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CHAPTER I
SCOPE OF APPLICATION, INSTITUTION AND FUNCTIONS
Article 1.- The Mercantile Registry is the system that consists of the registration, renovation and recordation of the books, deeds and documents pertaining to industrial, commercial and service activities carried out by those individuals or corporations that usually engage in business, of which the Chambers of Commerce and Production authorized by this law are the depositories, also having authority to certify their existence.
Article 2.- The Mercantile Registry is public and compulsory. It has authentic character, with probative value, and is opposable to third parties.
Article 3.- The Chambers of Commerce and Production are in charge of the Mercantile Registry, under the supervision of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce. Such supervision shall consist of sending to the Executive Power the request for recognition of chambers of commerce and production being formed; establishing norms tending to facilitate the application of this law; enforcing the legal provisions regarding Mercantile Registry matters, and applying the sanctions provided in Article 23 hereof.
Article 4.- The Mercantile Registry shall perform the following functions:
a) Registration and Recordation of:
1) Individuals who do business professionally; i. e., for their own account, professionally, or habitually, and for the purpose of making a profit, undertaking activities to produce and circulate goods and/or to provide services;
2) Corporations having legal status that conduct activities for a profit;
3) Marriage contracts between spouses and the liquidation of conjugal societies, when the husband and/or the wife is/are businessperson(s);
4) Judicial interdictions pronounced against businessper-sons; the holding of public office when incompatible with the conduction of business activities, and in general, such incapacities or disabilities for conducting business as provided by law;
5) Documents, authenticated or with privately witnessed signatures, relating to the formation of a corporation, the extraordinary shareholders’ meetings held to modify the bylaws or dissolve a corporation, as well as the regular shareholders’ meetings or assemblies of business corporations, both annual and occasional, and any acts regarding the decision to suspend or cancel operations;
6) Agreements between creditors and debtors in bankruptcy proceedings;
7) Changes of name, domicile, activity, alteration of capital, opening of business establishments, branches or agencies and such other things as may be of interest to third parties.
b) Publicity and Filing:
In connection with the documents registered, in the process of being registered, or constituting information or background thereof and appearing in the register. In addition, the Chambers of Commerce will submit periodically to the State Department of Industry and Commerce a summary of the information contained in the Register.
c) Certifications:
Certification of Business Operation Record Books, pursuant to Article 14(f) of Law No. 50-87 on Chambers of Commerce and Production.
CHAPTER II
PROCEEDINGS OF THE MERCANTILE REGISTRY
Article 5.- A request for Mercantile Registration shall be submitted within a month after commencing business activities or opening a business establishment, in the case of individuals or de facto corporations.
In the case of business companies, applications for Mercantile Registration shall be made within a month after the date of the incorporative shareholders’ meeting or assembly, and an original and copies of the documents regarding the company’s formation shall be attached thereto.
Article 6.- The recordation of all the documents pertaining to the Mercantile Registry shall be made in separate books, according to the matter, in the form of an abstract making reference to the essence of the document, including the document registered, book, page, and date.
Article 7.- Mercantile Registration shall be made at the Chamber of Commerce and Production having jurisdiction at the domicile of the individual or corporation concerned.
Article 8.- The fees to be charged to business establishments for their registration shall be determined by the Chambers of Commerce and Production. All proceeds therefrom shall be considered income for the corresponding Chamber of Commerce, which may use them to cover the expenses created by such Registration and other services, within the framework of the purposes established for their activities in Law No. 50-87 on Chambers of Commerce and Production.
Article 9.- All registrations in the Mercantile Registry shall be evidenced by the Certificate of Registration issued by the respective Chamber of Commerce and Production.
Article 10.- A request for Mercantile Registration shall include:
a) In the case of an individual, the applicant’s full name, a copy of his/her identification card, nationality, activity or business in which he/she is engaged, domicile and address, place or places where his/her activities are conducted on a permanent basis, his/her liquid assets, real estate owned, amount of investments in said business activity, name of the person who manages such business and his/her powers, credit institutions with which he/she has made or intends to make operations, and reference from two (2) registered businesspersons; and
b) In the case of a corporation, its corporate name, address and activities pursued, particulars of the majority shareholder(s) and its directors; amount of the investments made in the business activity, credit institutions with which it has made or intends to make operations, and reference from two (2) registered establishments.
Any application submitted by a minor should contain such authorizations as shall have given him/her the capacity to conduct business, according to law.
Article 11.- The Chambers of Commerce and Production shall provide a form to help users supply the necessary information. They may also require applicants for Mercantile Registration to substantiate the information given in the application by presenting certifications regarding their marital status, business activities, banking operations or any other instruments evidentiary of the information provided in the application.
CHAPTER III
MERCANTILE REGISTRATION UPDATE
Article 12.- Every two (2) years, counting from the date of the initial registration, all individuals or corporations subject to Mercantile Registration should renew their registration at the appropriate Chamber of Commerce and Production.
No communication or notice will be considered in relation to unregistered persons, or if signed by persons other than the directors and/or representatives of registered businesses.
Article 13.- The registration of minutes of extraordinary shareholders’ assemblies or meetings of corporations registered with the Mercantile Registry containing additions and amendments to the bylaws or regarding the dissolution of the company should be requested within a month after such general assembly is held.
All registered annual regular shareholders’ assemblies shall contain information regarding the report submitted by the Commissioner, his/her election, the directors’ election, if applicable, as well as the obtainment or not of profits from the appropriate commercial closing, the application thereof, and proof of payment of taxes. In the event of a suspension of business activities without proceeding to hold shareholders’ meetings, the registered individual or corporation should inform the Chamber of Commerce and Production in his/her/its jurisdiction, in writing, the decision taken and the term during which operations are to be suspended.
Article 14.- The registration of all other documents mentioned in this law may be requested at any time, although they shall not be effective in relation to third parties until the date of their registration.
Article 15.- The Chambers of Commerce and Production should record in the appropriate business registers any objection, cancellation or annulment proceedings in connection with the commercial names used by the business establishments registered, according to the publication made thereof.
