August 30, 2013:

Our daughter, Vero, sent me this short email late yesterday:
Steve, Did that work? I just tried calling the magic jack number.

8:45 PM (11 hours ago)
Reply:
To: Vero
Hi,
We have been exploring ever deeper levels of tech-hell the last 2 days.

Yesterday: a super-close FLASHBANG lightning strike took out the wired/ethernet-cabled-half of our Cablemas router, and also ruined the HDMI output on our ROKU-TV box. Still, the wireless side of our Cablemas router still worked…

Think your $10 powerstrip “surge protector” is enough?   We had all our electronics circuit breakers on a $1,000 peso power conditioner – with 5 year guarantee of full protection for electronics.    This close strike got past the conditioner, plus it ruined neighbor Don Francisco’s Telmex phone service ~ (which is still out, and may be out for days.)

Fully hopeful of getting full internet back,  today,  I pedaled over to the Cablemas office (cycling in our steamy-summer tropical Yucatán jungle heat is better than it sounds, because pedaling makes its own breeze, so you feel OK,  until you stop, when heat from your core explodes out through your pores …   ooops, back to the Cablemas office … )   – sat in the chairs – made apologies for my poor-Spanish by offering that we could speak either “su Ingles o mi Español malo” … “Su Español malo, por favor, Jeffe.“-  had a computer-terminal tech look at our damaged router – all to hear him say “the soonest we can get you a router is next Miercoles (Wednesday)…”   5 days out – but at least the wireless part of the Cablemas router works to beam weak signals around through our massively thick stone walls – and … they let me keep the damaged-limping router.

next level of tech-hell?   The Cablemas router was connected to the Cablemas cable in our home-office – making the wireless signal go through 2 or 3 thick mamposteria walls – knocking down the signal – making Skype and laptops and Slingbox work poorly.

next level of tech-hell?  I decided, “Oh well heck, I’ll just give up and move my computer and TV stuff into the office PC computer – next to the router… ” It turns out the lightning strike smoked the network card on our office PC…  

next ever-lower level of tech-hell?   To get better wireless signals:  Move the Cablemas router from the office over into the living room – which means moving/installing cables  into the living room – to allow Maria Alba to use Skype and watch internet streamed movies, and for me to watch some TV.

Out into the rooftop’s  still-blazing sun,  I disconnected our old satellite dish,  moved those cables over to the Cablemas entry-point  ~  cut cables ~ and installed a connector on the old cables, and descend hopefully back into the cool house.  …  My first crude rooftop re-cabling combined with re-purposing the old satellite TV cabling – got decent internet signals (now 3:00 pm) moved into the living room through the old satellite cable – but the signals were a little dirty, plus streaming cut-out and froze briefly under heavy demand.

next lower level of tech-hell?   Went back up onto the roof, replaced a 3-month-old weak splitter with a new union/butt-connector, and installed yet one final new cable connector end, and treated the connections with special NASA corrosion-healing lube.    Returned downstairs …   internet now working 10% better than it ever has … looked promising, until I tried to connect to Slingbox to watch some news about the breaking situation in Ukraine.

next lower level of tech-hell?   Slingbox went from crappy early in the day to…

… total shutdown at that point.    

As I screwed around with cleaning programs on my computer to get rid of junk files and free-up memory and eliminate registry errors, etc, I watched beautifully streaming French TV from a French website to get a little news.

next lower level of tech-hell?

As I connected, disconnected, and re-connected cables on my laptop computer, the ethernet cable port on my relatively new laptop computer now doesn’t snap in the cables tight anymore…. making ethernet connections flaky…

next lower level of tech-hell?

As I got the laptop connections to work, … the Cablemas router completely lost its connection to the internet – (but it did work for 30 minutes of sweet sweet French news) causing me to suspect either my new roof-top connections (wind, .???) …  or … that yet a fresh new component part of the Cablemas router mother-board had failed.

192.168.0.1/   =>   computer probes  the Cablemas router’s diagnostic software – and finds both of our laptop computers were connecting to the Cablemas router just fine, but there were absolutely no signals coming into the Cablemas router from Cablemas – and no outgoing connections… NOTHING – both sets of 10 values (in and out) had “~ O dB ~ ” … began furiously resetting the router,  multiple times … nada ….   I have never seen that before in 8 years here – as there are usually at least some tiny voltages dribbling in…

next lower level of tech-hell?   Up to the still-hot roof the check things  (yes, it’s still hot at 4:00 pm) …. it all looks good…

next lower level of tech-hell?    Compulsively check the router and laptop every 10 minutes to see if any internet signals were coming from the limping Cablemas router… nada

Gave up – got a cool drink – and took a luxurious cat-nap.

next level of tech hell?    Clients at the apartment building call to say: “Our internet is out...”

