A few days left before Christmas, border crossing into the United States has intensified; the long waiting lines at the port of entry demonstrate this. To add to the chaos that occurs in Mexico, we should also add what happens when you end up on the Mexican Customs side.

This is why it is important to know the right amount that you can cross without needing to pay extra taxes and have a bad time. Since November 29, 2022, the program "Héroes Paisanos" was implemented which allows Mexicans to enter into Mexico with $500 dollars in products, without paying any taxes. The rest of the year this amount is $300 dollars. The entry for these products can be by land or by air.

For Tijuana natives or residents at the border region, this number doesn’t apply. In the Héroes Paisanos program, the maximum amount for Baja Californians is 300 dollars, only during this season. The rest of the year the number is $150 dollars. In addition, one should add that merchandise on vehicles with two passengers should not exceed 400 dollars.

This means that the $500 dollar allowance only applies for Héroes Paisanos, people who live south of Mexico’s border region. Everyone who lives in the border, defined by the Tax Administration Service (SAT) as: the states of Baja California, Baja California Sur, Quintana Roo, and a partial region of Sonora; the southern region next to Guatemala, and the municipalities of Caborca, Sonora, Comitán de Domínguez, Chiapas, and Salina Cruz, Oaxaca are not included in this benefit.

Another important thing to note is that this program doesn’t apply for alcoholic drinks or tobacco in cigarettes or cigars. It also doesn’t apply to fuel. None of these products can be considered in the non-taxed $500 or $300 dollars.