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what papers are needed at the mexico border?

algape

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Nov 23, 2009
Messages
22
Location
michoacan, mexico
hiya
we are buying an excavator in the US, and then taking it back to Mexico. The seller says we will get just a bill of sale. Is that all we need?
 

Serv

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Oct 28, 2006
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Location
Laredo TX
You will need a forwarding agent. Check with Transportes Especializados Gambi. Mi amigo Cesar es el dueno. He can get you an agent. If he can't, I'll get you one here in Laredo. www.gambi.com/mx
 

Serv

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Laredo TX
sorry, that's supposed to be www.gambi.com.mx

Just keep in mind that Gambi is the freight forwarder (door to door trucking company) not the forwarding agent/broker.
 

heavylift

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Sep 5, 2009
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KS
I would be sure everything is double checked ... The other half did work for a place that shipped internationlly.... nothing like getting a container stuck at the border or overseas... for a lack of a signature... or mislabeled item....
Everything had to be signed in red or blue ink... so they can tell if it's a photocopy..all original paperwork

Even Ebay shipping international is somewaht a pain ... 4 page customs form plus 2 invoices... that just for the regular people.... can imagine what commercial shipments would be like..

I do know that when mexico passed the only 1998 vehicles into the country, the used car buyers were doing backflips they were so excited... that they could actually buy cars cheap again... Unknown if that still a rule
 

algape

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Joined
Nov 23, 2009
Messages
22
Location
michoacan, mexico
Thanks, Serv. We do have a customs agent, but we are new with them, we've never imported before, y todavia no estamos en alta con ellos, hasta que reciben mas documentos, ojala este semana. They haven't been giving us the details on what papers we need. It sounds like a notarized bill of sale should be enough, but we just aren't sure. Si estuvimos comprando aqui en Mexico, con una contrato de compra/venta hay que tener la factura de la maquina. No sera problema que no nos da factura, solamente contrato de compra/venta?
 

Serv

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Messages
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Location
Laredo TX
Here's an invoice for a generator that was exported by somebody. In fact, Rojas Heavy (the seller) is actually a Mexican owned company operating in Texas. Most of the equipment they sell goes to Mexico. They accidently sent me this invoice when I requested my excavator invoice the other day. This should be more than sufficient.



BTW, I can get you the contact info to the largest heavy equipment broker in Laredo if you'd like. Everyone that crosses equipment around here uses him. They only cross heavy equipment they are a friend of a friend of mine and located about a mile from my facility. I don't know their name offhand, but I can get it for you. si cualquier problema debía surgir, podría manejar sobre y averiguarlo para usted
 

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algape

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Nov 23, 2009
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22
Location
michoacan, mexico
Thanks a lot, Serv. The name of another customs agency would be very useful. We may have to switch, if it doesn't take too much time. We need this deal to close before the end of this year.
The seller is giving us a bill of sale, it won't be a printed, numbered receipt, it will be a document done up in microsoft works. They will sign it, we will sign it, and it will be notarized. That is why we are so concerned. They are a small outfit, this is the way they have always done it. The customs agency says there will be extra fees if the factura comercial no es el estandard, pero no nos dicen mas.
 

tonka

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Longview WA
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you don't need no stinking papers...sorry i couldn't help it...lol!
 

CM1995

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Running what I brung and taking what I win
Just a rules reminder that English is the official language of HEF. Please make all posts in total English, thanks.
 

Serv

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Messages
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Laredo TX
Just a rules reminder that English is the official language of HEF. Please make all posts in total English, thanks.




Official language? I translated my spanish sentences to english and so did the OP for the most part.







algape,


please feel free to email me at anytime if you need any help with your dilema


utwtire@gmail.com
 

CM1995

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Running what I brung and taking what I win
Official language?

From the HEF rules page:

Standard English is the official language of Heavy Equipment Forums, all posts must be made in English. Posts appearing in a language other than English will be removed from the Board.

I speak a little Spanish myself and I understood what you all were saying. I would like to know more and I am currently studying (maybe one day be proficient ;)). However the rules are the rules, hence the reminder.

