The Dominican Republic is one of the most attractive and solid economies for doing business in Latin America. Both foreign and Dominican companies can initiate their operations in the country easily and quickly. Once the commercial name has been registered and the corporate documents have been drafted, the next step is to request the Mercantile Registry and Tax ID Card (known as the RNC- Resigstro Nacional del Contribuyente in Spanish), in order to make public the company's commercial operations and register the same before Dominican tax authorities.

Mercantile Registry
What is the Mercantile Registry? It is the individual or company's registration certificate, which is granted once the company has been registered at the Dominican Chamber of Commerce, the books are renewed and subscribed and where juridical acts and documents related to the commercial, industrial and service initiatives regularly carried out are registered.

The Mercantile Registry is both public and mandatory. The applicant will be granted a Mercantile Registry certificate issued by the Dominican Chamber of Commerce which must be renewed every two (2) years by both physical persons or companies. The purpose of the Mercantile Registry is for the same to serve as a legal instrument for those people who frequently perform commercial activities and to register the correct information regarding their business.

In the case of a physical person or temporary association without a formal partnership, the application must be requested when the applicant has initiated any type of ccommercial activities or within the business' first month of operation, while commercial societies must request the Mercantile Registry one month after the ordinary assembly has been celebrated attaching to the same copy of the corporate documents. The application msut be deposited at the Chamber of Commerce located in the applicant’s jurisdiction.

It is important to mention that this procedure takes an approximate of five (5) business days. Once you have obtained the Mercantile Registry, the next step is request the Dominican Tax ID Card (hereinafter RNC, Registro Nacional del Contribuyente), before the Internal Revenue Office.

Dominican Tax ID Card/ RNC
The RNC is a number that will identify a physical person or a company as a tax payer. This number will allow the intervention of the tax administration to make sure both individuals and companies are complying with their fiscal responsibilities. Physical personas and companies must be registered in the Internal Revenue Office as tax payers or withholding agents.

Physical persons are those who generate income from their personal work (business with one owner, independent workers, among others). The Tax ID number, for physical persons, is the same number of their Dominican ID also known as Cedula.

The procedure for obtaining a Tax ID Card takes five (5) business days. Once the applicant has obtained this permit and the Mercantile Registry they will be ready to operate legally in the Dominican Republic.

Bibliography:
Law about Mercantile Registry No. 3-02
www.ccpsd.gov.do
www.camarasantiago.com.do
www.dgii.gov.do