MexConnect.com Forums: General: General Forum: Question re: $1000 Casual Import Limit: Page 2

Re: [Rolly] Question re: $1000 Casual Import Limit

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Rolly: Here it is.

http://www.aduanas.sat.gob.mx/...jeros/139_10076.html

BTW: One of my Mexican friends is an accountant who used to work for the Hacienda. He recommends buying the Aduana rules book ( I dont know the official title) every year. It is available at many of the better papelerias. It seems that every year new regulations are passed and many of the officials either do not know the regs or just don't care. These books are the "bible".

Moisheh

jerezano

Dec 3, 2007, 9:50 AM

Post #27 of 50 (2360 views)

Re: [Rolly] Question re: $1000 Casual Import Limit

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Hello Rolly,

The link where Moisheh got the Spanish language he is quoting is the link which Georgia gave us way back on Nov 28, 2007 at 2:13 PM. It is www.aduana.gob.mx and is the Spanish version, not the English version which is confusing in that it speaks only to foreigners arriving by Air or Sea but does not say so. For foreigners arriving by land, one must read the Spanish version.

On Dec 2,2007 at 8:52 AM I translated this page and posted it here on the forum. You can read the translation there on this thread.

Please note that the franquicias for foreigners to Mexico have not changed: They remain at $300 usd per person by Air or Sea, and $50 usd per person by land. What has changed is that the former $1000 discrecionary? limit where where one needed to hire an import broker has been raised to $3000 usd and apparently is not discretionary but mandatory.

What bothers me is that I get the impression that Moisheh could be thinking that the franquicias have been raised to a $3000 maximum. Perhaps I am reading incorrectly between the lines,but I don't think that my hopefully incorrect impression should be broadcast among us. The franquicias remain at the $50 usd per person by land and $300 per person by Air and Sea levels for foreigners. That is clear from the Mexican law.

Repeating and summing up: Please note that the franquicias for foreigners to Mexico have not changed: They remain at $300 usd per person by Air or Sea, and $50 usd per person by land. What has changed is that the former $1000 discrecionary? limit where where one needed to hire an import broker has been raised to $3000 usd and apparently is not discretionary but mandatory.

Adiós. jerezano

Dec 3, 2007, 10:39 AM

Post #28 of 50 (2357 views)

Re: [jerezano] Question re: $1000 Casual Import Limit

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Yep. That's all basically what they told me at the border. However, as to whether the $3000 was per person or per group is not at all clear from the Spanish (in the section you quoted it does not say) and the guy at aduana didn't seem to know either. But then we had just over $1000 worth of stuff, so it was not relevant to us. I just asked anyway. By the way, we always declare when we pass the border. We've never been asked for invoices, etc. but this time, since we had a major electronic purchase, I did attach the invoice.

Dec 3, 2007, 10:45 AM

Post #29 of 50 (2356 views)

Re: [Moisheh] Question re: $1000 Casual Import Limit

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That's what the guy at Colombia Bridge told me: $3000 b/4 you need a customs agent, permanent, for everyone. Notice that this section does not refer or make reference only to Mexican citizens.

Dec 3, 2007, 10:50 AM

Post #30 of 50 (2354 views)

Re: [jerezano] Recap

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Oranges and apples:

1. How much can I bring in above my ordinary allowance before I pay taxes if I come in by car and I am not a Mexican citizen? $50 per person in the vehicle, all year round.

2. How much above my allowance can I bring in by car before I need the services of a customs broker, whether or not I am a Mexican citizen? $3000 (unclear as to whether this is per person or per car according to the guys at the aduana at Colombia Bridge... and that's who I have to deal with.)

esperanza

Dec 3, 2007, 11:05 AM

Post #31 of 50 (2353 views)

Re: [Georgia] Recap

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Thank god, the voice of reason. Georgia, te beso los pies.

Don't forget that your allowance starts with the list of stuff that Moisheh posted way back somewhere...the items on that list are NOT included in your $50-to-$3000 USD franquicia. The franquicia is over and above the cost of the items on the list.