This is an interesting thread, I have some friends in Central America that have asked me about finding them equipment in the states. Each country I assume would have different rules on importing but they probably share some commonality in the regulations - the main commonality being paying your import duty and fees.:rolleyes:
 
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algape

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Joined
Nov 23, 2009
Messages
22
Location
michoacan, mexico
fair point, about the english. it's just that for people who know Mexico, i think my concern about a bill of sale is understandable, but for others, probably not.

when i spoke in spanish, i mostly was discussing mexican bureaucracy. in mexico, a factura is a more formal kind of invoice. it is what you need to make tax deductions, and to prove ownership. facturas must be professionally printed - only certain printers with the proper license can print them. they must be numbered, and must display a government seal with your corporate tax number. also, to become a client of a customs agency you have to send them a mountain of paperwork, including photos of the interior and exterior of your place of business, for example, and until they are satisfied with that paperwork they won't represent you. we are about to go to the States to buy a machine, but our customs agents still haven't officially accepted us as clients, and we are going to get a bill of sale, which we know would not be acceptable in mexico for a purchase like this. thus the concern.
 

Serv

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 28, 2006
Messages
265
Location
Laredo TX
fair point, about the english. it's just that for people who know Mexico, i think my concern about a bill of sale is understandable, but for others, probably not.


Well I think if there was truly an issue with the spanish words then the mod should just send me a PM rather than this but then again this is just the internet. Who cares. It's not like I wrote the entire post in spanish, just a few words to make sure the original poster fully understood me. I usually try to give more around here than ask if possible. This makes me wonder why I even bother as I seem to have less time on my hands as I get busier with my life and work. :beatsme


when i spoke in spanish, i mostly was discussing mexican bureaucracy. in mexico, a factura is a more formal kind of invoice. it is what you need to make tax deductions, and to prove ownership. facturas must be professionally printed - only certain printers with the proper license can print them. they must be numbered, and must display a government seal with your corporate tax number. also, to become a client of a customs agency you have to send them a mountain of paperwork, including photos of the interior and exterior of your place of business, for example, and until they are satisfied with that paperwork they won't represent you. we are about to go to the States to buy a machine, but our customs agents still haven't officially accepted us as clients, and we are going to get a bill of sale, which we know would not be acceptable in mexico for a purchase like this. thus the concern.



Don't worry, there is no shortage of hungry brokers in my area. I'm guessing the email from K M was from you? If so, I'll respond with the info as soon as I get it. If they aren't open on my way to work today, I'll get it for you before noon on monday.



In fact, I'll even email you a pic or two of their yard so you can see all the equipment they move.
 

algape

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Joined
Nov 23, 2009
Messages
22
Location
michoacan, mexico
Yes, the email was from me. Again, we appreciate all your help in this. I do wonder if it is really possible to switch agents for this deal at this point, though. I understand that for an agent to represent you, La Hacienda has to have them on your official list of agents, that was part of our application to become licensed as importers. Putting someone else on that list may take time. This is a big part of the problem. The pedimento (customs papers) has to be dated this year or we won't be able to deduct the expense of the excavator from our taxes, and we'll take a big hit. As it stands, the excavator won't arrive at the border until the 7th, and our agent says it will take 5 days to clear, so that would be the 14th.

The good news is the customs agency does now say that the draft bill of sale i sent them would be enough to process the import, if the tax ID of the seller is added. I did it up using the invoice you posted as a template, putting in the same information in a similar fashion. Then i just tacked on a line saying 'received in payment - $xxxxx' (the full amount) and a place for the seller to sign, a place for us to sign, and space for a notary to sign it and seal it.
Legally that has to be enough. The customs agency does say they will have to take that and make another document from it that is formatted the way customs officials want, but say that's no big deal. And they asked for the seller's tax ID number, which i have to get (i sure hope they don't balk at giving me that).

At any rate, buying in the States is certainly worth it. If we tried to buy this machine here in Mexico, it would be nearly double the price.
 

algape

Member
Joined
Nov 23, 2009
Messages
22
Location
michoacan, mexico
The purchase is completed now.
Basically, then, what was necessary was:
- a 'commercial invoice' which is the invoice style used by exporters, a good example of which is on Wikipedia,
- with the seller's federal tax ID,
- the buyer's RFC, which is a company's tax ID in Mexico,
- and the signature of both parties.
- We also had it notarized, which may not have been necessary but was easy to do.

We are registered as importers in Mexico, so we used a customs agency, but didn't have to use a 'comercializadora', which is an importer who imports for people who aren't importers themselves, for an extra fee of about $1500.

The payment was by international bank transfer, which our bank in Mexico would not do without a legal representative of our company present in our branch here to authorize and witness the transaction. You can't pay by any kind of cheque between Mexico and the USA - it's credit card or bank transfer.

So, that's how it's done, in a nutshell.
 
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