Entering country with more then $10,000 US

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drdirectional

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Could anyone tell me what the tax laws or customs laws are for bringing in more then $10,000 US is when entering the country? I am a foreigner Dominican resident and the money is income earned from outside the DR. I know I can enter with up to 10,000 before I have to make the claim on the customs form. However, I am curious to know if I bring more and claim it at customs will they be able to tax the money? I read the tax law stating that all foreign income that is not an investment is tax free, but I want to make sure the guys at Aduanas are not going to try and screw me over if I do this.
Thanks
 
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SKY

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Apr 11, 2004
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I would not be inclined to declaring money over $10,000 US to customs over here. I can't say for sure what would happen, but I can bet nothing pleasurable will be in store for you.

If you are worried about carrying this amount in, take a check in US dollars over. You can always get it cashed here.
 
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belmont

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I would't carry cash either. Too many things can go wrong. If you don't declare the cash at customs and it is found, it will be siezed and you probably will be investigated as a launderer. Safest way is to establish a bank account here and then have money wired from your bank at home. Technically, I believe if you are carrying any instrument, including a check payable to yourself, it must be declared.
 
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SKing

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In 2008, I came over with about $13000 cash, all in $100 bills. I split up into 2 and kept $9,900 in my purse and $3,100 in my daughter's purse. Then I checked NO on the forms to the question of did I have more than $10,000. I held both of our purses but technically one of us did not have over $10,000.
Wouldn't recommend it but, yes it has been done. If you have another person with you and absolutely have to take cash, split it up

SHALENA
 
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SKY

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SKing said:
In 2008, I came over with about $13000 cash, all in $100 bills. I split up into 2 and kept $9,900 in my purse and $3,100 in my daughter's purse. Then I checked NO on the forms to the question of did I have more than $10,000. I held both of our purses but technically one of us did not have over $10,000.
Wouldn't recommend it but, yes it has been done. If you have another person with you and absolutely have to take cash, split it up

SHALENA
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Yes split the money up. But one more important thing to do is go separately through customs. Because if they see a lot of money on one person they will check whoever is with you also. Why make waves? Just split it up and split up.
 
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Fernandez

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SKing said:
In 2008, I came over with about $13000 cash, all in $100 bills. I split up into 2 and kept $9,900 in my purse and $3,100 in my daughter's purse. Then I checked NO on the forms to the question of did I have more than $10,000. I held both of our purses but technically one of us did not have over $10,000.
Wouldn't recommend it but, yes it has been done. If you have another person with you and absolutely have to take cash, split it up

SHALENA
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The law is clear and I would venture that the authorities are prepared to enforce it.
Furthermore, not only would you risk incrimination by falsifying the entry documents, the commission of the act would itself, aside from any monetary damages or taxes applied, create a historical reference for you any time you move into/out of the country. Your short term "capital movement" could result in a long term personal mess.
I recommend you act within the established confines of the law.
Furthermore, you are perfectly able to wire dollars to your account in dollars in the Dominican Republic. Perhaps you should rethink your strategy.
 
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SKY

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If you split the money between two people and both have less than $10,000 US the law is that this is LEGAL. However it cannot be a family member. At least this is the US law, and the DR got it from the US.
 
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belmont

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SKY said:
If you split the money between two people and both have less than $10,000 US the law is that this is LEGAL. However it cannot be a family member. At least this is the US law, and the DR got it from the US.
Click to expand...
Correct, at least going into the US as a family only completes one customs declaration. Your import allowances are multiplied by the size of the family, but the cash question is $10,000.
 
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Anastacio

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belmont said:
If you don't declare the cash at customs and it is found, it will be siezed and you probably will be investigated as a launderer. .
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Really? with $10,000? I know we have differences on another thread but I am genuinely interested if this amount would be seriously considered as a possible launderer. I have entered the country numerous times with more than this in cash and never even gave it a thought that that might be the case. Launderer, carrying $10,000?
Amazing!
 
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belmont

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If you entered the country with over $10,000 and never declared it you must be stupid. Why chance it being confiscated? Did you get a thrill? In a perfect world, you would be allowed to prove the money is legitimate. But the DR is not a perfect world.
 
cobraboy

cobraboy

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drdirectional said:
The problem with cheques is they put a hold on it for 21 days minimum.
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Not true. Pre-arrange to have smaller checks cashed at a cambio, then deposit the proceeds into your bank account.

No problema...
 
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zoomzx11

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Bring the cash you need and have a bank wire the rest. You will need a DR bank account. Dont mess with customs by bringing in more than 10k., it will just be unpleasant, even if they dont take the cash. Any contact with DR customs is to be avoided if possible. They are bad news with little restraint or oversight.
 
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SKY

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One thing is for sure here. If you are caught with $10,000 or more they WILL take it from you. Anything else as far as laundering I doubt, but you would lose it.

Of course that is if they catch you.
 
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Anastacio

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Hmmm, interesting, I used to gamble alot and know many many men who would fly over for a weekends game and fly back with much much more than this. I dunno Belmont, maybe you should step out of your comfort zone once in a while, live a little. It isn't all about getting a thrill, it is more about doing what you want which after all is why many people are here.
I sense lack of adventure here in your thoughts and opinions on things!
But just my opinion!
 
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rubio_higuey

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Feb 7, 2007
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I once entered the DR upon my return from Europe with a bit less than 10.000 USD in cash. I was unfortunate that some DNCD guy picked me up and went for search by DNCD and customs. Though I did not have 10.000 USD complete on my, I FORGOT that I had two 2.000 pesos note on me which technically brought me over 10.000 dollar limit. What saved me from "confiscation" was really my pleading that I forgot of the 4.000 pesos I had from when I left, and that it was not my intention to do anything wrong, bla bla... but they really DID search everything after that to see if there was more money...there wasn't so they let me go. SO PLEASE DON'T PLAY WITH THE FIRE, YOU MIGHT GET BROKE!

I don't know whether cashiers checks and travellers checks count as currency (in the USA it's any monetary instrument that counts towards 10.000), when cashing travellers checks in the DR they only get 2-3 day hold on them to verify their validity. You can deposit them into USD account in Leon, Progreso or Popular.
 
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