I packed-up my laptop, cables,  and router over to the apt. building and found that at least all three routers in the apartments were fine, … but no Cablemas internet nor TV…

Gave up, explained to the tenants that “everybody’s Cablemas is out in our neighborhood” – that we have an appointment scheduled in 5 days for Cablemas techs to come out –  and resigned myself to no TV nor internet until next Wednesday’s Cablemas appointment – on to grilling hamburgers.

next lower level of tech-hell?   The edges of 2 burgers burned-black due to a newly rusted-out hole in the gas grill’s burner.   

rest of the burgers tasted great…

Talked with neighbor Don Francisco about their Cablemas service – to find out that all of their telephone, internet and TV (from different providers) were all out…

What book to read for the next days…

Decided to re-connect our Cablemas router back to the new-livingroom-cable-connection ~ to try it one last time. ~ … lights… ~  more lights … ~ ALL the lights flashing merrily…. IT ALL WORKS…. with the strongest best signals ever to our computers and TV…

Read email:   Vero wrote to say that the power at their house had been fluctuating all day – screwing up their DirecTV and my Slingbox. …. Checked Slingbox: WORKS GREAT….

Decided to try to get Magic Jack working for Maria Alba and Vero to talk….

“back to the previous programming” :   Our brand spanking new Magic Jack gives a display on Maria Alba’s laptop…   but won’t connect to the Magic Jack server… at all.      Is our new Magic Jack partly cooked? (the previous new-style Magic Jack died after just 3 months)  or is Magic Jack’s server down….

Realize that we are in the middle of a true tropical heat wave…  and heat is building inside the house.

My solution?

Ice cold beer & Advil…

kick-back, and enjoy the PBS newshour from PBS-Colorado  to  103W satellite over Ecuador – back to Colradp by Nate & Vero’s DirecTV via Slingbox  via  Century Link   via   Slingbox’s far-off server   via   Cablemas’s server   via   our limping-router via   wireless signals to my laptop…

cheers!

me,  stubborn?   nah….

p.s. Vero, You can now call your mom using Skype.

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August 18, 2013:
Here’s an update on how the latest amparos (similar to a Temporary Restraining Order) are working at the Mexico-USA border to allow us foreigners to legally and permanently import our foreign-plated cars without taking the car to the border, (called “paper-only imports”) .  An open letter on this from Oscar Angulo was posted on Mexconnect.   As with other Yucalandia contributors, Oscar has years of a fine reputation for consistently giving good assistance to Americans and Canadians here in Mexico:

”  By all means I will give you an explanation, as to what are the basics to realize this new manner in which to nationalize cars without taking them to the border.

As you know there are only limited “windows of time.”
In Article 101 of the customs law one can find the stipulation for making a pedimento “A3.”
And in regulation 2.5.1 is found the procedure of how to realize this nationalization, there it tells you that you have to present the auto at the border or port of entry.
And is against which we entered an “Amparo” (temporary restraining order entered by a judge) against this regulation, in place of the regulation we can realize the pedimento without the necessity of presenting the vehicle.
The procedure is very simple. One must send photos of the auto in a Pemex or in front of an Oxxo, in order to demonstrate precisely that the auto is in México and is not detained or in a foreign country.
One must send the title of ownership.
-copy of identification
-copy of a comprobante of domicile (electric bill in name of owner, eg.)
-put down a code or application number that is assigned.
-and as is logical, send a deposit of the total of the cost.
The process takes three work days and the original document are sent by a messanger service.
So, it is per another “Amparo,” which presents the present “window of time.” Apparently, most gringos think the nationalization of cars is a simple, stable, and direct process. However, the whole process is sort of “held together with Scotch tape and ping pong balls.” Remember when I announced that nationalization was suspended, and people hee-hawed me. It was suspended because several “Amparos” had expired. At that time, fortunately, the agents were able to get those “Amparos” re-instated, but there was no guarantee…..AND THERE NEVER IS…..so the whole process is sort of fragile. Of course, if the Mexican automobile industry had its preference, Residentes Permanentes would be obligated to buy Mexican cars……I know NAFTA, but, and this is hard to accept, “SO What!”
So, at the present time one can take care of the “window of opportunity” created by the Amparo (temporary restraining order) against having to present the car at the border. Who knows how long this will last….maybe a long time, or maybe the “window of time” will suddenly slam shut!
Sincerely,
Tom C. Whitmore

Original from Óscar:
Hola mi querido amigo Tom.
Claro que si, te doy una definicion, en que se estan fundamentando para
la realizacion de esta nueva modalidad de hacer carros sin traer a la frontera.
Como sabras solo son “ventanas de tiempo” .
En el articulo 101 de la ley aduanera podran encontrar lo estipulada para hacer un pedimento “A3”.
Y en la regla 2.5.1 Viene el procediemiento, de como realizar esta nacionalizacion,
ahi te menciona que tienes que presentar el auto en la frontera o puerto de entrada.
Y es en donde entramos nosotros con un “Amparo” a esta regla. en vez de traerlo
podemos realizar el pedimento sin necesidad de presentar el vehiculo.
EL procedieminto es muy simple. HaY que mandarme fotos del auto en un pemex o en un oxxo, para demostrar que efectivamente el auto esta en Mexico y no se encuentra detenido o en el extranjero.
Mandar copia del titulo de propiedad.
-copia de identificacion.
-copia de comprobante de domicilio.
-poner un codigo que se asigna.
– y logico hacer el deposito en su totalidad del costo.
El tramite tarda 3 dias habiles y se envian documentos originales por paqueteria.
Esperando te encuentres en perfecto estado de salud y quedo a tus apreciables ordenes.. Un fuerte Abrazo.

