Are there exceptions to the 6% import duty?
Yes, for certain agricultural products, luxury goods and software. Such commodities as wheat, edible oils, sugar, and wheat flour are subject to a price band to protect local producers. The price band results in additional charges that can effectively raise taxes on the import to as high as 29%, once the 6% duty is factored in. Luxury goods carry surcharges ranging from 30% to 70%, for goods such as articles of gold, platinum and ivory, furs, high quality rugs, yachts, cigarettes. As of 2003, the 85% automobile luxury tax is applied to the CIF value of the vehicle in excess of $15,835. The actual software programs on magnetic media and the accompanying manuals are imported separately, in order to take advantage of special terms of the Uruguay Round. Thus, 90% of the value of the software exported is declared as technical printed matter, and as such is not subject to Chile’s import duty. The remaining 10% of the value is declared magnetic media and subject to the uniform 6% import duty.
