How to travel with airplane and avoid paying taxes (to Mexico)

[AndreasOberg]

Hi,
As I understand when you travel with equipment (Mexico in our case) you need to list all the equipment so they do not try to charge VAT.
Where can I read more about this?

Best wishes,
Andreas

 

[Mikael Lubtchansky]

The ATA Carnet is what you are looking for.

It lets you temporarily export / import / re-export and reimport your goods without paying taxes at each stage since you're bringing everything back to your country.

I do recommend travelling with one at all time (unless you just have a super small setup with no tripod, no pelican case and just a tiny camera in what looks like a personal amateur photo bag for a personal trip)

More info here :
https://www.boomerangcarnets.co.uk/what-carnet
https://www.boomerangcarnets.co.uk/advisory/Mexico-Special_Considerations <--- Mexico specific info
https://www.ata-carnet.uk
(in France we can do it at the chamber of commerce, those link above looks like 3rd parties doing it for you)

It does avoid you being taxed when you cross borders with expensive equipment BUT the carnet itself is not free (costs a percentage of all your gear's real value).

 

[Nick Gardner]

Carnet is definitely the way to go. It's a pain in the ass, but much less of a pain in the ass than traveling without one if things go bad.

Nick

 

[William Long]

+ 1 Carnet

 

[DC Chavez]

And don't forget to show up to the airport 3 hours early to have customers go though your carnet. Going in and out of Mexico City a few months ago was a PAIN. A bunch of people standing around saying they can't do anything... Frustrating, but necessary...

 

[AndreasOberg]

Thanks guys, great information. Do we need a carnet between all countries or only a few? Can you do one and then use it for all your international travels for a year or so?

Cheers!

/Andreas

 

[Tom Hamilton]

Not all countries accept carnets, although Mexico does. Valid for multiple trips up to one year.

More infö here:

https://www.roanoketrade.com/ata-carnet/carnet-travel-checklist/

 

[Sean Keen]

talk to Rodrigo I.

 

[Joe Cage]

Hmm from what point do you need to do this, took an A7S ii, glidecam, tripod and a bunch of lenses around the world and never had I had to pay any taxes.

 

[Nick Gardner]

It comes down to this - If you don't play by the rules and you get caught, they usually make you put up the cash amount of what the duties would be if you were importing the gear. You get it back when you leave. You can get a bond company locally and pay a fee, or put up the cash. Or they impound your gear till you leave. I have been hit for $20k before. If you want to chance it, knock yourself out. But the right way to do it is abide by the law.

Nick

 

[Jan Balster]

What nick said!

If your'e traveling with just a few thousand $ worth of stuff (A7S ii, glidecam, tripod and a bunch of lenses) and not a bunch of pelican cases, then I wouldn't bother with a carnet. If you're traveling with $100K or more and lots of suspicious looking cases then you'll definitely want a carnet.

- Jan

It comes down to this - If you don't play by the rules and you get caught, they usually make you put up the cash amount of what the duties would be if you were importing the gear. You get it back when you leave. You can get a bond company locally and pay a fee, or put up the cash. Or they impound your gear till you leave. I have been hit for $20k before. If you want to chance it, knock yourself out. But the right way to do it is abide by the law.

Nick