Dominican Republic Import Duties & Taxes Explained

Your shipment to the Dominican Republic is generally exempt from import taxes and duties if the total value is $200 USD or less when sent via express courier. Shipments over $200 USD will typically incur 18% ITBIS (VAT) plus customs duties ranging from 0% to 20%, depending on your product type, along with carrier handling fees.

Customs duty in the Dominican Republic applies to shipments with a declared value over $200 USD, with rates typically ranging from 0% to 20% depending on the product type. Electronics and clothing often fall into the higher end of this range (14–20%), and the duty is calculated as a percentage of your shipment's CIF value (Cost + Insurance + Freight).

The Dominican Republic charges 18% ITBIS (import VAT) on shipments exceeding $200 USD in value. Shipments valued at or below this threshold sent via express courier are generally exempt from both ITBIS and import duties.

Keep your shipment value at or below $200 USD to qualify for duty and ITBIS exemption when shipping via express courier to the Dominican Republic. Note that customs may flag attempts to split larger orders into multiple smaller packages to circumvent fees, which can result in fines.

The standard ITBIS rate is 18% on the total value of goods plus any applicable customs duties. This tax applies to almost all imported items that exceed the $200 USD threshold.

Yes, certain luxury goods like high-end watches, perfumes, and jewelry may be subject to an additional Selective Consumption Tax (ISC) ranging from 15% to 30%. This is calculated on top of standard duties and ITBIS for your shipment.

Yes, express carriers like DHL or FedEx typically charge a brokerage or administrative fee for processing formal customs entries on shipments over $200 USD. These handling fees are separate from the taxes and duties collected by the General Directorate of Customs.

Taxes are calculated based on the CIF value, which includes the cost of goods plus insurance and freight to the US warehouse. The final ITBIS is applied to this CIF value plus any customs duties assessed on your shipment.

The General Directorate of Customs (Dirección General de Aduanas - DGA) is responsible for collecting all import duties, ITBIS, and other applicable taxes. Your carrier will typically collect these fees on behalf of the DGA upon delivery.

Customs reserves the right to re-value your items if they believe the declared invoice is significantly below market price. If this occurs, you may be charged additional duties and ITBIS based on their assessed value for your shipment.