Santo Domingo.-The Government collected RD$244.8 billion in taxes in 2008, a 4.4 percent increase compared with the previous year, said the Taxes Agency (DGII) Monday.

In 2008 Dominican Customs collected RD$57.55 billion; the DGII obtained RD$160 billion and the Treasury collected D$26.96 billion, according to the DGII’s fiscal registry.

“The tax collection system managed to meet the estimates and with the total goal assigned in the National Budget, which is attributed to the Tributary Administration’s increased efficiency, increasing the perception of risk by taxpayers and reducing evasion,” says the entity’s annual report.

The document also states that the DGII collected 12 billion pesos more than in 2007, or a 9 percent growth, and an 8 billion peso surplus compared with the goal established by the Government.

Among the most levies collected are income tax, with 7.14 billion more than estimated; property tax, with 1.42 billion pesos more than projected, and the tax on alcohol and the tobacco products; the license plate fee with 101 million more than in 2007, and the selective tax on fuels, with a RD$1.96 billion windfall.

Despite reaching its fiscal estimates for 2008, the Dominican economy showed less dynamism in government revenues in 2008’s second half, resulting from socio-economic influence from abroad.

The DGII notes that the global recession decelerated the country’s economy, especially in the taxes on local assets and property, remittances, tourism income and local exports.