How Customs works
Discover how customs works so you do not fall into the most common mistakes.
All products pay taxes when entering the country.
The 16% VAT tax is paid 99.99% of the time.
If you buy in repetitive quantities from abroad and you do not have the requirements to import, it is
guaranteed for customs to retain your merchandise.
If your plans are not to register to the importers registry it´s best to use an importing agency.
Although it is not 100% necessary, it is advisable to register in the importers registry to make a
business 100% profitable and autonomous.
How to find a good customs broker
Discover how you can find a good broker for your business.
Your customs agent is important so you can import your goods without problems. He can help build or destroy
your empire that is why you should know how to choose the one that suits you.
When you contact them you can say something like this:
"Good afternoon, I have these tentative products to import into the country and I would like to know if you
can give me the liberation service.
I have an estimated 3-5 monthly transactions, it is generally (type of merchandise) that I will use for my
business. "
Many times the waiting time is 2-3 days. You can shorten this by calling the offices immediately. "
How to know the taxes and requirements that your products pay.
To see Search the tariff fraction of your product:
http://www.siicex-caaarem.org.mx/
In general, your customs agent does this work but it is good to become familiar with this page.
Another method is to search in google. Put the name of the article + tariff.
Example:
clock + tariff
Filter the results until you reach the fraction.
You do not need to be an expert in tariff fractions but you must have an idea of what the taxes are and in case
your customs agent gives you a fraction, you can suggest a similar one.
Import taxes
• Prevalidation = $ 240 mxn
• CNT = $ 62 mxn
• DTA (Right of Customs Processing) = 0.8% of the invoice value (minimum of $ 297 mxn pesos)
• Tariff = % of the fraction on invoice value.
• VAT = 16% of the invoice value and all of the above.
Fundamentals of Importing
What you need to know for each of your imports.
Define a purchase order
• What product are we going to import?
• Consider maximum 5 products.
• Price options to know prices.
• Consider as much clearance expenses as taxes.
• It´s better if everything comes from the same provider.
• The more you buy, the better margin we will have.
• Try to negotiate.
• Check that your options are reliable.
Define Details with the Provider
• What type of delivery of merchandise do they offer? FOB or CIF.
• What payment options does the provider have?
• Where is the factory located?
• Check if there are extra fees, such as bank fees.
• Will you customize the product.
• How would the merchandise come packaged?
• How much does it weigh? What are the measurements?
Determine the arrival customs
• The customs of arrival can be a port or an airport, depending on the method of delivery.
• Consider approximately $ 8 thousand pesos of release at the airport and $ 35 thousand pesos of release at
the port.
• The most variable quantities are those of the port, loose boxes or loads of a single machine, most of the time
it is better to transport them by air.
• Your provider can give you an air and sea shipping cost, with which you can determine which option is really
the most economical.
• Example: You want to buy a laser engraving machine in China that weighs 130kg. Your provider gives you an
airmail cost of $ 480 usd, and a shipping cost of $ 60 usd. Taking into account the T.C. (Type of change or the
price of the dollar) estimated at 19.5, you would spend on air release an approx. of
$ 17,360 pesos and maritime approx. of $ 36,170.
• Although there is a lot of difference between air and sea shipping costs, it is not only the shipping that has to
be paid and the costs of customs clearance, but they are also very different in the port and at the airport.
Search customs agents
• Once you have calculated the option that best suits you, you should look for the arrival customs.
• In case you have defined an air import, the customs office of arrival will be closest to the destination.
• In case you have defined a maritime import, you should look for the port that has the best connection with
the country of origin.
• Maritime imports basically have 2 major options: The port of Manzanillo and the port of Veracruz. If your
import comes from China, the best port of arrival is Manzanillo; If your import comes from Europe, the best
port of arrival is Veracruz.
Customs Dispatch Expenses
• Consider that always in an import the tariffs are variable, you should consider an extra margin to cover any
mishap that can be generated.
• Your customs agent has representation staff in port, who are the ones who prepare the documents and do
the different procedures to release your merchandise.
• The rates that are common to find in a customs clearance quote are the following:
- Motion: Preparation of the Import Motion.
- VUCEM: Capture of information and documentation in the VUCEM Digital Window.
- Maneuvers (of different types): Everything related to the movement of your merchandise inside customs.
- Customs Recognition: It is the physical and documentary examination that is carried out in customs by the
customs authority to determine the status, fraction, requirements, etc. For the liberation / nationalization of
your merchandise.
- Previous: The payments that have to be covered during the customs inspection or recognition, such as: the
use of tape with the stamp of the customs agency to re-close the boxes after being opened, the use of
personnel and equipment that participates during inspection, sheets, copies, etc.
- Customs Dispatch: The management and use of personnel of the customs agency to be able to make the
movements within customs necessary for the release of merchandise.
- Customs Agent Fees: In case your merchandise generates extra expenses, you can also find expenses such as
storage, fumigation, etc.