Article 16.- In the event of loss or destruction of a registered document by the registered business, the Chamber of Commerce and Production where such registration was made may issue a certificate containing the text kept by said Chamber. Such document shall have the same evidentiary value as its original.
Article 17.- Any inaccuracy in the registry entries due to errors or omissions in the recorded document shall be rectified, provided that a document of the same nature is provided, or upon submission of a court order containing the necessary elements for such purpose.
In the case of a material error or omission in the registration in connection with the document recorded, the correction shall be made having in sight the document that caused such error or omission.
Article 18.- The Chamber of Commerce and Production having jurisdiction to make a registration should keep a copy of the complete text of all the documents subject to such recordation by any technical means allowing for the exact conservation and reproduction thereof.
CHAPTER IV
PUBLICITY
Article 19.- A registration shall be evidenced by the certificate issued for that purpose by the Chamber of Commerce and Production, or by a copy thereof.
Article 20.- The recordation of documents under this law shall entail delivery forthwith, with no other proceeding, of the original and copies delivered for this purpose, with the annotations regarding such registration.
Article 21.- The registration of documents under this law shall make the information contained therein opposable to third parties.
Article 22.- The Mercantile Registry shall be a matter of public record. Anyone may examine the books and files where such registrations are kept, take notes of the entries or documents therein, and obtain copies thereof. The information contained in the Mercantile Registry may be accessed upon request.
CHAPTER V
FAULTS AND PENALTIES
Article 23.- After a period of one (1) month, any individual or corporation engaging professionally in business and not registered at the Mercantile Registry shall be liable to a penalty of up to three (3) minimum wages. In the event that such person or corporation should voluntarily submit information concerning such delay and the registration application, such penalty shall not apply. Penalties shall be imposed by resolution of the State Department of Industry and Commerce, stating the reasons justifiying them..
Article 24.- Any falsehood in the information submitted to the Mercantile Registry shall entail a penalty under Article 150 of the Dominican Criminal Code.
Article 25.- Failure to fulfill the obligation of supplying information in connection with any changes in the business shall result in a penalty of fifty percent (50%) of the amount of the minimum wage in effect to such date.
CHAPTER VI
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Article 26.- All individuals or corporations required to apply for registration at the Mercantile Registry under this law have a non-extendable period of one (1) year from the date of enactment, to adapt and submit their application to the Chamber of Commerce and Production of their jurisdiction.
Article 27.- Stock companies shall be exempted from the requirements prescribed by Article 42 of the Commercial Code.
Article 28.- Paragraph I of Article One (1) of Law No. 53, of November 13, 1970, is hereby modified, so that, from this day forward, it reads as follows:
“Paragraph I.- The individuals or corporations and the financial units referred to in this law are obliged to register at the National Taxpayers’ Registry, for which it is obligatory to supply all such information as may be required by the office in charge of such registry, as well as a copy of the certificate issued by the appropriate Mercantile Registry.
Such office may proceed to register, without request of the party concerned, any taxpayer who is not duly registered, and shall send a copy of any such registration to the Chambers of Commerce and Production of the appropriate jurisdiction.
Article 29.- Article 18 of Law No. 2324, of May 20, 1885, is hereby modified, so that, from this day forward, it reads as follows:
“Article 18.- The following are exempted from registration:
1. All acts and resolutions of the Legislative and the Executive Power;
2. All acts of the National Comptroller’s Office;
3. Manifests, forms, and receipts issued by customs for collection of custom fees.
4. Certificates of birth, marriage and death received by Civil Status Officers, and the copies thereof issued by them, unless such copies have to be submitted to a court of law;
5. Legalizations of the signatures of public officials;
6. Passports to travel from one point to another in the national territory and abroad;
7. Bills of exchange or promissory notes, endorsements and payments thereof, unless they are contested and have to be subsequently presented at a court of law;
8. Lawyers’ briefs and pleas submitted to courts of law and to the Supreme Court of Justice;
9. Documents subject to registration as established in the Mercantile Registration Law.
Paragraph.- Certifications issued by the appropriate clerks or employees of any acts of the Legislative or the Executive Power shall be subject to registration fees if they are to be submitted to a court of law by private persons.”
Article 30.- This law repeals and replaces the following provisions:
– Law No. 5260, on the Establishment of Industrial and Commercial Companies, Mercantile Registry and Industrial Registration, dated November 30, 1959; and
– Article 36, Paragraph IV, of Law No. 2569, of December 4, 1950.
It likewise repeals any other law, decree or regulation contrary to the provisions made in this law.
CAPÍTULO I
ÁMBITO DE APLICACIÓN, INSTITUCIÓN Y FUNCIONES
Artículo 1.- El Registro Mercantil es el sistema conformado por la matrícula, renovación e inscripción de los libros, actos y documentos relacionados con las actividades industriales, comerciales y de servicios, que realizan las personas físicas o morales que se dedican de manera habitual al comercio de las cuales son depositarias y dan fe pública las Cámaras de Comercio y Producción facultadas por la presente ley.
Artículo 2.- El Registro Mercantil es público y obligatorio. Tiene carácter auténtico, con valor probatorio y oponible ante los terceros.
Artículo 3.- El Registro Mercantil estará a cargo de las Cámaras de Comercio y Producción, bajo la supervisión de la Secretaría de Estado de Industria y Comercio.
La supervisión de la Secretaría de Estado de Industria y Comercio consistirá en tramitar al Poder Ejecutivo la solicitud de reconocimiento de las Cámaras de Comercio y Producción en formación; establecer las normas tendentes a facilitar la aplicación de la presente ley; velar por el cumplimiento de las disposiciones legales en materia de Registro Mercantil y aplicar las sanciones previstas en el Artículo 23 de esta ley.
