Importing laptops into Colombia.

aztec says on Aug 4, 2005, 04:22:

Laptops Most airlines will allow you to bring one laptop into the cabin. Delta for instance has a prohibition against shipping computers as luggage.

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viewpoint says on Aug 4, 2005, 04:41:

DIAN Even if you made it through your flight with three laptops you will be greeted upon entering Colombia (after clearing immigration) by DIAN who will tax anything exceeding US$1500 in electronics in your baggage at 16% tax. You will need to have a copy of the original purchase invoices supporting your DIAN customs declaration. These people are stupid they know you are not bringing three laptops into Colombia for your own person use.

Just be prepared to pay the 16% tax anyway you ship or carry things into Colombia. Three or more of a kind of electronics (or anything of value) in your bagage triggers more questions, searches and review than you are going to want to deal with. I once came through with 40 Cat5 splice cables worth just .50 cents each worth a grand total of US$40 and you would have throught I was a criminal.

Electronics are expensive in Colombia only beacuse of taxes and import fees.

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boomer says on Aug 4, 2005, 07:58:

more than 1 laptop???? Waltzing into Colombia from the US with three Laptops will not only trigger questioning from the Colombian's but will also get your name on a list with the US Authorities. Laptop computer imports to Colombia are regulated by both Governments dependent upon the capabilities of the unit. Laptop's are a desirable aquisition for the bad guys in Colombia. Seems trivial, but they do monitor this! Taxes will be the least of your worries. Better to take 1 per trip (personal use) and it won't cost you any thing and keep you and your family off any papers floating around. Have a good trip.

http://mysite.verizon.net/resw3ap5/orgullo_de_colombia/

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Diez Y Siete says on Aug 4, 2005, 09:03:

hmmm My boyfriend recently reentered colombia with 2 laptops in his carry on and a desktop in his luggage, and also two digital cameras and as far as i know he didnt have any troubles, and i dont remember him saying anything about having to pay outrageous taxes

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2retirensa says on Aug 4, 2005, 09:26:

I thought they were taking serial #'s when you go and checking to make sure you left with it on your way out. Is this wrong info?
I saw them checking #'s coming and going, needing to take it out of your luggage for them to inspect both ways.
Maureen

Of course, Servientrega is an option

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Crazy4Cali says on Aug 4, 2005, 09:43:

sometimes you get through and sometimes you don't. As Dirty Harry likes to say, "Do you feel lucky?!"

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Mr. Hollywood says on Aug 4, 2005, 09:59:

Not a great idea This isn't a great business idea. Sooner or later they will figure it out, and probably sooner. It's no big deal to walk in with electronics that are clearly for personal use. I've come in with more than one laptop before, but doing it over and over with brand new goods will go nowhere.

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Sylvie says on Aug 4, 2005, 11:41:

viewpoint is right about the taxation but I thought its goods over 1,000$ not 1,500$, no? You maybe able to get away with it by packing them in your luggage and not declaring them but if you happen to be the random guy who gets checked you will have to pay the tax.

In that case the worst case scenario would be that they take the laptops away from you because you didn't declare them....but that is almost doubtful. THey'd rather have you pay the tax than have your laptops.

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goodkray says on Aug 4, 2005, 21:57:

Thank you to everyone for sharing their knowledge and opinions. I guess I will take them in a big carry on laptap bag and hope I don't get the red light. They cost 700 each so I guess I just need to be prepared to pay any duties if they search me. I will try to not declare them but will take the invoice papers just in case.

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Gomezman5 says on Aug 4, 2005, 22:20:

Goodkay....I don't think you are getting the point !! "I guess I will take them in a big carry on laptap bag and hope I don't get the red light."

You are getting some bad advise by a few here, but good advise from people like Viewpoint. A 16% tax is still not all that much relative to what happen if you attempt to enter without delcaring the items. There is a distict possibility that if you are caught attempting to enter the country without delcaring the items, they could actually confiscate the items altogether. I am not sure they will just say, "We caught you, so just pay the tax." That makes absolutely no sense. I know that here, in the US, customs can confiscate the item, or if you are allowed to enter, at that point they will not only make you pay the tax, but they can also force you to pay a penalty in addition to the tax owed.

