As of October 2024, the Mexican Tax Administration System (known as "SAT") changed its General Rules of Foreign Trade. The changes impact all shipments going to Mexico and require you to add specific information to your labels, such as your recipient's tax ID and detailed customs form descriptions 😅
Here's what you need to know:
1. You must include your recipient's tax ID for all shipments going to Mexico
Labels for Shipments Going to Mexico Require a Recipient Tax ID: The new changes make it mandatory to include your recipient's tax ID on all Mexico-bound shipments. This is required for all shipments to Mexico, regardless of the type of service you choose.
You can enter this information in the "Company" field when creating your label. Here's where to find that:
Obtaining a Recipient Tax ID: Most international recipients will provide their tax ID to you when they place their order. If they don't, you can always ask for one 😉
If You Don't Include Your Recipient's Tax ID: Failure to include a recipient tax ID for Mexico-bound shipments may result in the package being held in customs and the item not being delivered.
2. You must provide specific and detailed descriptions for each item in your customs form
Detailed Customs Form Descriptions: When filling out your customs form, it's mandatory to provide detailed and specific descriptions of the item(s) you're sending.
Any description that doesn't allow Mexico's customs department to clearly identify the merchandise isn't allowed. Also, shipments with general descriptions in the customs form such as “gifts," "clothes," "toys," "phone," etc won't be accepted.
Examples of acceptable vs unacceptable customs line descriptions
Here's an example of some common goods and their corresponding acceptable descriptions in a customs form:
Unacceptable Description | Acceptable Description |
Clothes | Men's cotton crew neck T-shirt |
Phone | Apple iPhone-8, 5.1-inch display, 256 GB |
Auto Parts | Automobile brakes, windshield glass, etc |
Gift | Battery-powered remote control car |
These guidelines impact both individuals and businesses
Individuals and Businesses Affected: These changes apply to all recipients, including individuals and businesses. To ensure your packages get delivered, you'll need to follow these guidelines regardless of which type of recipient you're shipping to in Mexico.
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