Artículo
4.- El Registro Mercantil cumplirá las siguientes funciones:
a) Matrícula e Inscripción:
1) De las personas que ejerzan profesionalmente el comercio, esto es, que, por su cuenta, a título profesional o habitual y con propósito de obtener beneficios, realice actos para la producción, la circulación de bienes y/o la prestación de servicios;
2) De las sociedades comerciales con personalidad jurídica, las cuales realicen actividades con fines lucrativos;
3) De los contratos matrimoniales entre cónyuges y las liquidaciones de sociedades conyugales, cuando el marido y/o la mujer es comerciante;
4) De las interdicciones judiciales pronunciadas contra comerciantes; la posesión de cargos públicos que inhabiliten para el ejercicio del comercio y en general, las incapacidades o inhabilidades previstas en la ley para ser comerciante;
5) De los actos, bajo firma privada o auténticos, relativos a la constitución, a las asambleas o juntas generales extraordinarias, tendentes a modificar los estatutos sociales o disolver la sociedad, así como a las asambleas o juntas generales ordinarias de las sociedades comerciales, tanto anuales como ocasionales, así como actos relativos a la decisión de suspender o cancelar operaciones;
6) De los concordados dentro del proceso de quiebra;
7) De los cambios de nombre, domicilio, actividad, modificación de capital, apertura de establecimientos comerciales, sucursales o agencias y otros de interés ante los terceros.
b) Publicidad y Archivo:
Respecto de la documentación inscrita, en trámites de inscripción o que constituyan información o antecedentes de la misma y que figuren en el registro. Además, periódicamente las Cámaras de Comercio entregarán a la Secretaría de Estado de Industria y Comercio una síntesis de la información contendida en el Registro.
c) Certificaciones:
Certificación de los Libros de Registro de Operaciones de los Comerciantes conforme al Artículo 14, literal f) de la Ley No. 50-87, sobre Cámaras de Comercio y Producción.
CAPÍTULO II
PROCEDIMIENTO DEL REGISTRO MERCANTIL
Artículo 5.- La solicitud de Registro Mercantil será presentada dentro del mes en que se inicien las actividades de comercio o el establecimiento de negocios fue abierto, si se tratase de personas naturales o sociedades de hecho.
En el caso de sociedades comerciales, la solicitud de Registro Mercantil se formulará dentro del mes siguiente a la fecha de la celebración de la asamblea o junta general constitutiva, y a la misma deberán anexarse un original y copias de los documentos relativos a la constitución.
Artículo 6.- La inscripción de todos los documentos referidos al Registro Mercantil deberá hacerse en libros separados, según la materia, en forma de extracto en que se haga referencia a la esencia del acto, incluyendo el acto registrado, libro, folio y fecha.
Artículo 7.- El Registro Mercantil se hará en la Cámara de Comercio y Producción con jurisdicción en el domicilio de la persona física o jurídica interesada.
Artículo 8.- Las tarifas a exigir a los negocios para su registro serán establecidas por las Cámaras de Comercio y Producción. Los ingresos así generados se reputarán rentas de la Cámara de Comercio correspondiente, la cual podrá utilizarlos para cubrir los gastos originados por este Registro y otros servicios, dentro del marco de los fines establecidos para sus actividades en la Ley No. 50-87, de las Cámaras de Comercio y Producción.
Artículo 9.- Toda inscripción en el Registro Mercantil se probará con el Certificado de Registro expedido por la respectiva Cámara de Comercio y Producción.
Artículo 10.- La solicitud de Registro Mercantil indicará:
a)En caso de una persona física, el nombre completo de la persona solicitante, copia del documento de identidad, nacionalidad, actividad o negocios a que se dedica, su domicilio y dirección, lugar o lugares donde se desarrolla sus actividades de manera permanente, su patrimonio líquido, los bienes inmuebles que posea, monto de las inversiones en la actividad empresarial, nombre de la persona que administra los negocios y sus facultades, instituciones crediticias con las que ha realizado o piensa realizar operaciones y referencia de dos (2) comerciantes inscritos; y
b)En caso de una sociedad comercial, la razón social de ésta, su dirección y actividad (es) a la (s) que se dedica, los datos generales del (los) accionista (s) mayoritario (s) y de los de sus administradores; monto de las inversiones en la actividad empresarial, instituciones crediticias con las que ha realizado o piensa realizar operaciones y referencias de dos (2) establecimientos inscritos.
Las solicitudes presentadas por menores de edad deberán contener las autorizaciones que, conforme a la ley, les hayan otorgado la capacidad para ejercer el comercio.
Artículo 11.- Las Cámaras de Comercio y Producción proveerán un formulario para facilitar a los usuarios el suministro de la información necesaria. También podrá exigir al solicitante de Registro Mercantil que acredite los datos indicados en la solicitud, mediante la presentación de certificaciones relativas a su estado civil, sus actividades empresariales, sus operaciones bancarias o cualesquiera otros documentos fehacientes de la información incluida en la solicitud.
CAPÍTULO III
ACTUALIZACIÓN DEL REGISTRO MERCANTIL
Artículo 12.- Cada dos (2) años, contados a partir de la fecha de la matrícula inicial, toda persona física o jurídica sujeta al Registro Mercantil deberá renovar su matrícula por ante la correspondiente Cámara de Comercio y Producción.
No se considerará ninguna comunicación o escrito respecto de personas no registradas, o suscrito por personas distintas de los administradores y/o representantes de los negocios registrados.
Artículo 13.- El registro de los actos relativos a las asambleas o juntas generales extraordinarias de las sociedades comerciales con Registro Mercantil, en las cuales estén contenidas las adiciones y reformas a los estatutos sociales o se disuelva la sociedad, deberá solicitarse dentro del mes de celebrada dicha asamblea o junta general.
Las asambleas o juntas generales ordinarias anuales registradas deberán contener la información relativa al informe del Comisario, la elección de éste, la elección de los administradores, si aplica, así como la obtención o no de utilidades del cierre comercial correspondiente, el destino de éstas y la declaración del cumplimiento del pago de los impuestos.
En caso de suspensión de las actividades de negocio sin proceder a la celebración de asambleas o juntas generales de accionistas, la persona física o jurídica registrada deberá comunicar por escrito a la Cámara de Comercio y Producción de su jurisdicción la decisión adoptada y el término por el cual ha decidido suspender sus operaciones.