LIC. Oscar Fco. Angulo. *PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGEAnCo Comercializadora.
Tel 631-31-52571
Nex. 62*259663*2
Cel Mex 045 6311201015.
Cel Usa 520 988 5060 “

http://www.mexconnect.com/cgi-bin/forums/gforum.cgi?post=201435;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;forum_view=forum_view_collapsed;;page=unread#unread

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Disclaimer: This information is not meant as legal advice. It is for educational and informational purposes only.  See a qualified professional for advice on important issues.

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August 13, 2013:
Here’s another Public Service Announcement for people who pay their own Mexican income taxes (not withheld by an employer) or submit IVA taxes to SAT.   Lic. Spencer McMullen offers the following updates:

“Pay your taxes now to SAT or lose big”

People (inc. small business owners, independent professionals, and the self-employed) under the REPECO scheme used to file and pay their taxes bimonthly with their State Tax Collectors offices.    Now, with the Jan. 2014 tax reforms, people need to file bimonthly tax returns with SAT using the SAT web site.   The SAT website is now working, 1 filing deadline has passed, and 1 deadline is looming.  … Continue reading at Update on SAT’s On-line Mexican Income Tax & IVA Tax Filing …
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Full details and translations can be found at: Update on SAT’s On-line Mexican Income Tax & IVA Tax Filing

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Please Continue to Make Comments and Replies to Help Keep This Information Current!
Disclaimer: This information is not meant as legal advice. It is for educational and informational purposes only.  See a qualified professional for advice on important issues.

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August 12, 2014:
Mexican Lawyer Lic. Spencer McMullen has been busy again, offering yet more good insights into how real estate law, property law, and tax laws work in Mexico. Here is his latest report on key issues that affect most of us foreigners living and visiting Mexico:

Real Estate Appraisals in Mexico.
Here in Mexico we have three types of real estate appraisals:   Tax (Catastral),  Bank (Bancaria) and  Commercial (Comercial).   When choosing an appraiser, remember that all appraisers must be licensed.    Most are engineers or architects who have postgraduate courses and state licenses and are also “peritos” or experts in real estate.

TAX (CATASTRAL) APPRAISALS
The Tax / Catastral appraisal is used to calculate transfer real estate taxes and fees, as well as notary fees. In years past Notarios used this value as the sales price listed on the deed, instead of the real sales price that the buyer paid to the seller.

This approach had certain consequences when the listed value was low, allowing the buyer to pay smaller closing costs and less in ongoing property taxes.   After the Feb. 2010 ISR tax law changes, . . .
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Full details and translations can be found in the Main Article (see Header):
Real Estate Property Appraisals in Mexico: Catastral, Taxes, Capital Gains & Notarios

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July 30, 2014

July 29, 2014
Estafeta, a good common carrier in Mexico, lists the following items prohibited for shipping by common carrier into Mexico, and this post also contains a separate list of items prohibited for shipping within Mexico:

“Artículos prohibidos para importación
Armas en general y accesorios, productos inflamables, tóxicos o peligrosos. Todo tipo de alimentos frescos, semillas, medicamentos, suplementos alimenticios, vitaminas. Instrumentos médicos de cualquier tipo como: medidores de presión, masajeadores, material pornográfico. Algunos artículos cosméticos con ingredientes farmacológicos. Ropa y calzado usado, artículos de piel en general. Algunos accesorios para bebé como biberones, pañales, mordederas. Llantas usadas y nuevas. Artículos de madera en general, tintas y tóners líquidos, velas, ceras, globos, cigarros electrónicos y accesorios. Equipo para gotcha o paint ball y accesorios. CD´s o DVD no grabados (vírgenes), etc.

Nota:
Si tu artículo no se encuentra en esta lista parcial o tienes alguna duda, contacta al área de informes merkalink.com para aclarar tus dudas o preguntas. informes@merkalink.com

Restricciones en la Transportación de Productos en México
Artículos Prohibidos: Bebidas alcohólicas, artículos perecederos y de fácil descomposición, pieles y cueros de animales, mercancía falsificada denominada como “pirata”. Armas de fuego, muestras para laboratorio (tóxicas, peligrosas o de manejo especial), animales (vivos o muertos), refacciones con residuos líquidos, artículos de valor extraordinario y piedras preciosas, dinero o monedas, metales, títulos de crédito negociables, plantas (naturales), líquidos, material pornográfico, cualquier tipo de armas blancas, vidrio (en cualquiera de sus presentaciones) y sustancias psicotrópicas (precursores químicos y químicos básicos), artículos con lasser, CD´s o DVD no grabados (vírgenes).

