mexico, with both an aduana charge and a postage charge. Anyone else had this experience? Times they are a-changing!

julian3345

Jan 11, 2005, 3:55 PM

Post #9 of 27 (2039 views)

Shortcut

Re: [geri] duty on books

Can't Post | Private Reply

Another sad tale! I wonder how much business Powells, Amazon, etc do in Mexico? I think I'll write a letter informing them of these new duty charges... It might be in their interest to at least send a notice to the closest Mexican Consulate that their business may be harmed by diminished orders from book lovers residing in Mexico who cannot buy the books they want where they live. I have no idea how your books got missent to Germany...Perhaps there was a confusion between your delivery address and the billing address of your credit card??? Sorry you had so much difficulty and expense.

By the way, Is it true that most countries do not charge duty on books? I don't remember ever paying duty on books sent in to France, Slovakia or Greece when I lived in those countries. Joan

Jerry@Ajijic

Jan 11, 2005, 5:31 PM

Post #10 of 27 (2030 views)

Shortcut

Re: [julian3345] duty on books

Can't Post | Private Reply

I do not think that the books were "missent" to Germany. I think Amazon does it for some purpose. probably to save postage. In any event I am sure I have received books from Amazon by way of Germany twice and I think 3 times. I have ordered hundreds of dollars of books from Powells and never had them come from any place but Powells.

As for the new law, why can't someone post a copy of this law if it exists? I would like to know who and what this "new law" applies to. Does it apply to all books? Maybe all fiction. How about school books. How about religious books. Would they really charge DUTY on a Bible?

(This post was edited by Jerry@Ajijic on Jan 11, 2005, 5:36 PM)

julian3345

Jan 11, 2005, 8:45 PM

Post #11 of 27 (2014 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Jerry@Ajijic] duty on books

Can't Post | Private Reply

Good questions! I looked at the Aduana website when this all started and found the page that mentions exceptions to duty charges.(I was hoping that at least USED books would be duty-free) It has a list of categories and says that if more detail is required, make a further contact with the nearest customs office. The people at Correos here in Jerez say they did that and were told about this new law. When I go in tomorrow, I'll ask for a copy of the regulation. I can't read "official" level Spanish very well and couldn't navigate the website thoroughly AND who knows if it has been updated to reflect new legislation. Stay tuned! Joan

Jerry@Ajijic

Jan 13, 2005, 5:40 PM

Post #12 of 27 (1926 views)

Shortcut

Re: [julian3345] duty on books

Can't Post | Private Reply

I just picked up a book today at the post office in Ajijic. It came from B & N and had been thru customs. There was no duty. It was not a little paperback that could have slipped by. It is a 300 page legal size book on the Armory in Moscow.

julian3345

Jan 13, 2005, 8:50 PM

Post #13 of 27 (1905 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Jerry@Ajijic] duty on books

Can't Post | Private Reply

Today I received a box of video tapes sent by my brother---no duty...box in good shape. Joan

zoeq

Jan 15, 2005, 9:56 PM

Post #14 of 27 (1832 views)

Shortcut

Re: [julian3345] duty on books

Can't Post | Private Reply

Curious to know - were your books sent regular mail to your post office or your Mexico address?

julian3345

Jan 16, 2005, 5:54 AM

Post #15 of 27 (1823 views)

Shortcut

Re: [zoeq] duty on books

Can't Post | Private Reply

Books were sent by USPS "M" bag. Tapes were sent regular parcel post - both to Lista de Correos, but the Post Office here in Jerez has nothing to do with assessing duty...only collecting whatever is demanded by Aduana. Joan

Jerry@Ajijic

Jan 16, 2005, 7:21 AM

Post #16 of 27 (1814 views)

Shortcut

Re: [zoeq] duty on books

Can't Post | Private Reply

My book was sent to the post office at Ajijic just like books have been sent in the past. I think that when I have received a large (heavy) shipment they came by M bag but all I know is there will be a notice in my box, I go to the window and pick up the items.

Marta R

Jan 26, 2005, 4:33 PM

Post #17 of 27 (1678 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Jerry@Ajijic] duty on books

Can't Post | Private Reply

Oh dear. I have a library of over 1,000 books that I was planning to take with me when we move. Do you suppose they're going to charge duty on those?

-- Marta

Marta

Rolly

Jan 26, 2005, 5:06 PM

Post #18 of 27 (1668 views)

Shortcut

Re: [chrisnmarta] duty on books

Can't Post | Private Reply

Probably no problem with a menaje de casa.

Rolly Pirate

Ed and Fran

Jan 26, 2005, 5:17 PM

Post #19 of 27 (1666 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Rolly] duty on books

Can't Post | Private Reply

That's definitely no problem with menaje de casa. I can't remember how many cartons I had of books, but it was a lot, and they could not have cared less.

Now my local carpenter was happy when he saw how many bookshelves he needed to build, but that's another story.

E&F

Jerry@Ajijic

Jan 26, 2005, 7:56 PM

Post #20 of 27 (1651 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Ed and Fran] duty on books

Can't Post | Private Reply

I would still appreciate it if someone would post a translated copy of this "supposed new law".

julian3345

Jan 27, 2005, 8:45 AM

Post #21 of 27 (1627 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Jerry@Ajijic] duty on books

Can't Post | Private Reply

I've asked the young lady at the Correos here in Jerez if she could request something about this "new law" in print from Aduana and she indicated that she would like to have that document herself and would try to get something for the both of us. I'll ask her if she has had any luck when I go in next time. I wonder if Profeco could help with this issue??? I wouldn't think that cartons of books included in the menaje de casa would be affected by this... I brought in 53 cases of books last spring...I think they did open some of them to check, but aside from dismay that anyone would own or read that many books, there was no problem. Joan

Marta R

Jan 27, 2005, 9:56 AM

Post #22 of 27 (1620 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Ed and Fran] duty on books

Can't Post | Private Reply

Thanks, Rolly & Ed & Fran. I looked up "menaje de casa" on Google, asked for a page translation, and received this bit of enchantment:

" visa " of Menaje de Casa it is a document that him it allows the Mexicans it returns r a to live in Mexico, takes ndo his goods acquired in the United States.

I am guessing that this document lists your household goods and, presented at entry, allows you to bring them into Mexico free of duty. Yes?

Marta

Ed and Fran

Jan 27, 2005, 11:28 AM

Post #23 of 27 (1611 views)

Shortcut

Re: [chrisnmarta] duty on books

Can't Post | Private Reply

Lousy translation (typical of those programs) but you made a good guess. Yes, that's right.

You do have to formally get the document approved (and pay a fee) at the consulate with jurisdiction over your area of residence in the States. Search the forums here and you'll find tons of info on menaje de casa.

E&F

Rolly

Jan 27, 2005, 12:45 PM

Post #24 of 27 (1598 views)

Shortcut

Re: [chrisnmarta] duty on books

Can't Post | Private Reply

CrisnMarta,

For useful information about a menaje, look here: http://www.rollybrook.com/menaje.htm

and here, too: http://rollybrook.com/...o_move_to_mexico.htm

Rolly Pirate

esperanza

Jan 27, 2005, 6:36 PM

Post #25 of 27 (1562 views)

Shortcut

Re: [julian3345] duty on books

Can't Post | Private Reply

FWIW Department: a friend mailed a book to me from Toronto several weeks ago, said book sent to my home address in Guadalajara. Book arrived in a more or less timely manner, no holdups and no duty charged.

Joan, when you get the copy of that law, I want to see it as well. Half the world here is asking about it. Furthermore, another friend gave me a hefty gift certificate at Powells that I am itching to use.

Esperanza

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

1 2 View All