The Customs and Immigration officials at the Cancun airport have decided to crack down on certain items commonly brought into Mexico from international destinations.  For example, you may have routinely brought your laptop and an electronic tablet (iPad) with you on your Mexico vacation and have had no prior problems in doing so.  Unfortunately, that has now changed, at least at the Cancun airport.  Travelers are now being taxed up to 19% of the estimated value of the extra device (with a cap of $4,000 USD of the device)–and that estimated value will be made by Mexican Customs and Immigration officials.  If you don’t pay the tax the device will be confiscated.

Actually, this rule is nothing new, but for some reason it is now being more strictly enforced.  There is an entire list of items that may or may not be taxed–you can access the list by clicking on this link.  Here is a short list of items you may commonly carry into Mexico and need to know if it will be taxed if you violate the rule:

• As previously mentioned, travelers are only allowed one laptop, notebook, omnibook, or portable computing device
• travelers are allowed up to 3 cell phones or other wireless devices
• travelers are allowed only 2 cameras or video cameras (I would be nailed on that one)
• travelers over age 18 are allowed up to 10 packages of cigarettes, 25 cigars, or 200 grams of tobacco
• travelers are allowed up to 3 liters of alcoholic beverages and up to 6 liters of wine

Here’s another travel tip:  Don’t stock up on taxable items in the duty free store before customs, it may be confiscated shortly thereafter if you don’t pay the tax on it if you get pulled aside by Customs and Immigration officials.  Know the limit allowed and don’t go over that amount.

What do you think?  Have you recently been stopped and had your luggage searched by hand and wound up being taxed?