Dominican Republic Senate Advances Yacht Tax Bill in First Reading
Senators approved a recreational nautical tourism bill in first reading on 26 August 2026. It carries duty-free boat imports that critics call regressive. The post Dominican Republic Senate Advances Yacht Tax Bill in First Reading appeared first on The Rio Times .
On 26 August 2026, the Dominican Republic's Senate approved a recreational nautical tourism bill in its first reading, paving the way for a proposed yacht tax. The measure, sponsored by Senators Alexis Victoria Yeb and Ginnette Bournigal de Jiménez, combines boating safety rules with tax breaks for yachts and pleasure craft. The bill's fiscal chapter, which proposes a zero import tariff on pleasure craft and a fifteen-year exemption from property tax, is what makes it contentious.
The Asociación Dominicana de Marinas Deportivas y Clubes Náuticos, a marina and yacht club association, supports the bill, citing that it brings in roughly US$150 million annually in direct spending, with an estimated US$1,500 per boat per week during a five-month season. However, the bill has lapsed twice in the Chamber of Deputies, and its future remains uncertain.
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