Look, this is Colombia, and sorry to say but in Colombia, all bets are off. Why would you want to begin your vacation on a very sad note because you don't want to comply with another nations customs laws. Anyone here telling you to take the chance on entering without properly declaring the item(s) is foolish and I would suggest that you reject such advise.

You don't start off on a bad note, by entering as a guest to another country, without complying with the laws of that country where you are having the priviledge of visiting

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Sylvie says on Aug 4, 2005, 23:01:

I speak from experience when I say that in my lifetime of transporting expensive items through customs and getting caught not declaring them the only country that has ever confiscated the item was the UK. According to them the items are confiscated by the queen. I have no clue what the queen will do with a Fendi bag and 2 pair of jeans that wouldn't fit her, but anyhoo!.... All the other times (4 times in total) I played stupid and paid the tax and the fine.

I suppose that my experience would be different since the stuff I typically "smuggle" is clothing and accessories not electronics.

FOr some reason I see a life of crime in my future because it kind of turns me on. Odd, eh?

I say risk it! its fun to play it on the dangerous side. :-P

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Gomezman5 says on Aug 4, 2005, 23:32:

Yea sylvie....your reasoning is a bit ........"off" "I say risk it! its fun to play it on the dangerous side."

That really makes a lot of sense.

First, I have a feeling that laptops have greater marketability than the clothes you try to smuggle in. That is especially true with a bunch of Colombian customs officer that at least on their salary, they could never afford to begin with.

Second, it is easy to advise someone to live on the dangerous side when it is not your money.

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Sylvie says on Aug 4, 2005, 23:44:

Gomezman5, you are extraordinarily intelligent. It is incredible how you're always correct and you're so awesome at getting jokes. You can spot them from a mile away, cant you? I know you can because you’re so smart. I bet you’re hot. Yeah I know you’re the type of guy that all the girls love to follow around and wish they could marry you because you’re so good looking and smart.

No really, I’m serious you’re just too damn smart. I wish you were around me all the time so I would never have to think. People must love being around you. I’m terribly jealous of anyone who gets to be with you all the time.

Will you marry me? Pleas say yes!

Anyway, goodkray, if you declare all three there is a chance that they will still be confiscated. I would personaly not declare all three and risk paying a fee, also I was told in Chile that transporting more than 3 items of over 1000 US$ could be considered commercial quantity which is not allowed in Colombia. So if with those three laptops you have other electronics such as cameras and hand helds you may not be able to go through with those items ....but what the heck would I know? I've only spent my last 2 years traveling the globe. Some countries consider more than 2 new items of 800$ US commercial quantity, some consider 5 items commercial quantities.

I know for a fact that the UK considers anything over 5 commercial quantities...and that is why they took 2 of my 7 pairs of jeans.

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Sylvie says on Aug 5, 2005, 00:09:

goodkray I just thought of what you can do. Take one of the laptops out of its box and carry it in carrier and declare it as your personal computer. Then that leaves you 2 laptops that cost less than 1,500$ US in total. Declare those two laptops and prove that they cost less than 1,500$ by showing the reciepts. THen you wont have to pay any tax. tada!

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Gomezman5 says on Aug 5, 2005, 10:22:

Sylive....why thank you for the wonderful complement Send me a picture of you and maybe I'll by the ring this weekend. In fact, maybe you and I can be the first PBH marraige? We can invite everyone from all parts of the world who paricipate in this forum.

Think of it. You and I, a match made in heaven. And the best part is that you would never have to think at all. I suppose that would get boring for both of us though and the marital bliss would soon wither away. Look, lawyers think from a conservative perspective. Any attorney that would advise his client to violate a law and take their chances would in my opinion, be incompetent and should be disbarred.

I'll say this Sylvie, you have a great sense of humor, I loved your response. You are quite funny. And as to the women following me around everywhere......maybe that will happen in my next life because it certainly is not happening to me now. But you can change that. Except, I think you would freeze your cola up here in Chicago :)

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Sylvie says on Aug 5, 2005, 10:46:

If I can handle -40 degree temperatures in Montreal I'm sure I could handle Chicago.

