The director of the Customs Department, Miguel Cocco announced in a press conference in New York City yesterday the opening of a Customs office in that city to assist Dominicans in the US that want to return to the country with their household goods. Law 168 of 1993 permits returning Dominicans to bring in their household goods exempt of import taxes, and enjoy a 60% exemption on the taxes to be paid on a vehicle. The law only applies to those who have lived two years or more outside of the DR and the car needs to have been registered in the person’s name for at least a year. The new Junta Aduanal, or customs board, will begin offering services as of 1 August. The board will be made up by three persons appointed by the Department of Customs and will revise the goods to be sent to the DR. The procedure will take 48 hours. Cocco also announced that the Dominican consulate will be giving letters to Dominican students that travel to the country authorizing these to bring back home tax exempt gifts for a value of up to US$1,000.
