What is the duty on bringing new computer into Mexico?

What is the duty on bringing new computer into Mexico?

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Does anyone know what the duty is on bringing a new computer into Mexico? I know it's easy to bring in a laptop, but I'm thinking of bringing in something else.

Thanks!

Mar 21, 2006, 8:08 AM

Post #2 of 17 (5989 views)

Re: [RonMader] What is the duty on bringing new computer into Mexico?

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17% is supposed to be the duty on computers and most electronics. Incidentally, I had to pay 17% duty on a used laptop I had shipped from The US to me in Cuernavaca, so it seems that laptops are only duty free if you carry them across the border yourself.

Rex
"The supreme happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved" - Victor Hugo

(This post was edited by RexC on Mar 21, 2006, 8:12 AM)

Mar 21, 2006, 9:01 AM

Post #3 of 17 (5973 views)

Re: [RexC] What is the duty on bringing new computer into Mexico?

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Anything shipped into the country will be subject to duties even if those same items would have been free if brought in personally. Welcome to Mexico.

Rolly Pirate

johanson / Moderator

Mar 21, 2006, 10:59 AM

Post #4 of 17 (5960 views)

Re: [Rolly] What is the duty on bringing new computer into Mexico?

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Only 17%. I would have thought it was higher. Just as a point of interest using Dell as an example I priced a like Dell Laptop both in the US and in Mexico, and the cost to purchase the identical unit down here was almost 40% higher than up North.

Where did I get my figures by going to both the US and Mexican dell web sites.

Mar 21, 2006, 11:15 AM

Post #5 of 17 (5955 views)

Re: [johanson] What is the duty on bringing new computer into Mexico?

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Pete, I had my laptop and some other stuff at various times shipped to me by Merkalink: http://www.merkalink.com.mx/Ingles/Index.html There is a link on their home page listing customs duties for most items. They do use a customs broker.

After you leave the English language home page, just about everything is in Spanish. For non Spanish speakers, or someone like me whose Spanish is rudimentary, you can telephone them and ask to speak to someone in English. There is usually an English speaker available.

Rex
"The supreme happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved" - Victor Hugo

(This post was edited by RexC on Mar 21, 2006, 11:16 AM)

johanson / Moderator

Mar 21, 2006, 12:44 PM

Post #6 of 17 (5943 views)

Re: [RexC] What is the duty on bringing new computer into Mexico?

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Rex: I'm confused. My friends in the computer business say that the taxes on computer components from from Malaysia, China, etc are around 50%, Yet when I go to the web page you gave me it says 17% in big print and in small print "compensatory rates of up to 533% may apply."

Does anyone know what the rates usually are?

Oh by the way that source or URL looks like a good solution for those who live full time in Mexico

mparrino

Mar 21, 2006, 1:44 PM

Post #7 of 17 (5935 views)

Re: [RonMader] What is the duty on bringing new computer into Mexico?

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This is something that I've been very unclear about, and I apologize if it's been mentioned time and again, but none of my searches have been successful in clarifying it for me.

Am I the only one who doesn't have a lap top??? I have a 3 year-old iMac. So when I'm bringing it into Mexico, do I list it's original price and expect to pay 17% of that, or do I list a 'used' price. I have just had to replace my printer, and I anticipate having to pay the 17% on its purchase price, since it's less than six months old. I have receipts for everything.

Thanks for your help,
Marcia
Marcia

Mar 21, 2006, 2:43 PM

Post #8 of 17 (5926 views)

Re: [mparrino] What is the duty on bringing new computer into Mexico?

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You should list the price you could reasonably expect to get from selling the used item.

Rolly Pirate

Mar 21, 2006, 2:51 PM

Post #9 of 17 (5925 views)

Re: [johanson] What is the duty on bringing new computer into Mexico?

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Well Pete, I’m as confused as you are about some of those customs duties. The duties on stuff from China were supposed to be reduced or eliminated after Mexico and China completed their free trade agreement. I don’t know if that has been finalized yet. I also don’t know anything about the other countries you mentioned.

One thing that Merkalink does do is to send you an Email after they receive the things you want shipped to you here, listing what the charges will be to ship your goods to you in Mexico including the import duties. If you don’t want to pay for it, you can instruct them not to ship it to you.

