[b] Results Importing Software? [b]

[The Duck]

Jacquie, I believe both la Conexi?n and Border Crossings play by the rules. They are either authorized customs brokers or use the services of one of the many brokers in Laredo.

Duty is charged as follows: The duty that the Mexican customs authority will determine (and charge) is figured by applying the corresponding tariff to the CIF (cost of the product + insurance + freight) value of the product. As well there will be a customs processing fee of 8/10th of 1% of the assessed CIF value. Also, there is an Added Value Tax (IVA) on goods and services sold in Mexico (see IVA elsewhere on this site). more info

la Conexi?n explains its procedures here under Package Services and Border Crossings under RECEIVING PACKAGES

You may have ended up paying duty on the fair market value of the software rather than on the academic price on the invoice as the Aduana go by a published schedule based on the type of article, its country of origin and other factors. You could probably appeal it to the Aduana based on your non-profit accademic status but I'd first consider the amount in question and then the value of your time. At 17% it seems you may have been charged IVA [16%] and a small handling fee.

In the future maybe you could buy the software onlinde and let Carlos Slim help you get it across the border by downloading it from the seller's website.