Están excluidos también los materiales restringidos por la IATA: Explosivos, gases comprimidos, líquidos inflamables, sólidos inflamables, objetos magnéticos, materiales oxidantes, objetos radioactivos, artículos tóxicos, materiales irritantes, sustancias infecciosas y/o artículos que puedan dañar la estructura de la aeronave y aquellos que posean otras características inherentes a las arriba enlistadas.

Las llantas nuevas requieren cumplir con Normas Oficiales que incluyen análisis de laboratorio.

Nota:
Recuerda que ésta es una lista parcial, para más información enviar un correo electrónico a:  informes@merkalink.com con el link del producto específico que deseas importar.

Impuestos

Corresponde al impuesto que pagas dependiendo la categoría del producto a importar.

Nota:
Cuando los artículos no tienen el país de origen, se toma automáticamente como hecho o fabricado en China. ”

http://www.merkalink.com/importacion.asp#prohibidos

We (Yucalandia) note that Aduana also includes greases as being prohibited for importation.

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Disclaimer: Note that all of this information is for educational and entertainment purposes only, it is not meant as legal advice. Please see a competent professional for all important tax and importing questions, or contact Aduana to find out their current policies.

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July 15, 2014
Cashing US checks at Mexican banks, transferring money into Mexico, and avoiding big ATM fees has definitely become more difficult since the US Govt’s July 1 FATCA new rule additions. Some banks and financial institutions are now saying there are additional new US govt. rule changes coming in August, which has left some bank’s check cashing and transfer policies in limbo until they deal the with rule changes and figure out their costs and consequences, but there are still many good options.  This post attempts to summarize the current common options for moving money from the USA to Mexico.

Since some bank’s policies are temporarily in flux, and others are on hold, we’re waiting until any August rule changes to finally settle in,  creating new long-term bank policies, before we write a full summary article on what’s available, but here’s a snapshot of people’s first-hand reports of their July 2014 experiences with their banks.

ATMs are still a good option for getting cash out in Mexico (see details below). Readers should note that there have been sporadic problems with ATMs being modified by thieves installing skimmers, so here’s a link to an article on stopping this kind of information theft at ATMs – see about halfway down: https://yucalandia.com/answers-to-common-questions/banking-currency-exchanges-using-credit-cards-atms-in-mexico/

Wells Fargo’s Express Send service is still wiring money from the USA to Mexico. Account holders can send up to $1,500 U.S. per day to certain Mexican banks for $5 USD. One poster described using BBVA Bancomer here to receive the wire. They said there is no charge for receiving if you have an account which can be opened with a $2,000 pesos min. balance/no fee. This process takes 2 days.

In no particular order: Bancomer is still cashing foreign checks for account holders. Intercam currently accepts personal checks from the USA, but some branches are saying they will stop cashing them in August. Actinver is saying they will no longer deposit checks from the USA. Merrill Lynch transfers money for free, if you have enough on deposit with them. Citibank US accounts can transfer $$ for free to MEXICAN Banamex accounts (– but who knows how long that will last… as Banamex goes through regulatory scrutiny and prosecutions: where the Banamex-USA has closed most accounts of US citizens living in Mexico). We can open an HSBC bank account in the US or Canada, and one in Mexico, and then link the accounts and make free transfers between accounts between countries if we deposit enough. The HSBC transferred money appears instantly. XE.com does exchanges from US accounts and transfers within 4 days, but you have to open the XE account from the USA. Capital One 360 debit card has no fees and allows free withdrawals at Banorte ATMs – up to $3,000 pesos a day. Monex still has its fans where you can wire money from any US bank to Monex, and then withdraw funds from Monex Mexico offices. Also note that the information I listed here has eccentric twists like: one way to get around Capital One 360/Banorte’s $3,000 peso a day withdrawal, MultiVa allows withdrawals up to $10,000 pesos a day for about $2 -$3 in fees. Also note that if you have a MultiVa account, then you can currently deposit US checks here in Mexico with them.

**** Be aware that if you start pulling lots of cash from Mexican ATMS, and then making cash deposits to a Mexican account, it creates an electronic “paper” trail that Hacienda/SAT tracks. The good lawyer Spencer McMullen reports that Hacienda then requires the expats (or Mexicans) “to explain why the deposits are not income”. Hacienda/SAT only gives us a short time frame to explain why its not income, or we face taxes, fines and penalties. ****

More news updates next month, when the next round of changes shakes out,
steve

****

Disclaimer: Note that all of this information is for educational and entertainment purposes only, it is not meant as financial advice.   Please see a competent professional for all important tax and investment questions, and contact your financial institution to find out their current policies.