Artículo 14.- El registro de los demás actos comprendidos en la presente ley podrá solicitarse en cualquier tiempo, aunque los mismos no producirán efectos respecto de terceros, sino a partir de la fecha de su inscripción.
Artículo 15.- Las Cámaras de Comercio y Producción deberán anotar en los registros de negocio correspondientes cualesquiera recursos de oposición, cancelación y nulidad relativos a los nombres comerciales utilizados por los establecimientos de negocios registrados, conforme a la publicación realizada de los mismos.
Artículo 16.- En caso de pérdida o destrucción de un documento registrado, por parte del negocio titular, la Cámara de Comercio y Producción donde fue realizado el registro podrá expedir un certificado en el que se insertará el texto conservado por dicha Cámara. El documento así expedido tendrá el mismo valor probatorio que su original.
Artículo 17.- La inexactitud de los asientos que provengan de error u omisión en el documento inscrito se rectificará, siempre que se acompañe de un documento de la misma naturaleza de la de aquel que la motivó, o de una decisión judicial que contenga los elementos necesarios al efecto.
Si se trata de error u omisión material de la inscripción con relación al documento que le dio origen, se procederá a la rectificación, teniendo a la vista el instrumento que la causó.
Artículo 18.- La Cámara de Comercio y Producción con jurisdicción para hacer un registro deberá conservar copia del texto completo de todos los documentos objeto de dicho registro bajo cualesquiera métodos técnicos que permitan su conservación y reproducción exacta.
CAPITULO IV
PUBLICIDAD
Artículo 19.- Todo registro se probará con el certificado expedido al efecto por la respectiva Cámara de Comercio y Producción o mediante copia del mismo.
Artículo 20.- La inscripción de los actos sujetos a la presente ley conllevará la entrega de inmediato, y sin otro trámite, del original y copias entregados a estos fines, con las anotaciones relativas al registro.
Artículo 21.- El registro de los actos sujetos a la presente ley hará oponible a terceros la información contenida en los mismos.
Artículo 22.- El Registro Mercantil será público. Cualquier persona podrá examinar los libros y archivos en que fuere llevado, tomar anotaciones de sus asientos o actos y obtener copias de los mismos. El acceso a la información contenida en el Registro Mercantil se realizará previa solicitud.
CAPITULO V
DE LAS FALTAS Y SUS SANCIONES
Artículo 23.- La persona o sociedad comercial que ejerza profesionalmente el comercio, transcurrido el plazo de un (1) mes, sin estar inscrita en el Registro Mercantil, será pasible de multa de hasta tres (3) salarios mínimos. En caso de que, de manera voluntaria, la persona o sociedad comercial en falta presente la información del retraso y la solicitud del registro, dicha sanción no será aplicable.
Las sanciones serán impuestas mediante resolución motivada, por la Secretaría de Estado de Industria y Comercio.
Artículo 24.- La falsedad en los datos que se suministran al Registro Mercantil será sancionada conforme al Artículo 150 del Código Penal Dominicano.
Artículo 25.- La falta de la obligación de suministrar información relativa a los cambios en el negocio será sancionada con el cincuenta por ciento (50%) del monto correspondiente al salario mínimo vigente a la fecha.
CAPÍTULO VI
DISPOSICIONES GENERALES
Artículo 26.- Las personas físicas y jurídicas obligadas a obtener un Registro Mercantil en virtud de la presente ley disponen de un plazo improrrogable de un (1) año, contado a partir de su promulgación, para adaptar y presentar su solicitud ante la Cámara de Comercio y Producción de su jurisdicción.
Artículo 27.- Las compañías por acciones o sociedades anónimas estarán exentas de los requisitos del Artículo 42 del Código de Comercio.
Artículo 28.- Se modifica el Párrafo I del Artículo Primero (1ro.) de la Ley No. 53, del 13 de noviembre de 1970, para que en lo adelante diga de la siguiente manera:
“Párrafo I.- Las personas físicas o morales y las unidades económicas a las que se refiere esta ley, están obligadas a inscribirse en el Registro Nacional de Contribuyentes, para lo cual es obligatorio que suministren las informaciones que, con tal finalidad, les sean requeridas por la oficina encargada de dicho registro, así como copia del certificado de Registro Mercantil correspondiente.
La oficina encargada podrá, proceder de oficio a inscribirse en el mismo a cualquier contribuyente que no esté debidamente registrado, comunicando copia del registro expedido a las Cámaras de Comercio y Producción de esa jurisdicción.”
Artículo 29.- Se modifica el Artículo 18 de la Ley No. 2324, del 20 de mayo de 1885, para que en lo adelante rece de la manera siguiente:
“Artículo 18.- Están exceptuados de la formalidad del registro:
1. Los actos y resoluciones de los Poderes Legislativo y Ejecutivo;
2.Los actos de la Contraloría;
3. Los manifiestos, planillas y recibos expedidos por las aduanas por cobro de los derechos que se causen por esas oficinas;
4.Las actas de nacimiento, matrimonios y defunciones, recibidos por los oficiales del Estado Civil y las copias que éstos liberen, a no ser que estas copias deban presentarse a los tribunales;
5.Las legalizaciones de las firmas de oficiales o funcionarios públicos;
6.Los pasaportes para poder viajar de un punto a otro del territorio de la República y para el extranjero;
7. Las letras de cambio o billetes a la orden, los endosos y pagos de los mismos, a menos que después de protestados, se presenten ante los tribunales;
8.Los escritos y defensa de los abogados ante los tribunales o juzgados y ante la Suprema Corte de Justicia;
9.Los actos sujetos a registro establecido en la Ley sobre Registro Mercantil.
Párrafo.- Las certificaciones que, de los actos de los Poderes Legislativo y Ejecutivo, dieren los secretarios o empleados de los mismos, estarán sujetas al derecho de registro, si hubiere que presentarlas ante los tribunales por los particulares.”
