The government has had record tax collections in January, as reported the Listin Diario. Tax collections at RD$5,234.9 million are up 8% from what the government had budgeted for the month. Collections for January 2001 were 26.8% more than those for January 2000 when they reached RD$4,130 million. When taking into account that expenditures were up to RD$5,184.3 million, the government had a RD$50.6 million surplus. Of the government tax collecting offices, the Dirección General de Impuestos Internos received RD$2,316.6 million. this was RD$304.1 million more than received in January 2000, when they reached RD$2,012.5 million. This is attributed to the increase in transfer tax (ITBIS) from 8 to 12% and the start of the 1.5% advance tax on gross sales. Customs Department collected 12.9% less in January 2001 than in January 2000. This reflects that importers stocked up in previous months in order to reduce the effects on their inventory costs of the new taxes that became effective 1 January 2001. Customs collected RD$1,159.3 million, down from RD$1,325.3 million in January 2000. The National Treasury reports income of RD$1,759 million, RD$966.8 million more in 2001 than in January 2000, 122% more. The increase in the National Treasury total is due to the increase in government receipts of the petroleum differential surcharge, which reflects the increase in the price of petroleum products to Dominican consumers.