And remember that people who can avoid getting caught by the law are usually very clever people. ;-)

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Hunter says on Aug 5, 2005, 11:06:

Viewpoint I have heard that they have raised the amount of electron goods that you can bring in for personnel use to US $2,500, I don't know if that is correct or not, the last time I looked into it it was US $1,500.

Hunter

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boomer says on Aug 5, 2005, 11:12:

goodkray Have ya given any thought about what your gonna say at the airport in NY when you depart and they say please open the laptop bag??? I believe the airline regulations are 1 carry on laptop without paying additional baggage charges. Do you really think their going to let you on an airplane in NY without looking in your laptop bag????? Do you really think Colombia is going to let you through customs in Bogota without asking you to open the laptop bag????? Please enlightten us as to what this little exercize in bad judgement cost you when you return.

http://mysite.verizon.net/resw3ap5/orgullo_de_colombia/

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Gomezman5 says on Aug 5, 2005, 11:21:

Ah Sylvie.......I got you again....sorry but.... As to your assertions:

"And remember that people who can avoid getting caught by the law are usually very clever people. ;-)"

It is that very line of thinking that keeps our law enforcement economy rolling. Police, judeges, prosecutors, defense attorney, jail guards, court personnel, and on and on and on and on.

My answer to your comment is that sooner or later.....MOST people, who think that they are too clever for their own good, end up getting caught. And when they are caught, us lawyers get rich. The more people engage in unlawful activity, the more they continue to do so. It is a mind set. That is why the recidivism rate is very high. Most people go through life and never get anything more than a traffic ticket. But do you think it is an accident that people who get arrested have "rap" sheets that are often 10 or 20 entries (number of arrests) long. That my dear, is NOT a coincidence. It is the mentality of people who think that they are too clever. And they are. And they do get away with it, until some day, the whole house of cards falls down, and they loose EVERYTHING. I know too fine Colombians sittining in American prisons right now, because they too thought they so clever. I know they would do anything to repeat that horrible day they got on the plane in Bogota to be mules.

Recently I had a client, a prostitute who worked an escort service here in Chicago, and she told me that before the undercover police solicited her, she was suspicious of her would be "client." Yet, since she never had a problem before, and she thought "she was clever" enough to know who and who was not the police, she went along with it. Now she has a conviction. She had a 30 day jail sentence, and the IRS and the State of Illinois are prosecuting her for back federal and state income taxes.

Yea.....she was clever too. Sylive, you better stick with me, and it's not because I am so hot. I just don't want to see ya get hurt.

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Sylvie says on Aug 5, 2005, 12:00:

BUt Gomez, I said that people who never get caught are clever. Not the stupids who have wrap sheets a mile long. They're jsut dumb.

Remember that 10% of the US and Canadian GDP is made up of the "underground economy" (aka unlawful activity) While your line of business keeps the dummies off the streets and keeps your pockets lined with money the clever crimminals who are typically educated people keep the US and Canadian GDP in a "healthy" state.

I'm willing to bet that more than 70% of financiers and managers on wallstreet are classified as crimminals. I'm also willing to bet that 100% of the "creative accountants" in Canada could be classified as crimminals.....we'll do anything to avoid paying extra taxes! hehehe :-P

You can't compare a stupid hooker with a stock broker with an MBA or a CA. There are probably more, shall we call them "corporate crimminals" in the world than there are stupid hookers and drug dealers that keep money in your pockets. Only differece is that most of the educated ones dont get caught.

Yes, some do i.e. Martha Stewart. But I honestly think that if she werent famous she wouldn't have gotten caught.

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Gomezman5 says on Aug 5, 2005, 12:11:

I know exactly what you said Sylvie..and I said Sooner or later, most people, like it or not...get caught.

Clever or not, your run of luck simply runs out

May I also add, that most MBA's and others similarly educated, need not resort to violating the law to earn money. That is why we got our educations to begin with....make sense?

You may hear about a crook in corperate America here and there, but they are the exception and not the rule

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Mr. Hollywood says on Aug 5, 2005, 12:15:

For once I have to agree with G5. Small grade laptop tax evasion isn't exactly a brilliant criminal scheme. Do it more than 5 times and I assure you they will catch on. And this being Colombia, the penalty could range from nothing to confiscation of the goods and a couple nights in the pokey. Personally, there are a lot better ways to make money, both legal and illegal.