The down side to that is that if you opt to have the shipment sent back to the sender, you must pay the extra shipping charges. I did that on one occasion. My daughter had sent us a box containing canned Boston baked beans, Wheaties breakfast cereal, and some other miscellaneous stuff. Merkalink told me they could not ship any food into Mexico.

I called them and argued that there was nothing fresh, or prohibited in the box. They said they were sorry, but they were prohibited from shipping any food of any kind. Maybe Carlos Slim has a grocery business.

Anyway, it cost me $42 US Bucks to ship the box back to my daughter in California. That could be worth it if you were looking at 533% import tax.

Another thing I found out the hard way is that Merkalink wants an invoice for anything you have shipped to them so their customs broker can set a value on the shipment. If an invoice is not included with the shipment, they will send you an Email requesting the invoice and it is acceptable if you Email them a copy. If you buy anything on the Internet, you will usually receive an invoice via Email. I send them copies of them.

One time I had a friend send me a used motherboard. He had no invoice for it, so he created one using Excel and emailed it to them. Anther time I called them and told them what the value for some stuff was, and they accepted my word for it.

Rex
"The supreme happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved" - Victor Hugo

mparrino

Mar 21, 2006, 2:58 PM

Post #10 of 17 (5921 views)

Re: [Rolly] What is the duty on bringing new computer into Mexico?

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Thanks, Rolly.
Am I correct in that any electronic/computer equipment less than six months old needs to be claimed at full value?

And of course I have the added twist that I have dual citizenship, so not sure if rules would be different for me because of that.
Marcia

Mar 21, 2006, 3:18 PM

Post #11 of 17 (5915 views)

Re: [mparrino] What is the duty on bringing new computer into Mexico?

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1. Yes
2. No

Rolly Pirate

johanson / Moderator

Mar 21, 2006, 4:00 PM

Post #12 of 17 (5909 views)

Re: [RexC] What is the duty on bringing new computer into Mexico?

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Rex wrote: . The duties on stuff from China were supposed to be reduced or eliminated after Mexico and China completed their free trade agreement. I don’t know if that has been finalized yet

That's great news Rex. I try do follow the Mexican news, but a lot passes me by. I knew nothing about a free trade agreement between Mexico and China. This could really make a difference on computer parts etc

Mar 21, 2006, 5:23 PM

Post #13 of 17 (5900 views)

Re: [johanson] What is the duty on bringing new computer into Mexico?

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Pete, Sometime in mid-2005 a high official from China, maybe the trade minister or something like that, was in Mexico negotiating the agreement. Both The Mexican and Chinese government announced that they had agreed on most of the basic parts of the agreement, but they didn’t say a darned thing about signing anything.

I think that all textiles from China were taxed at 500%, that’s probably why so much stuff from China was being smuggled into Mexico. It will be good for all of us if they finally do sign, and formalize a free trade agreement.

I just did a Google search; there are a jillion free trade agreements in the world, but no mention of one between Mexico and China that I could find. Maybe it has gone the way of all the other things President Fox has proposed. If it is good for The Nation and Fox is behind it, it’s a sure thing the dinosaurs will kill it.

Rex
"The supreme happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved" - Victor Hugo

ignacio

Mar 22, 2006, 11:47 AM

Post #14 of 17 (5867 views)

Re: [RexC] What is the duty on bringing new computer into Mexico?

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This is interesting, I go to the link you mention, and if I go to 'see table with detailed rate information', instead of the 533% I find:

"Some products of chinese origin can cause up to 351% in compensatory rates (anti-dumping)"

So it is an anti-dumping 'protection', but one place states '533' and the other '351' go figure which one is correct.

(This post was edited by ignacio on Mar 22, 2006, 11:50 AM)

eimilia

Mar 24, 2006, 12:37 AM

Post #15 of 17 (5837 views)

Re: [ignacio] What is the duty on bringing new computer into Mexico?

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Sorry if this is a dumb question -- can one bring a new boxed computer with them on the plane to Mexico and have it count as luggage? And if so is it subject to duty?

Mar 24, 2006, 7:02 AM

Post #16 of 17 (5827 views)

Re: [eimilia] What is the duty on bringing new computer into Mexico?

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As luggage? -- yes

Pay a duty? -- Desktop yes, laptop no duty charge

Rolly Pirate

kittythegm

Mar 24, 2006, 11:11 AM

Post #17 of 17 (5812 views)