The list of freebies that each traveler can bring into Mexico:

Suitcases, trunks, valises, and hampers necessary for their baggage
New or used consumer goods necessary for their personal use, such as clothing, shoes, items for personal hygiene. These must be in accordance with the length of the passenger's stay and not in quantities that would appear to be sufficient for sale.
Medicines for personal use. Psychotropic drugs must be accompanied by their prescription.
One still camera, one video camera (and its power supply), up to 12 rolls of new film or videocassettes, one cellular phone, one pager, one pair of binoculars, one typewriter, one new or used portable computer (laptop, notebook, etc.), one portable printer or copier (new or used), one portable radio (new or used) to tape or reproduce sound (or for mixed use).
Two types of new or used sports equipment suitable for one person to carry; one tent for camping plus camping equipment; one surfboard, with or without sail; four fishing rods with their accompanying gear.
Five laser disks, five DVDs, 20 compact disks (CDs) or cassette tapes, books and magazines which show by their quantity that they are not for resale.
Five games which might ordinarily be brought by one person.
Any equipment necessary for the care and wellbeing of a handicapped person.
In addition to the above, any adult may bring into the Republic up to 20 packets of cigarettes, 25 cigars, 200 grams of loose tobacco, and up to three liters of wine, beer, or liquor.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

(This post was edited by esperanza on Dec 3, 2007, 11:06 AM)

Dec 3, 2007, 12:35 PM

Post #32 of 50 (2341 views)

Re: [esperanza] Recap

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No need to kiss my feet, or any other body parts, Esperanza. Just be sure to strew rose petals in my path when I approach.

Moisheh

Dec 3, 2007, 4:27 PM

Post #33 of 50 (2320 views)

Re: [jerezano] Question re: $1000 Casual Import Limit

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Jerazano: Now it is you throwing mud into the murky waters. The link you gave is incorrect. It is www.aduanas.gob.mx Note the plural of aduana.

Moisheh

Oct 21, 2009, 4:06 AM

Post #34 of 50 (2235 views)

Re: [Moisheh] Question re: $1000 Casual Import Limit

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Has the amount one can bring into Mexico by car increased to $3000 and is that per car or per person? I'm using Google translate and I'm not always sure I'm getting the correct information.

http://translate.google.com/...n&history_state0=

or: http://tinyurl.com/yh88gpd

"Use this lane when additional goods to bring their personal baggage and its value exceeds that of the relief to which he is entitled but not exceeding three thousand dollars."

"Siga las indicaciones del apartado Procedimiento . Follow the section Procedure."

"Importante: Important:

Si ingresa a México en vehículo extranjero con destino al resto del territorio nacional, debe de realizar además de lo anterior, la importación temporal de su vehículo. If entering Mexico in foreign vehicle to the rest of the country, must also perform the above, the temporary importation of your vehicle. Revise el apartado de Importación temporal de vehículos para conocer los requisitos. Check the section on Temporary importation of vehicles to meet the requirements."

http://www.aduanas.gob.mx/...jeros/139_10103.html

or: http://tinyurl.com/yha7858

(This post was edited by Rolly on Oct 21, 2009, 4:19 AM)

Oct 21, 2009, 8:08 AM

Post #35 of 50 (2200 views)

Re: [PamelaDelafield] Question re: $1000 Casual Import Limit

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I searched the forum some more and I guess I misunderstood how much one can bring in without being taxed. Am I right that it is now $75 per person not including the exempted clothing, etc? I thought when I first read it that under $3000 was the amount not to be taxed, not that it was anything over $75 per person.

http://www.aduanas.gob.mx/aduana_mexico/2008/pasajeros/139_10097.html
"Si ingresa a México por carretera su franquicia es de hasta 75 dólares y solamente para los pasajeros de nacionalidad mexicana que ingresen al país por carretera el monto se incrementará de 75 dólares hasta 300 dólares durante los periodos de verano e invierno, los cuales comprenden del 26 de junio al 31 de agosto de 2009 y del 1 de noviembre de 2009 al 10 de enero de 2010, respectivamente. Asimismo, los pasajeros procedentes de la franja o región fronteriza al interior del país, podrán importar al amparo de su franquicia mercancía hasta por 300 dólares o su equivalente en moneda nacional."

