In an announcement made yesterday, Wednesday 13 August 2014, the Superior Administrative Tribunal (TSA), in charge of resolving disputes concerning government rules and regulations, put on hold taxing Internet purchases below US$200 until the tribunal rules on the matter. On 30 July 2014, the Customs Agency (DGA) had announced all e-commerce purchases would be taxed as of 15 August.
Courier companies, the Dominican Chamber of Electronic Commerce (Cadolec), the Dominican Alliance for the Defense of Consumers (Asodecu) and the Justice and Transparency Foundation (FJT) filed motions at the TSA to stop the measure.
The basic arguments are that the duty free measure was included in Decree 402-05, derogated in Fiscal Reform 253-12. But Law 277-12 reinstated the duty free measure. The defendants say that an administrative notice of Customs Agency cannot override a law, a presidential decree and the DR-CAFTA free trade agreement that establishes expedited treatment for express shipments.
The most vigorous campaign for the implementation of the tax has been led by the shopping mall organization (ONEC) in the Dominican Republic that consider Internet imports unfair competition.
Read more:
http://latinvex.com/app/article.aspx?id=1559
http://elnacional.com.do/tsa-ordena-aduana-abstenerse-de-aplicar-impuesto-a-compras-por-internet/