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Gomezman5 says on Aug 5, 2005, 12:26:

Hey wait a minute Hollywood We agreed on something only last week....so it's not just once !

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Sylvie says on Aug 5, 2005, 12:29:

Hasn't anyone seen my post with the solution?!

If he claims one as his personal computer and declares the other two he wont have to pay any tax at all because their total is under 1,500$

Geeez

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Mr. Hollywood says on Aug 5, 2005, 12:40:

We saw, Sylvie. And you're right, that just might work. However, anything goes when they open your suitcase at El Dorado. Better keep your receipts to prove those computers are only worth $700 each, and hope nothing else in your bag puts you over the limit.

I think electronics are totally different from clothes. You could tell Colombian customs that your Prada outfit is worth $5,000 and they'll think you've got a hilarious sense of humor. Tell them a computer is worth $1,000 and they might just think you're a liar.

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Tinto (Moderator) says on Aug 5, 2005, 12:48:

So... What happens with Colombians returning from abroad or North Americans/Europeans visiting Colombia who are bringing gifts of jewelry for someone IN Colombia?



Are they supposed to declare it and pay tax on it?

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Sylvie says on Aug 5, 2005, 13:03:

Tinto, I'm pretty sure that you do. Because it's not your personal effects. Things that are taxable are things that are not your personal effects.

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Gomezman5 says on Aug 5, 2005, 13:08:

Hollywood is correct Clothes and other goodies from the US, mean little to Colombian customs. But if they see a new laptop, in a box with the words,Dell, or HP on it, they don't have to be terribly creative to know that it's worth a lot.

The point is that if they want to confiscate it, or just give you a hard time, it is not worth it. So you pay the extra $100 in tax x 3, isn't that a better idea than the person running the risk of having all three units confiscated or having the tax imposed and then perhaps paying a penalty on top of it??

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calipro says on Aug 5, 2005, 16:37:

goodkray I normally bring in two laptops (worth about $2000) into Cali at a time along with a Cannon 20D and two lens worth about $4500.

I haven't had any problems yet.

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Rubiazo says on Aug 5, 2005, 19:36:

The DIAN's website States that tourists going to Colombia are allowed:
ONE laptop for personal use.
ONE digital camera for personal use.
I'd imagine your cell phone will be ok too. Any repeats of these items would I'm sure be subject to duty and if they really wanna be assholes they could possibly confiscate it.

I'm going down on Aug 15 with the following
Controller Keyboard and Keyboard Stand, all wrapped together in plastic on a dolly.
One digital camcorder
One phone, which is actually a PDA phone and really acts as my laptop AND camera.
One laptop, which actually is used mainly as a source of sounds for the controller keyboard.
One audio interface for the laptop.
One KICK ASS pair of headphones from www.etymotic.com, (check them out, they really rock!)

I hope I'm not pushing it.
Buying gold to take to Colombia from the US or Canada makes absolutely no sense to me. The gold is MUCH better quality there! As a matter of fact, I may just buy some jewelery there to take back to the US and sell on my way back.

I just sent 3 big boxes from NYC to Bogota using Expresito in Queens here. Two boxes were full of used (and new made to look like used) computer parts. The last box was one 17" monitor, worth maybe $25 here market value. The people at Expresito were giving me a lot of grief over the MONITOR. One of those boxes actually contained over $1k worth of computer parts and they had no problem with me declaring it at $80 but they thought the monitor should be worth more than $25!!!! But it all got through the DIAN with no problems whatsoever. Expresito charges an extra 30% for electronics going to Colombia BTW, so the shipping is not cheap.
I think if you wanted to make any money in Colombia off of selling computers you'd have to do it that way, send boxes of used parts down and have someone down there assembling and testing everything and selling it and work out some sort of arrangement.
Calipro, let's see some of those pix then!!

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mikecolombia says on Aug 27, 2005, 10:09:

I have taken about just anything you can imagine to Colombia, and I never had any problems but one time. All I had to do is pay the taxes on the electronics that I had. The majority of the time I reported it as gifts for the family, since my wife is Colombian I never had any problems but that one time.

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