Artículo 30.- La presente ley deroga y sustituye las siguientes disposiciones:
– Ley No. 5260, sobre Establecimiento de Empresas Industriales y Comerciales, Registro Mercantil e Inscripción Industrial, del 30 de noviembre de 1959; y
– El Artículo 36, Párrafo IV, de la Ley No. 2569, del 4 de diciembre de 1950.
Se deroga igualmente, cualquier otra ley, decreto o reglamentación que sea contrario a las disposiciones previstas en esta ley.
CHAPTER I
SCOPE OF APPLICATION, INSTITUTION AND FUNCTIONS
Article 1.- The Mercantile Registry is the system that consists of the registration, renovation and recordation of the books, deeds and documents pertaining to industrial, commercial and service activities carried out by those individuals or corporations that usually engage in business, of which the Chambers of Commerce and Production authorized by this law are the depositories, also having authority to certify their existence.
Article 2.- The Mercantile Registry is public and compulsory. It has authentic character, with probative value, and is opposable to third parties.
Article 3.- The Chambers of Commerce and Production are in charge of the Mercantile Registry, under the supervision of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce. Such supervision shall consist of sending to the Executive Power the request for recognition of chambers of commerce and production being formed; establishing norms tending to facilitate the application of this law; enforcing the legal provisions regarding Mercantile Registry matters, and applying the sanctions provided in Article 23 hereof.
Article 4.- The Mercantile Registry shall perform the following functions:
a) Registration and Recordation of:
1) Individuals who do business professionally; i. e., for their own account, professionally, or habitually, and for the purpose of making a profit, undertaking activities to produce and circulate goods and/or to provide services;
2) Corporations having legal status that conduct activities for a profit;
3) Marriage contracts between spouses and the liquidation of conjugal societies, when the husband and/or the wife is/are businessperson(s);
4) Judicial interdictions pronounced against businessper-sons; the holding of public office when incompatible with the conduction of business activities, and in general, such incapacities or disabilities for conducting business as provided by law;
5) Documents, authenticated or with privately witnessed signatures, relating to the formation of a corporation, the extraordinary shareholders’ meetings held to modify the bylaws or dissolve a corporation, as well as the regular shareholders’ meetings or assemblies of business corporations, both annual and occasional, and any acts regarding the decision to suspend or cancel operations;
6) Agreements between creditors and debtors in bankruptcy proceedings;
7) Changes of name, domicile, activity, alteration of capital, opening of business establishments, branches or agencies and such other things as may be of interest to third parties.
b) Publicity and Filing:
In connection with the documents registered, in the process of being registered, or constituting information or background thereof and appearing in the register. In addition, the Chambers of Commerce will submit periodically to the State Department of Industry and Commerce a summary of the information contained in the Register.
c) Certifications:
Certification of Business Operation Record Books, pursuant to Article 14(f) of Law No. 50-87 on Chambers of Commerce and Production.
CHAPTER II
PROCEEDINGS OF THE MERCANTILE REGISTRY
Article 5.- A request for Mercantile Registration shall be submitted within a month after commencing business activities or opening a business establishment, in the case of individuals or de facto corporations.
In the case of business companies, applications for Mercantile Registration shall be made within a month after the date of the incorporative shareholders’ meeting or assembly, and an original and copies of the documents regarding the company’s formation shall be attached thereto.
Article 6.- The recordation of all the documents pertaining to the Mercantile Registry shall be made in separate books, according to the matter, in the form of an abstract making reference to the essence of the document, including the document registered, book, page, and date.
Article 7.- Mercantile Registration shall be made at the Chamber of Commerce and Production having jurisdiction at the domicile of the individual or corporation concerned.
Article 8.- The fees to be charged to business establishments for their registration shall be determined by the Chambers of Commerce and Production. All proceeds therefrom shall be considered income for the corresponding Chamber of Commerce, which may use them to cover the expenses created by such Registration and other services, within the framework of the purposes established for their activities in Law No. 50-87 on Chambers of Commerce and Production.
Article 9.- All registrations in the Mercantile Registry shall be evidenced by the Certificate of Registration issued by the respective Chamber of Commerce and Production.
Article 10.- A request for Mercantile Registration shall include:
a) In the case of an individual, the applicant’s full name, a copy of his/her identification card, nationality, activity or business in which he/she is engaged, domicile and address, place or places where his/her activities are conducted on a permanent basis, his/her liquid assets, real estate owned, amount of investments in said business activity, name of the person who manages such business and his/her powers, credit institutions with which he/she has made or intends to make operations, and reference from two (2) registered businesspersons; and
b) In the case of a corporation, its corporate name, address and activities pursued, particulars of the majority shareholder(s) and its directors; amount of the investments made in the business activity, credit institutions with which it has made or intends to make operations, and reference from two (2) registered establishments.
Any application submitted by a minor should contain such authorizations as shall have given him/her the capacity to conduct business, according to law.
Article 11.- The Chambers of Commerce and Production shall provide a form to help users supply the necessary information. They may also require applicants for Mercantile Registration to substantiate the information given in the application by presenting certifications regarding their marital status, business activities, banking operations or any other instruments evidentiary of the information provided in the application.
CHAPTER III
MERCANTILE REGISTRATION UPDATE
Article 12.- Every two (2) years, counting from the date of the initial registration, all individuals or corporations subject to Mercantile Registration should renew their registration at the appropriate Chamber of Commerce and Production.
No communication or notice will be considered in relation to unregistered persons, or if signed by persons other than the directors and/or representatives of registered businesses.
Article 13.- The registration of minutes of extraordinary shareholders’ assemblies or meetings of corporations registered with the Mercantile Registry containing additions and amendments to the bylaws or regarding the dissolution of the company should be requested within a month after such general assembly is held.
All registered annual regular shareholders’ assemblies shall contain information regarding the report submitted by the Commissioner, his/her election, the directors’ election, if applicable, as well as the obtainment or not of profits from the appropriate commercial closing, the application thereof, and proof of payment of taxes. In the event of a suspension of business activities without proceeding to hold shareholders’ meetings, the registered individual or corporation should inform the Chamber of Commerce and Production in his/her/its jurisdiction, in writing, the decision taken and the term during which operations are to be suspended.
