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Travelers returning to the United States from Mexico are sharing a warning with others, particularly those traveling with heavy luggage. A Facebook post, which has since gone viral, accuses Cozumel customs of wrongly charging tourists (especially those traveling from the U.S.) taxes for their own belongings. The post also comes alongside alleged claims that a Cozumel customs boss has been removed from his job due to overtaxation.
Although customs fees are sometimes legitimately payable, what's strange in this case is that the items being taxed are things travelers already own and are simply bringing with them for their vacation, blurring the line between regulatory and illegal fees. Now, other tourists have also come forward to share their stories and spread a word of caution to those traveling to Mexico with extra gear, with some vowing they'll stop visiting the country altogether as a result.
Cozumel Charges Underwater Photographer For Two-Year-Old Camera Equipment
Jennifer Ackerman, who goes by Scuba Chick on Facebook, described her most recent experience at customs at Cozumel International Airport. In a post shared on her page, she wrote, "My original post about being charged $400 USD in import tax on my personal camera equipment at the Cozumel airport has now reached more than 85,000 views, so I want to share what happened when I tried to resolve it before leaving Mexico today."
Ackerman explains how she'd gone to Cozumel — one of the leading dive destinations in the world — with her teenage son. She brought her underwater camera equipment, which included:
- One interchangeable-lens camera body
- One underwater housing
- Three lenses
The equipment, for all intents and purposes, is typical of what one might see from an underwater photographer, dive master, and photography instructor. However, when heading through Cozumel International Airport customs, Ackerman was stopped.
"The equipment was classified as 'excess PROFESSIONAL underwater photography equipment' and taxed at 19%. The current receipt does not list which specific item supposedly exceeded the allowance," shares Ackerman in a Facebook post.
She also explains how she came fully prepared to answer questions regarding the equipment she carried. To prove this, she showed the original tax receipt showing that she paid 6,641 pesos (around $381) for the camera, underwater housing, and lenses, all leaving Mexico with her, their inbound and return flight information, the official Customs handout they gave her upon arrival, and a photograph of another Mexican Customs receipt from 2024, evidence that she owned the same underwater housing and strobes two years prior.
In addition, Ackerman also had two printed handouts from Customs stating that her luggage may contain "two photographic or recording cameras; photographic equipment, and accessories." Despite this, Customs would not allow her through without paying 19% tax. When she requested to speak with a supervisor, she was told that no one was available at 3 PM on a Friday afternoon.
"There was no alternate office, no supervisor available — I directly asked to speak to one, no written appeal procedure provided and no practical recourse. I was simply told to keep the receipt and bring it the next time I visit Mexico. That advice is meaningless. I already had proof that I paid tax on part of this same equipment during a previous trip to Mexico, and it did not help me today," said Ackerman.
Because of her experience, Ackerman is now urging other travelers to be wary of what they pack for their trips to Mexico. She's encouraging travelers bringing cameras and lenses, underwater housings, strobes, drones, dive computers, tablets, laptops, and other electronics to be especially cautious.
That warning is particularly prudent for all tourists in Mexico, not just scuba divers bringing equipment with them for their vacation; on Ackerman's post, a number of other travelers responded in the comments claiming they, too, had similar experiences. Some said they were wrongly charged taxes by Mexican customs for items like drones and laptops. Others said they knew of more divers who had been forced to pay taxes on their own gear.
"My conclusion from this experience is that travelers cannot assume the written baggage allowance will be applied consistently, even when they are carrying personal equipment, remain within the stated number of cameras, and can prove that everything is leaving the country with them. This is not limited to photographers," she writes, including photo proof that she had everything Customs requires of international travelers.
Future Problems For U.S. Travelers
Ackerman also writes in her post that an "insider" shared that Mexico customs is targeting U.S. flights. While this has yet to be confirmed, she shares that it was recommended she return the following Monday to sort out the tax charge. However, this was impossible, given her outbound flight was scheduled to leave that Friday before.
It should be noted that for taxable items, there's an allowance of up to $500 USD if arriving by air. When items exceed this value, they are charged a flat 19% tax rate. While this is valid, the specific photography equipment Ackerman was charged for was not clear on any paperwork. Therefore, it's unclear which piece of equipment, if any, exceeded the $500 USD allowance.
TheTravel reached out to Ackerman for additional comments, but did not receive an immediate reply in time for publishing.
Adding to the tense situation is news that Cozumel's Customs Director was recently terminated as a result of overtaxation. According to a Facebook post by Alex Zaytsev, an underwater photographer based in Cozumel, an official statement was sent to authorities demanding action.
"As soon as we became aware of these incidents, we submitted an official statement to the appropriate authorities. That document is now on the Governor's desk, and yesterday she took decisive action by ordering the removal of the Director of Customs in Cozumel. We know this is only the first step. What truly matters is ensuring that these situations never happen again," Zaytsev states.
In his call to action, he adds, "We stand with you in firmly rejecting any practice that damages the trust of our visitors. We sincerely apologize to those who have experienced this unacceptable situation. We understand that you save, plan, and choose Cozumel because you want to support our island and enjoy everything it has to offer."
