Your least expensive tax regimens will be to obtain residency for you prior to import (1 exemption) or your wife as a returning Dominican (1 exemption). So if you do it correctly, you could bring two vehicles at reduced tax.
Yes there are hassles. And the procedure, while the same.....................is different every time..............if you understand Dominican mentality at Aduana. Canada does not issue titles per se, but Canadian vehicles can be imported into the DR.
Transport/insurance costs run approximately $1000 in the US depending on point of shipment, Canada will likely be more expensive depending on shipping point.
Importing a vehicle that you love and is in immaculate condition might be a worth while endeavor but it isn't without it's pitfalls (perils?). As you have already mentioned, there is an 18% ITBIS (VAT) on Cost, insurance, and freight (CIF) levied on all imported vehicles. There is also 17% CIF for issuing the first plate for the vehicle plus 0-3% for CO2 emission depending on engine type and size. There is also a Marbete fee of RD$3,000.00 for one year of circulation on public roads. Lastly there is an import duty (arancel) that ranges from 20-0% CIF. The import duty appears daunting with such a wide range but it really isn't. If you are a dominican national or permanent resident you are entitled to a one time import duty reduction as stipulated by law 168-67. If the vehicle you are importing is at least 35% USA parts it qualifies for 0 import duty as it complies with DR-CAFTA. Anything else, will be 20% or close to it. Don't forget that all this running around and paperwork has a cost. It could be money or years off your life. I suggest you pay somebody to deal with this mess. Whatever you decide to do at least you'll be informed. Good luck.
Yes to the above posts, and adding for simplification to the reader, take 50% of the value from the calculator value of your respective vehicle that you wish to import and that number, absent a tax reduction regimen, will be your approximate cost to import.
If he has already been living here for a year without residency, he won't qualify for the vehicle exemption if he obtains residency.
I believe the law is silent on that issue. As I understand it, once you obtain residency, you have a 6 month window to import your home goods/vehicle.
It's my recollection that if you've spent more than six months in the country during the two years preceding the date you obtain residency, you don't get to benefit from the vehicle tax exemption.
Law 146 and 168 do not seem to address the issue. The only requirement is that you must have spent two years residing outside the country before returning to take advantage of the tax regimen. It does not say the last two years.............just two years. I imagine there is likely a cutoff date, but, so far, I can find nothing definitive.