Article 14.- The registration of all other documents mentioned in this law may be requested at any time, although they shall not be effective in relation to third parties until the date of their registration.
Article 15.- The Chambers of Commerce and Production should record in the appropriate business registers any objection, cancellation or annulment proceedings in connection with the commercial names used by the business establishments registered, according to the publication made thereof.
Article 16.- In the event of loss or destruction of a registered document by the registered business, the Chamber of Commerce and Production where such registration was made may issue a certificate containing the text kept by said Chamber. Such document shall have the same evidentiary value as its original.
Article 17.- Any inaccuracy in the registry entries due to errors or omissions in the recorded document shall be rectified, provided that a document of the same nature is provided, or upon submission of a court order containing the necessary elements for such purpose.
In the case of a material error or omission in the registration in connection with the document recorded, the correction shall be made having in sight the document that caused such error or omission.
Article 18.- The Chamber of Commerce and Production having jurisdiction to make a registration should keep a copy of the complete text of all the documents subject to such recordation by any technical means allowing for the exact conservation and reproduction thereof.
CHAPTER IV
PUBLICITY
Article 19.- A registration shall be evidenced by the certificate issued for that purpose by the Chamber of Commerce and Production, or by a copy thereof.
Article 20.- The recordation of documents under this law shall entail delivery forthwith, with no other proceeding, of the original and copies delivered for this purpose, with the annotations regarding such registration.
Article 21.- The registration of documents under this law shall make the information contained therein opposable to third parties.
Article 22.- The Mercantile Registry shall be a matter of public record. Anyone may examine the books and files where such registrations are kept, take notes of the entries or documents therein, and obtain copies thereof. The information contained in the Mercantile Registry may be accessed upon request.
CHAPTER V
FAULTS AND PENALTIES
Article 23.- After a period of one (1) month, any individual or corporation engaging professionally in business and not registered at the Mercantile Registry shall be liable to a penalty of up to three (3) minimum wages. In the event that such person or corporation should voluntarily submit information concerning such delay and the registration application, such penalty shall not apply. Penalties shall be imposed by resolution of the State Department of Industry and Commerce, stating the reasons justifiying them..
Article 24.- Any falsehood in the information submitted to the Mercantile Registry shall entail a penalty under Article 150 of the Dominican Criminal Code.
Article 25.- Failure to fulfill the obligation of supplying information in connection with any changes in the business shall result in a penalty of fifty percent (50%) of the amount of the minimum wage in effect to such date.
CHAPTER VI
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Article 26.- All individuals or corporations required to apply for registration at the Mercantile Registry under this law have a non-extendable period of one (1) year from the date of enactment, to adapt and submit their application to the Chamber of Commerce and Production of their jurisdiction.
Article 27.- Stock companies shall be exempted from the requirements prescribed by Article 42 of the Commercial Code.
Article 28.- Paragraph I of Article One (1) of Law No. 53, of November 13, 1970, is hereby modified, so that, from this day forward, it reads as follows:
“Paragraph I.- The individuals or corporations and the financial units referred to in this law are obliged to register at the National Taxpayers’ Registry, for which it is obligatory to supply all such information as may be required by the office in charge of such registry, as well as a copy of the certificate issued by the appropriate Mercantile Registry.
Such office may proceed to register, without request of the party concerned, any taxpayer who is not duly registered, and shall send a copy of any such registration to the Chambers of Commerce and Production of the appropriate jurisdiction.
Article 29.- Article 18 of Law No. 2324, of May 20, 1885, is hereby modified, so that, from this day forward, it reads as follows:
“Article 18.- The following are exempted from registration:
1. All acts and resolutions of the Legislative and the Executive Power;
2. All acts of the National Comptroller’s Office;
3. Manifests, forms, and receipts issued by customs for collection of custom fees.
4. Certificates of birth, marriage and death received by Civil Status Officers, and the copies thereof issued by them, unless such copies have to be submitted to a court of law;
5. Legalizations of the signatures of public officials;
6. Passports to travel from one point to another in the national territory and abroad;
7. Bills of exchange or promissory notes, endorsements and payments thereof, unless they are contested and have to be subsequently presented at a court of law;
8. Lawyers’ briefs and pleas submitted to courts of law and to the Supreme Court of Justice;
9. Documents subject to registration as established in the Mercantile Registration Law.
Paragraph.- Certifications issued by the appropriate clerks or employees of any acts of the Legislative or the Executive Power shall be subject to registration fees if they are to be submitted to a court of law by private persons.”
Article 30.- This law repeals and replaces the following provisions:
– Law No. 5260, on the Establishment of Industrial and Commercial Companies, Mercantile Registry and Industrial Registration, dated November 30, 1959; and
– Article 36, Paragraph IV, of Law No. 2569, of December 4, 1950.
It likewise repeals any other law, decree or regulation contrary to the provisions made in this law.
CHAPTER I
SCOPE OF APPLICATION, INSTITUTION AND FUNCTIONS
Article 1.- The Mercantile Registry is the system that consists of the registration, renovation and recordation of the books, deeds and documents pertaining to industrial, commercial and service activities carried out by those individuals or corporations that usually engage in business, of which the Chambers of Commerce and Production authorized by this law are the depositories, also having authority to certify their existence.
Article 2.- The Mercantile Registry is public and compulsory. It has authentic character, with probative value, and is opposable to third parties.
Article 3.- The Chambers of Commerce and Production are in charge of the Mercantile Registry, under the supervision of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce. Such supervision shall consist of sending to the Executive Power the request for recognition of chambers of commerce and production being formed; establishing norms tending to facilitate the application of this law; enforcing the legal provisions regarding Mercantile Registry matters, and applying the sanctions provided in Article 23 hereof.