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July 9, 2014
Are “Traditionalists” different from “Conservatives”?
Identical twin and fraternal twin studies show: Obedience to Traditional Authority*: … “authoritarianism, religiousness and conservatism”, called the “traditional moral values triad”, are “substantially influenced by genetic factors” according to 2 different studies. All three traits reflect “a single, underlying tendency”: “traditionalism.” Traditionalists are defined as “having strict moral standards and child-rearing practices, … valuing conventional propriety and reputation, …opposing rebelliousness and selfish disregard of others, and … valuing religious institutions and practices.”

What is sacrificed-by or lost by these traits(?):  ~ Open minded-ness, … flexibility, … tolerance, …acceptance of the others who are different, and … one definition of intelligence: the ability to consider/hold apparently-conflicting or ambiguous views.

If you are not part of that “Traditionalist” gene pool, will you ever be able to understand or really communicate/dialogue with the “Traditionalists” ?

Are “Traditionalists” an irreconcilably alienated segment of Americans?    ~ Do genetic predispositions doom “Traditionalists” to irreconcilably alienating themselves from open-minded tolerant individuals?
* http://www.sciencedirect.com/…/pii/S0191886913001384

… What if it’s not … about politics … nor about ideas? …

Interesting concepts?

…. or just another excuse to dis other people’s beliefs?

****

A wise disabled person observed:  “Everyone is disabled.  Some people’s disabilities are just more visible.”

Does this say that we should give special treatment and special exceptions to “traditionalists”/”Conservatives”, because they are victims of their genetically predispositioned disabilities?

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July 7, 2014

It always starts out so innocently, with only the best intentions:

LSHIDMTASMB

…Laughing so hard I dropped my taco AND spilled my beer!

Like the mouser-cat that must show all trophies before eating them, I drug this in from FaceBook to confirm Joanne’s point about the value in some FB posts (“fast-food”).*

… my first kitty growing up was a near-feral mouser – never allowed in the house – who’d line up every night’s bodies in a neat rown on the doorstep for mom to inspect (the morning horror show) before she dined. Imagine your only pet is one who sinks her claws into your shoulder every time you hug her… explains a lot. *grin*

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*https://www.facebook.com/IFeakingLoveScience/photos/a.456449604376056.98921.367116489976035/872517806102565/?type=1&theater

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July 6, 2014
Just what are we doing here?

… in blogs,  on webforums,  … on facebook or twitterr?

Have you considered that writing is “cognitively unnatural”? (Steven Pinker)    “For almost all human existence, nobody wrote anything; even after that, for millennia, only a tiny elite did so. And it remains an odd way to communicate. You can’t see your readers’ facial expressions. They can’t ask for clarification. Often, you don’t know who they are, or how much they know. How to make up for all this?” (O. Burkeman)

Have you considered that maybe what you are doing … is psychology:  “a way that one mind can cause ideas to happen in another mind”. (Pinker)

Continuing to cherry-pick from other fields, consider insights from language scholars Mark Turner and Francis-Noël Thomas, on “joint attention”.   According to them:  “Writing is a modern twist on an ancient, species-wide behaviour: drawing someone else’s attention to something visible. Imagine stopping during a hike to point out a distant church to your hiking companion:   look,   over there,   in the gap between those trees – that patch of yellow stone?   Now can you see the spire? ”

Crystallized:  “When you write,” Pinker says, “you should pretend that you, the writer, see something in the world that’s interesting, and that you’re directing the attention of your reader to that thing.”

… Is this why most people’s FB posts are almost all pictures,   and only a rare few dare present their own text – daring to write whole paragraphs,  with few or no images? **

… Is this FB quirk caused by the audience?
or
… Are pictures/photos the tool of a writer who has not yet learned to create wondrous images of the mind?

… What are we to make of all the misunderstandings over web-forum posts that almost exclusively use text?

Are these too the fault of an audience of  individuals who actively choose the inability to read more than a sentence or two versus exercising their minds and attention-spans?  … an audience of group-thinkers who automatically revile and complain about “overly long posts” ?

or … is it again, the inability of less-than-mature writers to create enticing, tasty pictures of the mind?

…

or

… steve

Sources:  The Edge 7/6/14  and The Guardian 6/28/14 http://edge.org/

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© Steven M. Fry
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Nov. 10, 2014 Update
Want to import your Mexican car into the USA?  Here’s the CBP link that describes the hows and whys:  https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/425/~/registering-a-foreign-registered-vehicle,-car-or-motorcycle-in-the-u.s.-with

August 30, 2014 Update
Items prohibited for shipping into Mexico and items prohibited for shipping inside Mexico:  http://www.merkalink.com/importacion.asp#prohibidos

Lost your Curp? ~ Not sure you have a CURP? ~ http://consultas.curp.gob.mx/CurpSP/

Check your CURP number: http://consultas.curp.gob.mx/CurpSP/
and print an official copy.

