Tax & incentives
CONFOTUR, explained
CONFOTUR is the single largest tax break available to property buyers in the Dominican Republic, and the most commonly misrepresented. It is granted to a project, not to a buyer, and it is not automatic.
- Statute
- Law 158-01 on the Promotion of Tourism Development, amended by Law 184-02 and Law 195-13
- Granted by
- CONFOTUR — the Council for the Promotion of Tourism (Consejo de Fomento Turístico)
- Exempts
- The 3% property transfer tax, and annual IPI property tax for 15 years
- Applies to
- Units in an approved project, on first transfer
What CONFOTUR actually is
Law 158-01 was passed to attract investment into tourism development. Rather than subsidise developers directly, it removes tax from qualifying projects and from the people who buy into them. A developer applies to CONFOTUR with a specific project; if the project is approved, a resolution is issued that attaches the benefits to that development.
The distinction that catches buyers out is this: the exemption belongs to the project, not to you. You inherit it by buying a unit in an approved development. Buying an equivalent unit in the building next door, from a developer who never applied, gets you nothing — the two purchases look identical and are taxed completely differently.
What it exempts
Two taxes, and it is worth separating them because they are paid at different times and by different mechanisms.
| Tax | Normally | Under CONFOTUR |
|---|---|---|
| Property transfer tax Impuesto de Transferencia Inmobiliaria |
3% of the higher of the price paid or the DGII appraisal, due once at transfer | Exempt on the first transfer |
| Annual property tax IPI, Impuesto al Patrimonio Inmobiliario |
1% per year on value above an exempt threshold | Exempt for 15 years |
On a purchase in the mid six figures the transfer tax alone is a five-figure saving, taken at closing. The IPI exemption is smaller each year but compounds across fifteen of them, and it transfers with the property if you sell within the window — which makes it a genuine resale argument rather than only a purchase discount.
How to verify a project really has it
“CONFOTUR approved” appears in a great deal of marketing material for projects that have applied, intend to apply, or simply sit inside a tourism zone. None of those are the same as holding a resolution. Applications are also refused, and approvals can lapse.
- Ask for the resolution number and its date. An approved project has a specific CONFOTUR resolution. A developer who holds one can produce it immediately; hesitation is the answer.
- Check the project name on the resolution matches the one you are buying into. Developers with several phases sometimes hold approval for one phase only.
- Confirm the exemption is still live. Benefits attach to a project that proceeds as approved; a stalled or materially altered project is worth asking about.
- Have your attorney verify it independently rather than relying on a brochure, a listing portal, or a verbal assurance from a sales agent.
Buyers routinely budget a purchase assuming the 3% transfer tax will be waived, then discover at closing that the project holds no resolution. That is a five-figure surprise arriving at the worst possible moment. Verify before you sign the promise of sale, not before you sign the deed.
What it does not do
CONFOTUR is narrower than it is usually described.
- It is not a blanket exemption from Dominican tax. Income you earn from renting the property remains taxable.
- It does not remove your legal costs. Attorney fees, notary fees and registry costs are unaffected.
- It does not substitute for due diligence. An approved project can still have title problems, an incomplete deslinde, or a developer in difficulty.
- It does not follow you to another property. The benefit is attached to the unit, not to the buyer.
Common questions
Does CONFOTUR apply automatically to any property in Punta Cana?
No. It applies only to units in a project that applied to CONFOTUR and received a resolution. Location inside a tourism area does not by itself confer the exemption, and two neighbouring buildings can be treated completely differently.
Do I need to be a Dominican resident to benefit?
No. The exemption attaches to the project and passes to the buyer of a unit regardless of nationality or residency status.
How long does the IPI exemption last?
Fifteen years under Law 158-01. Because it runs with the property rather than the owner, any remaining years pass to a subsequent buyer if you sell inside that window.
Does CONFOTUR exempt me from tax on rental income?
No. Income earned from renting the property is taxable in the Dominican Republic. CONFOTUR covers the transfer tax and the annual IPI property tax, not income tax.
How do I confirm a development holds the exemption?
Ask the developer for the CONFOTUR resolution number and date, check that the project and phase named on it match what you are buying, and have your own attorney verify it rather than relying on marketing material.
Last reviewed August 2026
General information about Dominican Republic property law and practice, not legal or tax advice. Statutes are amended and thresholds are re-indexed; confirm anything you intend to rely on with a Dominican attorney and with the DGII before you act on it.