Shipping nightmare!!!

[laurajane]

Hola
I posted a notice a few days ago asking if anyone knew an approximate percentage of tax you pay when shipping goods from the U.S. I have spoken to someone at customs today, who informed me it is 36% of value of goods!!!!! This amounts to a heafty sum for myself, i am collecting the freight from Haina on monday and this is far more than i expected. Does anyone have an experience of this and know any short cuts?

i have been told hotels are except from taxes, the goods are personally mine but will be used for shows in hotels. I am hopeing maybe one of the hotels we are performing at can help us with this, any advice on this matter will be greatly recieved. thanks

[mountainfrog]

Originally Posted by laurajane

... I have spoken to someone at customs today, who informed me it is 36% of value of goods!!!!!

Up to now I've thought that imported goods are taxed on an individual basis and different goods have different percentages of custom levy.
This was the case when I brought in household goods (some 10 years ago... )
How did you declare the items and how was their value determined?

m'frog

[Hillbilly]

Don't be silly! Get a customs broker and let him do the work!!!

HB

[MrMike]

And 36% isn't bad btw. This is an island after all and import duties is and has been the government's biggest income. I wouldn't start screaming until it gets around 50%, can easily be as much as 100. (the screaming won't help, incidentally it's just that that's the point where it gets impossible to hold it in)

[Andy B]

We shipped in a self-propelled lawn mower earlier this year and paid 13% in duty. Different items are taxed at different rates. I would seriously question a rate of 36% as it seems a little high to me. As HB said, if in doubt, get a broker to handle it for you. Try E.T. Heinsen Company on George Washington (Malecon) in Santo Domingo.

[laurajane]

Thanks for the suggestions, am so new to this and really i was naive to think it would be less. To be honest im not sure who exactly gave me that quote, we called customs and got the usual " I dont know" and " you need to speak to someone else the number is...." after about ten different numbers we spoke to a gentleman who i presumed was something to do with the customs office.

I know i have to collect the original documentation from the shipping agents in Santo Domingo then on to Haina to customs to have the goods inspected and pay the taxes. At what point should i get a broker involved and where do i find these people? Any phone numbers would be great.

Thanks again

[wisecucu]

Hi LauraJane,

DR is a country full of surprises. You'll never get bored.

Call OAC Shipping Dominicana, S. A. at 809-683-3535. They are actually freight forwarders but they know serious brokers in Santo Domingo area. Ask for Jose Alejandro, Claudia, Ana or Jocelyn. I'm putting you in contact with very nice people.

Write if you need something else or if have any doubt.

Good luck!!

[joecanada]

I got raped for 100% of the value of some wireless internet equipment I recently had imported.

Farkers.

[Hillbilly]

I just found out my boys are using
Dominitrans
Tel 809 567 3181
talk to Ambiorix Mora.

HB

tell them Marcos Supply in Santiago sent you

[Budson]

I will second on Dominitrans and Caribex is also another very good firm to work with. Absolutely need a freight-forwarder/Customs Broker to move material in and out. This will not eliminate challenges the Aduanas present but you will have your best results working with someone who deals with them all the time.