Aduana VIN and Pedimento Checker (to see if a car was successfully imported):  http://www.aduanas.sat.gob.mx/soianet/oia_consultarap_cep.aspx CONSULTA RÁPIDA DE PEDIMENTO ESPECÍFICO

SEGOB’s auto permit checker:  http://www2.repuve.gob.mx:8080/ciudadania/

SAT’s website VIN checker:  http://www2.repuve.gob.mx:8080/ciudadania/servletconsulta

Help with TIP problems, Aduana DF:   ciitev_AduanaMexico@sat.gob.mx   Lic. Karen Villaseñor   01-55-5802-0000 x46889  Administracion Central — 01-55-5802-2069

Aduana/SAT’s “Reference Values” for used cars:    http://www.aduanas-mexico.com.mx/claa/ctar/leyes/mec_precios_estimados.html#ane2

Mexican Govt’s official VIN Checker with import duties: http://paisano.prevalidadorcaaarem.org.mx/Cotizador/

SAT information for importing Classic Cars:  http://www.aduanas.sat.gob.mx/aduana_mexico/2008/vehiculos/141_10175.html

The Banjercito website for checking deposit costs for Temporarily Imported Permits for cars.

SAT/Aduana Operations Manual for Temporarily Imported Vehicles, page 45, Sec. 17-17.4 “Manual Importacion de Vehiculos”

SAT Vehicle TIP Permit Checker

Aduana Letter to Carry In the Car If Your TIP was Issued before June 11, 2011

Retorno Seguro Permits:  “Safely Returning Autos to the USA”“

Ley Aduanera:  Dec. 9, 2013 http://www.diputados.gob.mx/LeyesBiblio/pdf/12.pdf

Aduana/SAT website for Permanent auto imports:  Importaciones definitivas de automóvilies usuados

Aduana/SAT website for Temporary auto imports: Importación temporal de vehículos

What Happens if Your Foreign Plated Car is Stolen? … …. SURPRISE ! @#%&***!!

Unexpected Effects of Having a Trailer with Your Car’s Temporary Import Permit (TIP)

SAT -Directory of Banjercito Locations for Importing Cars

Map of Aduanas del Pais   to get current contact information for ALL Aduana offices across Mexico.

…. and that’s all for today.

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© Steven M. Fry
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June 17, 2014

Fallas en las gasolineras

Un defecto en las bombas causó la “gasolina sucia”

El Diario de Yucatán

http://yucatan.com.mx/merida/gobierno-merida/fallas-en-las-gasolineras

The latest word from PROFECO…
“… problemas en la calidad de la gasolina Magna,,, tuvieron un inusual trabajo para remplazar bombas de gasolinas dañadas.” …  “… el vocero de Petróleros Méxicanos en Yucatán reportó que las causa de ‘gasolina sucia’ fue porque algunas bombas despachadoras de las estaciones en Mérida TINIEN FILTROS FUERA DE LA NORMA. ”

So there you have it:      It (supposedly) was not the fault of PEMEX, it’s (supposed to be) the fault of a bad batch of “outside of the norm” (non-compliant) gas filters at individual franquisas (individual independent franchised PEMEX stations).  …
…right…

Let’s all give a hearty cheer for PEMEX,  since the problem was not with their gasoline,  it was with the non-compliant independent franchises who sell high quality PEMEX gasoline.

This sure gives me lots of confidence to run out and fill our tanks with Magna.

because the stuff in this picture “clearly”  was caused by “fuera de norma” filtros   at a few franquisas:

The previous backs-story on this can be read at:

Ongoing Problems with PEMEX Gasoline

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Feel free to copy while giving proper attribution: YucaLandia/Surviving Yucatan.
© Steven M. Fry

Read on, MacDuff.

June 17, 2014
The Mexican government just amended Article 4 of its constitution eliminating fees to register a child born in Mexico.  The published changes now include giving the first copy of the birth certificate for free. The states will have 6 months to modify their laws to accommodate the changes.

This update comes from the fine attorney: Lic. Spencer McMullen: Mexican licensed attorney (Cédula #7928026) and official court translator (Perito Traductor). Mx 376-765-7553

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Feel free to copy while giving proper attribution: YucaLandia/Surviving Yucatan.
© Steven M. Fry

Read on, MacDuff.