Article 4.- The Mercantile Registry shall perform the following functions:
a) Registration and Recordation of:
1) Individuals who do business professionally; i. e., for their own account, professionally, or habitually, and for the purpose of making a profit, undertaking activities to produce and circulate goods and/or to provide services;
2) Corporations having legal status that conduct activities for a profit;
3) Marriage contracts between spouses and the liquidation of conjugal societies, when the husband and/or the wife is/are businessperson(s);
4) Judicial interdictions pronounced against businessper-sons; the holding of public office when incompatible with the conduction of business activities, and in general, such incapacities or disabilities for conducting business as provided by law;
5) Documents, authenticated or with privately witnessed signatures, relating to the formation of a corporation, the extraordinary shareholders’ meetings held to modify the bylaws or dissolve a corporation, as well as the regular shareholders’ meetings or assemblies of business corporations, both annual and occasional, and any acts regarding the decision to suspend or cancel operations;
6) Agreements between creditors and debtors in bankruptcy proceedings;
7) Changes of name, domicile, activity, alteration of capital, opening of business establishments, branches or agencies and such other things as may be of interest to third parties.
b) Publicity and Filing:
In connection with the documents registered, in the process of being registered, or constituting information or background thereof and appearing in the register. In addition, the Chambers of Commerce will submit periodically to the State Department of Industry and Commerce a summary of the information contained in the Register.
c) Certifications:
Certification of Business Operation Record Books, pursuant to Article 14(f) of Law No. 50-87 on Chambers of Commerce and Production.
CHAPTER II
PROCEEDINGS OF THE MERCANTILE REGISTRY
Article 5.- A request for Mercantile Registration shall be submitted within a month after commencing business activities or opening a business establishment, in the case of individuals or de facto corporations.
In the case of business companies, applications for Mercantile Registration shall be made within a month after the date of the incorporative shareholders’ meeting or assembly, and an original and copies of the documents regarding the company’s formation shall be attached thereto.
Article 6.- The recordation of all the documents pertaining to the Mercantile Registry shall be made in separate books, according to the matter, in the form of an abstract making reference to the essence of the document, including the document registered, book, page, and date.
Article 7.- Mercantile Registration shall be made at the Chamber of Commerce and Production having jurisdiction at the domicile of the individual or corporation concerned.
Article 8.- The fees to be charged to business establishments for their registration shall be determined by the Chambers of Commerce and Production. All proceeds therefrom shall be considered income for the corresponding Chamber of Commerce, which may use them to cover the expenses created by such Registration and other services, within the framework of the purposes established for their activities in Law No. 50-87 on Chambers of Commerce and Production.
Article 9.- All registrations in the Mercantile Registry shall be evidenced by the Certificate of Registration issued by the respective Chamber of Commerce and Production.
Article 10.- A request for Mercantile Registration shall include:
a) In the case of an individual, the applicant’s full name, a copy of his/her identification card, nationality, activity or business in which he/she is engaged, domicile and address, place or places where his/her activities are conducted on a permanent basis, his/her liquid assets, real estate owned, amount of investments in said business activity, name of the person who manages such business and his/her powers, credit institutions with which he/she has made or intends to make operations, and reference from two (2) registered businesspersons; and
b) In the case of a corporation, its corporate name, address and activities pursued, particulars of the majority shareholder(s) and its directors; amount of the investments made in the business activity, credit institutions with which it has made or intends to make operations, and reference from two (2) registered establishments.
Any application submitted by a minor should contain such authorizations as shall have given him/her the capacity to conduct business, according to law.
Article 11.- The Chambers of Commerce and Production shall provide a form to help users supply the necessary information. They may also require applicants for Mercantile Registration to substantiate the information given in the application by presenting certifications regarding their marital status, business activities, banking operations or any other instruments evidentiary of the information provided in the application.
CHAPTER III
MERCANTILE REGISTRATION UPDATE
Article 12.- Every two (2) years, counting from the date of the initial registration, all individuals or corporations subject to Mercantile Registration should renew their registration at the appropriate Chamber of Commerce and Production.
No communication or notice will be considered in relation to unregistered persons, or if signed by persons other than the directors and/or representatives of registered businesses.
Article 13.- The registration of minutes of extraordinary shareholders’ assemblies or meetings of corporations registered with the Mercantile Registry containing additions and amendments to the bylaws or regarding the dissolution of the company should be requested within a month after such general assembly is held.
All registered annual regular shareholders’ assemblies shall contain information regarding the report submitted by the Commissioner, his/her election, the directors’ election, if applicable, as well as the obtainment or not of profits from the appropriate commercial closing, the application thereof, and proof of payment of taxes. In the event of a suspension of business activities without proceeding to hold shareholders’ meetings, the registered individual or corporation should inform the Chamber of Commerce and Production in his/her/its jurisdiction, in writing, the decision taken and the term during which operations are to be suspended.
Article 14.- The registration of all other documents mentioned in this law may be requested at any time, although they shall not be effective in relation to third parties until the date of their registration.
Article 15.- The Chambers of Commerce and Production should record in the appropriate business registers any objection, cancellation or annulment proceedings in connection with the commercial names used by the business establishments registered, according to the publication made thereof.
Article 16.- In the event of loss or destruction of a registered document by the registered business, the Chamber of Commerce and Production where such registration was made may issue a certificate containing the text kept by said Chamber. Such document shall have the same evidentiary value as its original.
Article 17.- Any inaccuracy in the registry entries due to errors or omissions in the recorded document shall be rectified, provided that a document of the same nature is provided, or upon submission of a court order containing the necessary elements for such purpose.
In the case of a material error or omission in the registration in connection with the document recorded, the correction shall be made having in sight the document that caused such error or omission.
Article 18.- The Chamber of Commerce and Production having jurisdiction to make a registration should keep a copy of the complete text of all the documents subject to such recordation by any technical means allowing for the exact conservation and reproduction thereof.
CHAPTER IV
PUBLICITY
Article 19.- A registration shall be evidenced by the certificate issued for that purpose by the Chamber of Commerce and Production, or by a copy thereof.
Article 20.- The recordation of documents under this law shall entail delivery forthwith, with no other proceeding, of the original and copies delivered for this purpose, with the annotations regarding such registration.
Article 21.- The registration of documents under this law shall make the information contained therein opposable to third parties.
