Instructions for receiving

YACHT IN TRANSIT, DUTY FREE BOAT PARTS

Shipped by Fed-Ex directly to Bruno’s Marina in the Rio Dulce, Guatemala

Courtesy of Cheri & Sandy Billings, s/v Namaste & Tami Gilliam s/v Heart of Gold

With help from Steve at Bruno’s and Fed-Ex (in Guatemala City), we have received duty free packages several times while here in the Rio Dulce.  Using the following procedures, we have never had to pay duty on any of the Yacht in Transit Packages we have received.  Duty charges are approximately 25% of the items value.  Sometimes you are required to pay sales tax of 10-12%.  We have not been able to determine exactly when sales taxes will be charged.  Sometimes we have  been charged sales tax and sometimes not. 

It is important to have the proper paperwork sent with your package.  Otherwise, you will very likely have to make a trip to customs in Guatemala City.  If you are accessed the sales tax, Fed-ex will call you when the package gets to customs and you will be given instructions on how to deposit the money into an account at Bank rural.

REQUIRED CUSTOMS PAPERWORK

• Commercial Invoice from Seller
• Copy of current boat documentation
• Copy of current SAT paperwork
• Copy of picture and signature pages of your passport
• Copy of page of your passport with your current visa stamp

This paperwork needs to be both inside the package and on the outside of the package in an envelope marked ADUANA. 

We had the shipper send us the tracking number and we followed the packages progress daily.  When the package arrives at customs, if there is any tax due you will receive a call from Fed-ex and be given instructions on how to deposit the money. A copy of our bank transaction is attached. 

We were given the following information from Fed-ex to take to the bank:

1. Bank and account number to put the money into
2. The amount to be deposited
3. Transaction number
4. Commercial invoice number
5. Phone number to fax a copy of the bank receipt to

To speak to an English speaking Fed-Ex agent we called  2411-2100.  After the deposit is made, we were asked to fax a copy of the transaction to 2337-4900.  When Fed-Ex receives this copy they send the package directly to Bruno’s. We made the deposit on Wednesday late in the afternoon and the package arrived the next day at Bruno’s.  There is a very small charge for the delivery service (about Q7 per pound) that Bruno’s will pay and have you pay them back when you pick up the package.

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