June 4, 2014
Conservatives,  Tea Partiers, and Talking Heads on some business channels still chatter over “high unemployment” and a “weak economy”,  but  U6 and U3 unemployment measures of the actual numbers show a  different picture   of~ definitive trends~ ?:

US Unemployment (U6) of people who want work:

http://portalseven.com/employment/unemployment_rate_u6.jsp

US Unemployment (U3) of people without jobs, who have actively looked for work within the past four weeks:

http://portalseven.com/employment/unemployment_rate.jsp

These numbers and their timing are right in line with our predictions about slow steady US (and Mexican) economic growth, as the US works-off the back-log of distressed properties and foreclosed properties (a 4 year process)  from the 2008 Fiscal Crisis and all the resulting 2009-2012 layoffs.   As the number of foreclosed/distressed properties fall, our home prices rise, and new construction rises,   and people start to fuel economic growth by finally spending and building – again.

What should we think about the people who complained about a bad economy that was supposedly not creating jobs ?

Do they look to the roots and causes of the Crisis in easy-money policies and insufficient regulation of Wall Street “investment bankers” that came from Conservative’s de-regulation policies?

Are the last 4 years of steadily decreasing unemployment really a bad thing?

As predicted (back in 2010):   2014 – 2016 look good for both the USA and Mexico,   as 2 million a year of relatively affluent Boomers become eligible for retirement every year until 2030 …  ~visiting~  spending $$$ , (with some snowbirds renting or buying property to escape the cold),  … all combine to fuel the future economies of Mexico’s expat communities … with good things  predicted out to 2030 for Mexican expat areas:  Baby Boomers: Retirement? Sufficient Savings? Their Likely Effects on Mexico?

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Feel free to copy while giving proper attribution: YucaLandia/Surviving Yucatan.
© Steven M. Fry

Read on, MacDuff.

June 4, 2014
As regular guest author in the past here on Yucalandia, Lic. Spencer McMullen offers foreigners some of the best information and legal services to the expat community in Mexico. Today, Lic. McMullen describes a new Aduana website for checking the status of Temporary Import Permits (TIPs) for foreign-plated cars in Mexico. Without further ado, here’s Spencer’s good report:

After some time and errors the past few months, Aduana’s web site is now working, allowing one to check issuance of vehicle import permits online. You can check with the temporary import permit number or VIN number and passport number to get details of the permit issuance date and expiration date.

https://portalsat.plataforma.sat.gob.mx/…_internet/index.aspx

I don’t think this is necessarily good news as Aduana has been sloppy with their extensions and immigration has been giving people their new immigration cards with dates of a few weeks to a few months before people receive them thereby making the 15 day notification period impossible to comply with.

Lic. McMullen serves the expat community in the Lake Chapala area, and can be contacted at

Home

for legal help. Mexican licensed attorney (Cédula #7928026) and official court translator (Perito Traductor). Mx 376-765-7553

I have a favor to ask of Yucalandia readers,  since we do not have a foreign-plated TIP car, (both of our vehicles have Mexican plates), we were unable to test the new Aduana website and tell us how it worked.    Could someone out there use their TIP information, and check if the Aduana website is working properly now, and describe how it works.

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© Steven M. Fry

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May 23, 2014

What’s your favorite?
20 Mexican Engineering Inventions

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Feel free to copy while giving proper attribution: YucaLandia/Surviving Yucatan.
© Steven M. Fry

Read-on MacDuff . . .

May 29, 2014
Questions about The IRS’s new online FBAR system?
Check out: Internal Revenue Service Webinar on Reporting of Foreign Financial Accounts on the Electronic FBAR, Wednesday, June 4, 2014.

For written information see: IRS Reminds Those with Foreign Assets of U.S. Tax Obligations.

Also see our main article on US tax filing for Americans abroad at:    IRS Tax Issues for Americans Living and Working Abroad in Mexico – Master Article

and the subsection:  ~ Recent Changes in IRS Requirements for Americans Living Abroad – FBAR and Fideicomisos and FINCEN

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© Steven M. Fry

Read-on MacDuff . . .

May 26, 2014
In an unexpected twist, many US citizens living abroad may be required to file W-9’s, even it they are FULLY EXEMPT from FATCA. US citizens living abroad with some foreign Bank accounts, some foreign brokerage accounts, and FOREX trading accounts may soon be getting notices from their banker/broker/FOREX exchange trading firm(s) to prove/certify that the client (you) are exempt from FATCA. Some foreign banks are already asking their US citizen clients to fill out W-9’s …  For details on whether you are exempt from FATCA, see:  FATCA Fallout for US Expats Living Abroad   and  ~ FATCA Requirements for Expats with over $50,000 total in Foreign Accounts and Trusts

Unfortunately, even if you are exempt,  your foreign bank or brokerage may still have IRS requirements to have you fill out W-9, (July 1, 2014), to certify that you are exempt from FATCA.   (US citizens who work as employees of foreign brokerages or foreign banks may also have to fill out a W-9A.)

Here is one good description of the details on this new IRS requirement (provided by the FOREX firm “FCCM”):

“In what cases do I need to submit a Form W-9/W8-BEN/W8-BEN-E to FXCM?