My elderly mother wants to bring her old sewing machine, a small TV and her recliner along with clothes, etc. I have a new floor steam cleaner, vacuum cleaner, and a few other items to bring back. Are we going to have a problem? Leaving the recliner behind wil not break my heart. When I entered through Eagle Pass the first time, they didn't bother to check anything in my car. Are most people being checked now and would Eagle Pass be a better entry not to be checked than Laredo?

mazbook1

Oct 23, 2009, 3:55 PM

Post #36 of 50 (2131 views)

Re: [PamelaDelafield] Question re: $1000 Casual Import Limit

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If your elderly mother is a Mexican citizen, no problem between Nov. 1 and Jan. 10, 2010. If she is not, then the $75 dollar limit is what applies. It's likely that the things you enumerate would exceed the limit IF you made certain that anything new was out of its original carton and wrappings and could be said to be used.

Ustlach

Oct 23, 2009, 3:57 PM

Post #37 of 50 (2132 views)

Re: [PamelaDelafield] Question re: $1000 Casual Import Limit

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How in the world are all of you people getting into these complex situations with Mexican border officials, aduaneros, or whatever?

Do you all take stock of the value of the crap you have with you and then make a beeline for the Auto Declaration lanes?

Just do not auto declare and take your chances with the red light/green light thingy. If you get a red light and have to stop and deal with the aduana, how much worse can it possibly be than if you head directly to the auto declare lanes and ask for the hassle?

I have crossed the border many time. I have gotten a red light four times and all four times my pickup was loaded to the hilt with everything from non-sanitized clothing to a desktop computer and monitor, to other used electronic equipment. My stuff. And they did not give a damn about it.

What in the world are you people doing to get nailed for import duty/taxes on your old crap?

bournemouth

Oct 23, 2009, 5:47 PM

Post #38 of 50 (2113 views)

Re: [Ustlach] Question re: $1000 Casual Import Limit

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Ustlach - you're getting blase in your old age, no? I remember you fretting about this big time when you were first crossing the border at Nogales and having problems. Cut folks some slack here.

Oct 23, 2009, 8:19 PM

Post #39 of 50 (2085 views)

Re: [Ustlach] Question re: $1000 Casual Import Limit

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At first I misunderstood the $1000 casual import limit. Of course I'm planning to go through the lane marked nothing to declare. With the the new people at the border, I'm wondering how alert they are still or if they've had enough time to chill out, and I especially don't want too much stress on an old woman with a bad ticker by arguing with customs about the worth of her stuff and the new gadgets I'm planning to bring in.

Ustlach

Oct 26, 2009, 12:39 PM

Post #40 of 50 (2020 views)

Re: [bournemouth] Question re: $1000 Casual Import Limit

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No one participating on this thread is so new to Mexico and crossing the border that they could be compared to the hand-wringing newbee that I was at the time you are referring to.

I don't see how my comments could be thought to have been directed at someone who was crossing the border for the first time.

You can't say that I am being hard on readers, those not actively participating, because their responsibiity is to read all this and see what they can figure out from all of it.

I probably did fret about the experience of crossing the border with my old stuff the first time. Actually, on my very first crossing with my furniture, clothing, etc. I went to an "Auto Declare" lane, with my Mexican partner sitting beside me nearly having heart failure. Mine might have been the very first vehicle to have ever entered that lane. It was spotless. And then, when all was said and done, after a little two-step with a young Aduana lady whose personal cell phone conversation I had interrupted with my silliness, I paid zero, zilch, nada. No one counted the number of Mexican and non-Mexican occupants, no one consulted a calendar to see if there was some special holiday in effect, no one quoted chapter and verse from Mexican code. I don't think the aduana officials outside snoozing under the shady canopy of the "Auto Declare" lane were amused that I had intruded on their slumber with my feeble attempt at obeying the law, either.

