California - Duty Free in San Diego/San Ysidro?

I'm wondering how this works. I've read I can purchase on the US side duty free, then have to cross the border into Mexico, but then can turn right around and cross back into the US. Just curious if this is acceptable or am I better off crossing into mexico and buying over there?

Free of what duty? Buy it where? You are saying you've heard you can buy items in general for lower prices by showing you'll go to Mexico, but can then turn around and immediately return to the States, again without paying any duty to bring the same items back into th U.S.? Sounds strange. What have you heard?

http://www.ehow.com/how_4802101_mexican-border-tijuana-san-diego.html

I don't know if I trust ehow though, know what I mean?
I'm just looking to see if someone else has done it this way before. I'm not looking to spend any time in Mexico, so I want the quickest way. Worst case I'll go into mexico, buy what I need, then come back.

As far as what duty? The taxes from the state of CA and the federal government. When you re enter the US you are allowed to bring back a certain number of cigarettes/cigars and so many Liters of liquor. Yes it does sound strange thats why I'm looking for people that may have done it before.

If I understand your posts, you are asking for help/advice to develop a scheme to avoid paying state and federal tax on purchases in the US as a US resident. If so, I suggest to the moderator that this thread be closed. If not, then you need to explain more clearly what you are asking and why.

If I understand your posts, you are asking for help/advice to develop a scheme to avoid paying state and federal tax on purchases in the US as a US resident. If so, I suggest to the moderator that this thread be closed. If not, then you need to explain more clearly what you are asking and why.

That is not what I'm looking for at all. There is not a thing illegal about it. Have you ever purchased items duty free? Say even on a cruise? You are in another country, then you bring them back you simply declare them at customs.
I have never been to the border at San Ysidro, but from from research, there are plenty of duty free shops on the US side. Anyone can purchase threre so long as you are leaving the country with the goods. I simply want to return with same goods, but wasn't sure if I needed to remain in Mexico for a certain period of time with goods.

There was never any intention of doing a thing illegal. If my posts were read, I clearly stated you are allowed a certain number on alcohol/tobacco items. Which would imply I plan on declaring all items at customs.

Agree with the OP. There is a difference between clever tricks and illegality. This method, if it's true, falls into the clever trick category.

Agree with the OP. There is a difference between clever tricks and illegality. This method, if it's true, falls into the clever trick category.

Hope that OP lets us know what they discover. I can't imagine it's possible (it's not like the Feds are unaware of it), but who knows? I wouldn't spend the time to go into TJ to save a few bucks on purchases (if you buy a lot, then you really draw attention to yourself, and could pay high duty), but for some it may work out. The last time we were in SD, one friend attending the same conference as my wife went to the outlet stores near the border, but reported he got better deals from the sales racks of Macy's and other stores in downtown SD.

I have no definitive answer, but my understanding is that the stores on the US side of the border pay no taxes on the merchandise that they carry, because the merchandise must be taken out of the US.

If you pass through the border with that merchandise at hand, the CBP agent can (and probably will) ask to see your receipt, and also probably will ask you verbally where the merchandise was purchased.

If you present your receipt, different things could happen: they might seize the merchandise under rules that it is ineligible to enter the US. Or, they might charge duty in lieu of the taxes that the retailer never paid. Or, they may wave you through.

The CPB website has a help page allowing you to ask questions - you could submit a question and be sure before attempting your purchase (if you're "shy", creata a webmail account). :) They also have a knowlwdge base of sorts on that site - I looked through the first two pages and didnt see anything matching this situation:

http://help.cbp.gov/

This is an interesting question that the OP raises because in most cases a US resident must be outside the USA for at least 48 hours in order to claim a full duty-free exemption.

The specific exceptions to the minimum outside-the-USA 48 hour requirement are Mexico and the US Virgin Islands.
http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/vacation/kbyg/duty_free.xml

What a random bunch of responses from people who have apparently never been to the San Ysidro border crossing. To answer the OP,s question, yes there are a number of Duty Free shops on the US side of the border and prices are better on allot of things than you might find in normal stores on the US side. They take your licence plate number or ID and have lookouts to make sure you do cross into Mexico rather than just walking away on the US sides. Presumably they report you to CBP if you say you are crossing to Mexico but don't. No idea what happens then.

There is nothing functionally to prevent you from immediately returning to the US other than an hour or more border line. There may be legal limits but effectively they are not enforced. The border line alone is probably deterrent enough to prevent widespread abuse.

As to wether it is better to purchase duty free on the US side or just purchase at a duty free on the Mexican side, the prices are similar on either side of the border. If I buy something duty free, I usually just stop on the Mexican side before leaving just because it is more convenient for me but either way I think you come out more or less the same.

Just wanted to report back for anyone interested. I was concerned over customs giving me a hard time so I simply walked over the border, then over the foot bridge to the other side of the street, bought what I wanted and walked into the customs building. No problems at all. Coming from a state with nearly $9 smokes, paying $26 for a carton was very nice.

As I was walking into mexico I did see one gentleman with a Baja duty free bag (which are the stores on the US side) crossing the bridge with me. He claimed he buys on the US side all the time and brings them back as he doesn't like mexican smokes. Then waiting in customs I also seen at least two other baja bags going through and they had no problems either.

Although now that I did it I would not do it again, I'm too much of a wuss and was all nervous. :o

Thanks for all the answers though guys,
Eddy