Tariff classification is the process of assigning every product its code within the TIGIE, Mexico's General Import and Export Duties Tariff. A wrong code is not an administrative slip: it can produce tax shortfalls, SAT fines or the seizure of your goods.
Why classification errors happen
The three most frequent origins of a bad classification:
The real consequences
The SAT can assess unpaid duties going back five years. If it detects a recurring pattern of misclassification, the fine can reach 130% of the omitted tax plus surcharges. For goods subject to antidumping duties (steel, textiles, footwear), the difference can be several percentage points that make the operation unviable retroactively.
The solution: a documented classification opinion
Before importing a new product, ask your customs broker for a documented classification opinion. It is not an extra expense; it is insurance. If a dispute comes later, the written opinion of a specialist is your first line of defense.
At Logwell we offer classification reviews as part of our advisory service, with written opinions you can present against any SAT inquiry.
Sources and references
- TIGIE, Mexico's General Import and Export Duties Tariff
- SAT, Federal Tax Code (Código Fiscal de la Federación)
About the author
Logwell Team
Customs Practice
Logwell's customs practice includes licensed customs brokers and tariff classification specialists with experience across more than 50 high-risk tariff codes before the SAT, Mexico's tax authority, including advance valuation rulings.
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