The Senate Budget Commission chairman, Dionis Sanchez, has defended the government’s proposal for increased taxation on the grounds that developed societies have tax burdens of 24-38%. He said that the taxation burden in the DR is only 13%. He defended it by saying that the government needs the funds for public works.
But Cripusculo Perez, a taxation expert writing in today’s Hoy newspaper points out that what the government does not mention is that there are many hidden ‘taxes’ in the Dominican Republic compared to developed countries. He says that Dominicans need to pay extra for security, education, water, electricity, incurring expenses that are not necessary in other countries. He also mentions the expense of wear and tear on vehicles, due to the poor state of the roads.