Taxes on shipments under $200 US

[Jaime809]

Looks like it's here for some of us in mid-August; got this email from JetPack today:
"Estimados Clientes:

A trav?s de la presente les queremos informar que en el d?a de ayer 29 de julio del 2014, la Direcci?n General de Aduanas en las personas del Ing. Gregorio Lora, el Lic. Gavino Polanco y el encargado de la Direcci?n de inform?tica, le informaron a nuestra directiva que a partir del pr?ximo 15 de agosto del a?o en curso, se implementar? el cobro de impuesto a paquetes cuyo valor sea menor de US$200.00 (Doscientos d?lares con 00/100).

Recordamos lo que expres? el Excelent?simo Sr. Presidente de la Rep?blica, Lic. Danilo Medina en su comunicaci?n cuando el Congreso quiso hacer dicho cobro, en virtud de la aprobaci?n de la Ley de Reforma Fiscal del a?o 2012:

"Esto vulnera un derecho adquirido por la poblaci?n Dominicana".

Entendemos que esta medida perjudicar?a grandemente a los consumidores y provocar?a enormes retrasos en los despachos de mercanc?as, violando as?, el tratado de libre comercio, DR-CAFTA.

Apreciado cliente no te quedes con los brazos cruzados levanta tu voz y protesta!!!

Para autorizaci?n retiro de paquetes:
autorizaciones@jetpack.com.do

Puede solicitar el env?o de su paquete en la zona metropolitana
a nuestro departamento de Servicio al Cliente o al email"

What it doesn't say is what the tax will be. I need to hit Amazon and clear my basket quickly and order what I'm gonna order.

 

[amp]

It never fails that the people who run this country seem to be ruining it the most.

 

[SKY]

Looks like the big money store owners got to someone. Well for me I will just carry more stuff in with me instead of shipping here. Plenty of mules around also.

 

[caribmike]

Got the same mail from Vimenpaq just now...

 

[KateP]

I got a similar email also from CPS.

 

[dv8]

well well well. there is a possibility that danilo will back off from this decision like he did with marbete, to show that he listens to the people. you never know here. one thing for sure, dominican shops will get no business from me anyways and we will keep on shipping with EPS. maybe we will start bringing more barrels.

 

[SKY]

Plaza Lama, the biggest thieves in the DR are the key instigators for this. Here is a store that about 9 years ago was caught scamming the Government on Itbis. They also sell refurbished goods as new. NEVER buy electronics there, or anything else after this crap passed.

 

[caribmike]

Same here. NO business from me. Sea lo que sea....

well well well. there is a possibility that danilo will back off from this decision like he did with marbete, to show that he listens to the people. you never know here. one thing for sure, dominican shops will get no business from me anyways and we will keep on shipping with EPS. maybe we will start bringing more barrels.

 

[DR_Guy]

We be f00ked again.

 

[JayinRD]

Uff, New tax, new restrictive immigration residencia law, no luz, water problems, chiky virus, i could go on. Unless you are sort of stuck here because of family or real estate investments why stay? Sorry to say this country has become less attractive as a retirement destination spot for foreigners.

 

[jeanchris]

Are you fuc****ing kidding me

 

[dv8]

Uff, New tax, new restrictive immigration residencia law, no luz, water problems, chiky virus, i could go on. Unless you are sort of stuck here because of family or real estate investments why stay? Sorry to say this country has become less attractive as a retirement destination spot for foreigners.

i know. DR be f**king with foreigners. already you need to cover the basics yourself: well for water, generator for power, guns for security, private health insurance. now they made getting residency more of a mess and they keep on slapping us in the face with a rotten mero of taxes and additional charges.

 

[AlterEgo]

i know. DR be f**king with foreigners. already you need to cover the basics yourself: well for water, generator for power, guns for security, private health insurance. now they made getting residency more of a mess and they keep on slapping us in the face with a rotten mero of taxes and additional charges.

I know plenty of Dominicans who ship stuff into DR that they purchase on the internet - I'm sure they're not thrilled either.

A lot can happen between now and August 15th.

 

[dv8]

I know plenty of Dominicans who ship stuff into DR that they purchase on the internet - I'm sure they're not thrilled either.

yes, true enough.

 

[amp]

The troubling thing I see about this is what are items going to be taxed at? Will a $20 printer cartridge be taxed at 100% making it $40? The current system has no checks or balances, there is no rhyme or reason.

 

[Jaime809]

If I am reading the translation right, JetPack is suggesting that we have packages returned that are subject to being taxed. I get the civil disobedience angle, but that impacts us more than the RD government, as they won't see a dip in revenues, just the same level of non-revenue from shipments.

 

[SKY]

This could put some of these shippers out of business completely. Most of their business is under $200 shipments.

 

[Ken]

Looks like it's here for some of us in mid-August; got this email from JetPack today:
"Estimados Clientes:

A trav?s de la presente les queremos informar que en el d?a de ayer 29 de julio del 2014, la Direcci?n General de Aduanas en las personas del Ing. Gregorio Lora, el Lic. Gavino Polanco y el encargado de la Direcci?n de inform?tica, le informaron a nuestra directiva que a partir del pr?ximo 15 de agosto del a?o en curso, se implementar? el cobro de impuesto a paquetes cuyo valor sea menor de US$200.00 (Doscientos d?lares con 00/100).

Recordamos lo que expres? el Excelent?simo Sr. Presidente de la Rep?blica, Lic. Danilo Medina en su comunicaci?n cuando el Congreso quiso hacer dicho cobro, en virtud de la aprobaci?n de la Ley de Reforma Fiscal del a?o 2012:

"Esto vulnera un derecho adquirido por la poblaci?n Dominicana".

Entendemos que esta medida perjudicar?a grandemente a los consumidores y provocar?a enormes retrasos en los despachos de mercanc?as, violando as?, el tratado de libre comercio, DR-CAFTA.

Apreciado cliente no te quedes con los brazos cruzados levanta tu voz y protesta!!!

Para autorizaci?n retiro de paquetes:
autorizaciones@jetpack.com.do

Puede solicitar el env?o de su paquete en la zona metropolitana
a nuestro departamento de Servicio al Cliente o al email"

What it doesn't say is what the tax will be. I need to hit Amazon and clear my basket quickly and order what I'm gonna order.

The head man of the aduana was the one who instigated this last time. He has always been in favor of taxing these purchases. I'll be very surprised if it doesn't get killed like it did last time. If it was in violation of a trade agreement then, it still is.

 

[Drro]

Can you make this a Sticky so that as new information becomes available we don't have to search for it or make numerous threads on the same topic? I always send boxes to myself ahead of my return - sometimes weighing 50 lbs and valued at under $200 so I am very interested to know the outcome mid-August. Thx.

 

[rubio_higuey]

I think they want to charge 18% ITBIS (as they do when you bring in e.g. a US$2,000 computer, no excise/customs duty, but ITBIS is levied). Can you imagine how much more expensive this will get? I think couriers currently charge something like 200-500 pesos for customs clearance. Can you imagine you get a 1000 pesos item off ebay and pay 180 pesos of tax, plus 500 pesos handling?
And not only more expensive, it will be slooow. Right now, items that need to be customs processed can be delayed u to a week by the couriers. Can you imagine if they have to customs clear all items, with the paperwork, etc? It will be the end of online shopping in the DR as we know it.