I guess I will always be concerned about these unknowns in Mexico because without practical experience there is just no way of knowing how things are going to work out in Mexico. And since they will rarely work out the same way twice, I see no point in trying to find and understand the Mexican laws that are supposed to pertain.

I have learned that the harder I try to obey the law in Mexico, the more trouble I get into. I observe and learn from the Mexicans who surround me. For example, watch from now on every time you cross the border, count the number of Mexican plated vehicles in the Auto-Declare lanes. Compare that with the number of Mexican plated pickups you count with apparently new washers and refrigertors in the beds in the "Nothing-to-Declare" lanes. I stop and draw the line at disturbing the peace of an entire neighborhood into the late hours of the early morning (eg. 4 a.m.), abusing animals, and driving the wrong way down a one-way street to save having to go around the block. But unless I am bringing in a load of electronics to resell in Mexico, I am going to head for the nearest "Nothing to Declare" lane and take my chances with the light. And I spend no time at all researching Mexican disturbing the peace laws, animal abuse laws, or wreckless driving laws. What good would that do? Well, it would do exactly as much good as researching about aduana laws. None.

I am all the more surprised that the people participating on this thread, all of them long-termed in Mexico, are still trying to make heads or tails out of Mexican law and why in the world do any of them think the law might get applied.

I have only been here two and half years but I am long over any naivite about laws and the application thereof in Mexico, especially at the border.

Zorba

Oct 26, 2009, 1:39 PM

Post #41 of 50 (2005 views)

Re: [Ustlach] Question re: $1000 Casual Import Limit

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If I have Mexican citizenship and then go back to Canada to retrieve some of my used goods, how do I get the stuff across?

Should I take my chances and just drive across undeclared? What happens if that doesnt work?

Or could I just claim them to be under the value of the limit?

What is the limit? Ive found this thread confusing in that regard.

sandykayak

Oct 27, 2009, 2:53 PM

Post #42 of 50 (1953 views)

Re: [PamelaDelafield] Question re: $1000 Casual Import Limit

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I don't think the guards are likely to stress an elderly woman. This society respects its elders - I'd rather be in a Mexican nursing home any day!!

Just say these are "cosas para mi casa." (Things for my home).
Sandy Kramer
Miami, Fla & El Parque

chinagringo

Oct 27, 2009, 5:42 PM

Post #43 of 50 (1941 views)

Re: [sandykayak] Question re: $1000 Casual Import Limit

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The last couple of trips SOB, we performed the duties of mules bring various and sundry items down for friends or acquaintances. While we have never pulled off into the declaration lane mainly because we didn't even know where it was until our trip in August. On a number of occasions, we did get the red light. I immediately unlocked the van doors and jumped out to open them. They asked us what he stuff was and we said for our house in Chapala (sold in 2006) - end of inspection and we were on our way.
Regards,
Neil
Albuquerque, NM

Oct 27, 2009, 6:34 PM

Post #44 of 50 (1931 views)

Re: [Zorba] Question re: $1000 Casual Import Limit

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From what I understand, if you are driving it's $75 per person, that is, for non-exempt items. If flying it's $300 a person. During certain times of the year, driving it's $300 per person for Mexican citizens for non-exempt items. If you are a Mexican citizen, you've got it made. Almost everything you bring in that's used will not be a problem. A new expensive LCD TV might attract attention but maybe not.

Zorba

Oct 27, 2009, 10:00 PM

Post #45 of 50 (1905 views)

Re: [PamelaDelafield] Question re: $1000 Casual Import Limit

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Thanks Pamela, that makes things clearer for me. However, I remember reading somewhere that "technically" even for Mexican citizens it may not be so straight forward if by the book. That is, I vaguely remember that when Mexicans living abroad return to Mexico with used goods they were supoooooooooosed to go to their consulate or something and get a certain exemption form filled out which could only be obtained by showing 2 years of residency abroad.

Anyways, I think I will take my chances at the border with my used stuff. Sounds like much less hassle.

Rolly

Oct 27, 2009, 10:25 PM

Post #46 of 50 (1900 views)

Re: [Zorba] Question re: $1000 Casual Import Limit

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The returning Mexican citizen can get a menaje de casa to bring the family's used belongings.

