clearing customs and paying the fees

[Gringoshopper]

For the first time, I am coming back with an item (a new glass electric cooktop) that costs more than the $300 duty-free allowance and I do not know how to proceed in paying the tax on the additional $15.00.

I have read that you can pay the tax on the amount over $300 ahead of time, on-line. Or you can pay for it at the airport at Customs. Has anyone done this before? I would really appreciate your help on this.

Thanks!

[Babaloo]

Originally Posted by Gringoshopper

For the first time, I am coming back with an item (a new glass electric cooktop) that costs more than the $300 duty-free allowance and I do not know how to proceed in paying the tax on the additional $15.00.

I have read that you can pay the tax on the amount over $300 ahead of time, on-line. Or you can pay for it at the airport at Customs. Has anyone done this before? I would really appreciate your help on this.

Thanks!

Take it out of the box, splatter some tomato sauce on it and tell them it's used.
No duty.

[Gringoshopper]

That may look a little suspicious, me in the middle of the airport, opening a shipping box and splashing the cooktop with catsup packets. I don't think paying 15% on $10.15 will cause me financial ruin and I really would like to learn how this process operates. I'd like to avoid doing hard time in the big house (casa grande?); I'm not interested in learning about the legal system on such a personal level.

[Jesus]

Originally Posted by Gringoshopper

I have read that you can pay the tax on the amount over $300 ahead of time, on-line. Or you can pay for it at the airport at Customs. Has anyone done this before? I would really appreciate your help on this.

Thanks!

I don't know about the pre-paying way, but if you declare when you arrive, the customs agent will direct you to the cashier and there you pay. Just yesterday a passenger my team was picking at the airport had to pay for a second laptop computer and it was just verifying the cost of the item and paying the proper percentage at the cashier before exiting the customs area. This was in Mexico city's airport, but it should be very similar in Cancun.

Good luck.

[Gringoshopper]

I think that is probably the way we will go (paying the extra tax). It shouldn't take too much time to do this (I hope) after passing through Immigration and before hitting Customs with the x-ray machines.

Thanks for the helpful info!

[Babaloo]

Originally Posted by Gringoshopper

That may look a little suspicious, me in the middle of the airport, opening a shipping box and splashing the cooktop with catsup packets. I don't think paying 15% on $10.15 will cause me financial ruin and I really would like to learn how this process operates. I'd like to avoid doing hard time in the big house (casa grande?); I'm not interested in learning about the legal system on such a personal level.

No no!
You dirty it up and repackage it BEFORE you leave!
It's worked for me countless times
But I understand that it may not be worth $15

[ryberg]

What Jesus said. Very simple and easy process. At the airport in Cancun, you'll end up off to the left of where people line up for customs and the baggage scanners and all that. Nice folks and they have in the past interpreted the rules in the way most favorable to us each time.

[Gringoshopper]

I appreciate the info and the direction in which to head (left before the Customs scanning machines) with my cooktop and my receipt. I did hear back from Banjercito and they confirmed you cannot pay ahead of time (as I had hoped) but must pay at the Customs location with the item. It is good to know there is a little help with translating. I can only get so far with one semester of Spanish!

Our e-Bay auction 30" electric cooktop is one step closer to being installed in our "efficient" and small kitchen. Now we'll be able to cook with 2 or 3 pots at one time!

Thanks for the help and the info. Playa.info comes through again!

[ryberg]

Originally Posted by Gringoshopper

I appreciate the info and the direction in which to head (left before the Customs scanning machines) with my cooktop and my receipt...

Sorry but I was just trying to identify for you where you'll end up. Not sure you can go there, first. I'm pretty sure you must first go through customs like everyone else and have your bags scanned and so forth, however then before you push the button, you point out to them (if they haven't already asked about it) on your form that you DO have something to declare, and then they'll send you around to those windows or the little offices along that side. Or at least that's the way it's always worked for us...

[u2girlie]

Originally Posted by Gringoshopper

That may look a little suspicious, me in the middle of the airport, opening a shipping box and splashing the cooktop with catsup packets. I don't think paying 15% on $10.15 will cause me financial ruin and I really would like to learn how this process operates. I'd like to avoid doing hard time in the big house (casa grande?); I'm not interested in learning about the legal system on such a personal level.

but it provided us with a very funny visual!