In order to determine if tax withholding is applicable, FXCM must authenticate the residency of its accountholders. For instance, if an account is held by a non U.S. citizen or non U.S. registered business entity, FXCM may require a Certification of Foreign Status, such as Form W8-BEN or W8-BEN-E for the account. Similarly, if an account is held by a U.S. citizen, U.S. resident alien or U.S. business entity, the accountholder may be required to certify his/her tax status by completing a Form W-9.”

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“How will I know what Form to complete?

U.S. citizens or corporations may complete a W-9 form.
Instructions for non-US citizens or corporations can be found in detail here, and are generally outlined below for your convenience:

~ W-8BEN – non-US individual (unless individual falls under below classification)
~ W-8BEN-E – non-US entity (unless entity falls under below classification)
~ W-8ECI – non-US person with claim that income is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the United States
~ W-8IMY – non-US intermediary, non-US flow-through entity, or non-US trust
~ W-8EXP – non-US government, international organizations, non-US central banks of issue, non-US tax-exempt organizations, non-US private foundations, or governments of US possessions

The outline provided above is not intended to be exhaustive and is not warranted or guaranteed by FXCM as to its completeness or accuracy. For assistance with selecting and completing the tax Form applicable to you, please consult a qualified tax professional.”

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“How does FATCA impact FXCM and its clients?

To be FATCA compliant, FXCM must register its own FFIs with the IRS. In addition, FATCA regulations require FXCM to review existing onboarding and withholding processes and enhance them to comply with the regulations.

As part of an enhanced client onboarding process, additional documentation may be requested for clients holding accounts at FXCM. For instance, FXCM may need to obtain tax forms (i.e. W9/W8 series documents) after July 1, 2014, from both new and existing accountholders in order to identify the client’s tax classification.”

http://www.fxcmmarkets.com/legal/fatca/

“Onboarding” (?)

Fun, fun, fun, and yes, Daddy is taking the T-bird away, on July 1, 2014.

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Feel free to copy while giving proper attribution: YucaLandia/Surviving Yucatan.
© Steven M. Fry

May 23, 2014 Has your Yucatecan car been running a little pooch-ey this past month? Magna gasoline has caused problems for many Merida cars this past month, as over 2,000 PROFECO complaints have been filed over Magna ruining fuel pumps (recent Milenio report) and over 700 local Toyotas affected.

Our mechanic-friend Eduardo Perez (Mechanico y Llantas Itzimna 999 144 41 23 ) describes having to replace 23 fuel pumps over just a 2½ week span in late-April to early-May, as they seized up from brown gunk.

Eduardo, Yucalandia, and various UADY scientists suspect that PEMEX changed some additive(s) in April, and that additive fouled fuel pumps with sticky gunk in our hot Yucatecan weather.   

Note:  PEMEX Yucatecan gasoline likely comes from Mexican refineries, while Norteños get their PEMEX gas from Texas & Louisana refineries  => not necessarily the same product.

If you doubt the contamination, maybe a few fotos could help: 

One tried and true method that ordinary folk can use to check out gasoline is to buy a little and store it in a somewhat transparent container.

I bought 2 liters on about April 29’th, and let it sit in this clean container for just 2 weeks.

It’s easy to see that a light brown residue coated the entire part of the tough plastic from just 2 weeks of contact,  and …

a nasty brown thick sticky residue separated out at the bottom.

Imagine this in your fuel tank.

Imagine this brown sticky stuff in your fuel pump…

What’s a car owner to do?

Since PEMEX gasoline problems have been going on for over a decade,   2012 foto:

   Water & Sediment Separating Out:  Pemex Gasoline: Issues? – The Yucalandia Article

… this latest problem of sticky brown gunk separating-out and damaging our fuel pumps, is just the latest round of  PEMEX gasoline quality issues.

Diario de Yucatan reports confirm what we already knew and told good friends:  http://yucatan.com.mx/merida/gobierno-merida/niegan-que-dane-autos-la-gasolina

… If you want to complain formally – send PROFECO an email at ~ denuncias@profeco.gob.mx ~  or ~ acercate@profeco.gob.mx ~  .. or Contact their FB inbox ” Consumidor Inteligente ” .

Some gringos tell us to add “alcohol” to “clean out your tank”,  but alcohols DO NOT dissolve sticky brown gunk (I tried) –  and alcohol simply takes that watery-heavily-sedimented-layer that sits in the bottom of your tank for years (like in the coke bottle) – and SWEEPS  it up into the fuel – dumping 2 or 3 years of sediment into your fuel filter and injectors in  one shot. …

Better solutions:  BG products are the best (but not available here),  Chevron Techron products like their “Fuel System Cleaner” or “Injector Cleaner” work excellently and were the first fuel additives approved by Mercedes & BMW.   Lucas cleaner (shown below) also works well in our experience.   The additives sold by PEMEX have not worked well in our experience.

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Feel free to copy while giving proper attribution: YucaLandia/Surviving Yucatan.
© Steven M. Fry

Read-on MacDuff . . .