Rolly Pirate

E-visit me http://Rollybrook.com
On Facebook as Rolly Brook

Camille

Oct 27, 2009, 10:42 PM

Post #47 of 50 (1897 views)

Re: [Zorba] Question re: $1000 Casual Import Limit

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I have brought so many overloaded pickup trucks full of well-used treasures from Houston I've lost count.... but at least a dozen. NEVER a problem, even the time they asked me to unload the whole thing and I told them I had white hair and couldn't possibly, if they wanted to look they could do it, but suddenly that wasn't necessary. I so like the "tercera edad" parking spaces and the respect for old age here which has inspired them....the border guys don't need to know what lurks BENEATH the white hair!
All those crossings were made at Colombia, north of Laredo, avoiding that hellhole and going on a periferico that shoots you to Monterrey.
Haven't done a driving trip in several years because that SLP-Monterrey slog is so incredibly depressing..... you have to wonder what might have become of you had you been born in one of them sorry, poorer than dirt, no rain, no future, no NUTHIN' desolate townlets. And the locals frantic to sell dried snakes, teensy garlic strings, and pathetic cockatiels and other small birds, JUST what you want to take across the border!
And then, in the long straight stretches where the road goes on forever and there is nothing and I mean NOTHING!!!! except those little holes at the tops of some mountains, and the trail of tailings down the mountainside, and you know hundreds of proud native Mexicanos were enslaved and died in those mines. No, no more for me.... I'll fly ..... maybe use the broomstick next time. Duct tape the gps to the handle and I'm good to go......
One good idea is to put a couple of dog bones in your back, assuming you have a dog, and I assure you the border dogs will absolutely faint and become your new best friends.
Gonna be rough without the dog, though.....

Reefhound

Oct 30, 2009, 8:10 AM

Post #48 of 50 (1833 views)

Re: [Ustlach] Question re: $1000 Casual Import Limit

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In Reply To

I guess I will always be concerned about these unknowns in Mexico because without practical experience there is just no way of knowing how things are going to work out in Mexico. And since they will rarely work out the same way twice, I see no point in trying to find and understand the Mexican laws that are supposed to pertain.

I have learned that the harder I try to obey the law in Mexico, the more trouble I get into. I observe and learn from the Mexicans who surround me.This is a gem and so true. Always better to beg forgiveness than ask permission. If challenged, never admit guilt and never accept the first penalty. Although there are certain rules and laws you simply obey. Take your cue from Maxicans. If they all are respecting a certain rule or law you can bet it's important to follow it.

I-35 from San Antonio to Laredo on a Friday night is virtually one long convoy of overloaded pickups. Mexicans living in Texas go around buying up stuff at garage sales then head for the Monterrey flea markets on the weekend. Our van is always loaded similarly, third row seat removed so we can cram stuff to the rooftop. Like them, we go to the Nada lane and take our chances with the light. We get green most of the time and when red it is anywhere from a look at our papers to a brief look in the back. Never a complete unload.

DanGair

Oct 30, 2009, 11:38 AM

Post #49 of 50 (1818 views)

Re: [Reefhound] Question re: $1000 Casual Import Limit

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OK, here's one for the group to chew on. I'm planning on crossing in December (Loredo or Columbia) in my Honda CRV with 15 solar panels and various electronic gear to build a 3KW solar system. I can dirty up the panels enough that they should be able to qualify as used, but the shiny electronic gear, not so much. I'll probably need to use a small trailer, which makes the idea of slipping through the "nothing to declare" line unnoticed pretty unlikely. The other option is that I might be able to pack most of the panels inside a small pop-up camper which I'd like to have down there anyway and which would probably be less conspicuous crossing with than a utility trailer. I can stomach paying import duties on some reasonable used value and am wondering if declaring them upfront that way would be the better way to go. Of course there's no predictable or right answer here, but I'd love to get some experience based opinions to help base my decision on.
MexDog

DanGair

Oct 30, 2009, 11:59 AM

Post #50 of 50 (1808 views)