The Listin Diario reports that Dominicans living abroad bringing appliances and clothes into this country as gifts for family and friends will no longer pay import taxes on them. Ana Ortiz, deputy collections agent at the Las Americas International Airport, requested permission to implement the measure after receiving complaints from many passengers who said people in the Customs area were extorting them. These people were offering, for a price, to help the incoming passengers pay less when passing through customs. Items that are now tax exempt are 20-inch televisions, up to 3 CD players, beaters, toasters, washing machines, VHS players, electric ovens, fans, radios and clothing imports for non-commercial purposes. Traditionally, the Customs Department had allowed these tax-exempt imports only for Mothers Day and during the Christmas holidays. (6 April 2001)