Article 22.- The Mercantile Registry shall be a matter of public record. Anyone may examine the books and files where such registrations are kept, take notes of the entries or documents therein, and obtain copies thereof. The information contained in the Mercantile Registry may be accessed upon request.
CHAPTER V
FAULTS AND PENALTIES
Article 23.- After a period of one (1) month, any individual or corporation engaging professionally in business and not registered at the Mercantile Registry shall be liable to a penalty of up to three (3) minimum wages. In the event that such person or corporation should voluntarily submit information concerning such delay and the registration application, such penalty shall not apply. Penalties shall be imposed by resolution of the State Department of Industry and Commerce, stating the reasons justifiying them..
Article 24.- Any falsehood in the information submitted to the Mercantile Registry shall entail a penalty under Article 150 of the Dominican Criminal Code.
Article 25.- Failure to fulfill the obligation of supplying information in connection with any changes in the business shall result in a penalty of fifty percent (50%) of the amount of the minimum wage in effect to such date.
CHAPTER VI
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Article 26.- All individuals or corporations required to apply for registration at the Mercantile Registry under this law have a non-extendable period of one (1) year from the date of enactment, to adapt and submit their application to the Chamber of Commerce and Production of their jurisdiction.
Article 27.- Stock companies shall be exempted from the requirements prescribed by Article 42 of the Commercial Code.
Article 28.- Paragraph I of Article One (1) of Law No. 53, of November 13, 1970, is hereby modified, so that, from this day forward, it reads as follows:
“Paragraph I.- The individuals or corporations and the financial units referred to in this law are obliged to register at the National Taxpayers’ Registry, for which it is obligatory to supply all such information as may be required by the office in charge of such registry, as well as a copy of the certificate issued by the appropriate Mercantile Registry.
Such office may proceed to register, without request of the party concerned, any taxpayer who is not duly registered, and shall send a copy of any such registration to the Chambers of Commerce and Production of the appropriate jurisdiction.
Article 29.- Article 18 of Law No. 2324, of May 20, 1885, is hereby modified, so that, from this day forward, it reads as follows:
“Article 18.- The following are exempted from registration:
1. All acts and resolutions of the Legislative and the Executive Power;
2. All acts of the National Comptroller’s Office;
3. Manifests, forms, and receipts issued by customs for collection of custom fees.
4. Certificates of birth, marriage and death received by Civil Status Officers, and the copies thereof issued by them, unless such copies have to be submitted to a court of law;
5. Legalizations of the signatures of public officials;
6. Passports to travel from one point to another in the national territory and abroad;
7. Bills of exchange or promissory notes, endorsements and payments thereof, unless they are contested and have to be subsequently presented at a court of law;
8. Lawyers’ briefs and pleas submitted to courts of law and to the Supreme Court of Justice;
9. Documents subject to registration as established in the Mercantile Registration Law.
Paragraph.- Certifications issued by the appropriate clerks or employees of any acts of the Legislative or the Executive Power shall be subject to registration fees if they are to be submitted to a court of law by private persons.”
Article 30.- This law repeals and replaces the following provisions:
– Law No. 5260, on the Establishment of Industrial and Commercial Companies, Mercantile Registry and Industrial Registration, dated November 30, 1959; and
– Article 36, Paragraph IV, of Law No. 2569, of December 4, 1950.
It likewise repeals any other law, decree or regulation contrary to the provisions made in this law.
CHAPTER I
SCOPE OF APPLICATION, INSTITUTION AND FUNCTIONS
Article 1.- The Mercantile Registry is the system that consists of the registration, renovation and recordation of the books, deeds and documents pertaining to industrial, commercial and service activities carried out by those individuals or corporations that usually engage in business, of which the Chambers of Commerce and Production authorized by this law are the depositories, also having authority to certify their existence.
Article 2.- The Mercantile Registry is public and compulsory. It has authentic character, with probative value, and is opposable to third parties.
Article 3.- The Chambers of Commerce and Production are in charge of the Mercantile Registry, under the supervision of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce. Such supervision shall consist of sending to the Executive Power the request for recognition of chambers of commerce and production being formed; establishing norms tending to facilitate the application of this law; enforcing the legal provisions regarding Mercantile Registry matters, and applying the sanctions provided in Article 23 hereof.
Article 4.- The Mercantile Registry shall perform the following functions:
a) Registration and Recordation of:
1) Individuals who do business professionally; i. e., for their own account, professionally, or habitually, and for the purpose of making a profit, undertaking activities to produce and circulate goods and/or to provide services;
2) Corporations having legal status that conduct activities for a profit;
3) Marriage contracts between spouses and the liquidation of conjugal societies, when the husband and/or the wife is/are businessperson(s);
4) Judicial interdictions pronounced against businessper-sons; the holding of public office when incompatible with the conduction of business activities, and in general, such incapacities or disabilities for conducting business as provided by law;
5) Documents, authenticated or with privately witnessed signatures, relating to the formation of a corporation, the extraordinary shareholders’ meetings held to modify the bylaws or dissolve a corporation, as well as the regular shareholders’ meetings or assemblies of business corporations, both annual and occasional, and any acts regarding the decision to suspend or cancel operations;
6) Agreements between creditors and debtors in bankruptcy proceedings;
7) Changes of name, domicile, activity, alteration of capital, opening of business establishments, branches or agencies and such other things as may be of interest to third parties.
b) Publicity and Filing:
In connection with the documents registered, in the process of being registered, or constituting information or background thereof and appearing in the register. In addition, the Chambers of Commerce will submit periodically to the State Department of Industry and Commerce a summary of the information contained in the Register.
c) Certifications:
Certification of Business Operation Record Books, pursuant to Article 14(f) of Law No. 50-87 on Chambers of Commerce and Production.
CHAPTER II
PROCEEDINGS OF THE MERCANTILE REGISTRY
Article 5.- A request for Mercantile Registration shall be submitted within a month after commencing business activities or opening a business establishment, in the case of individuals or de facto corporations.
In the case of business companies, applications for Mercantile Registration shall be made within a month after the date of the incorporative shareholders’ meeting or assembly, and an original and copies of the documents regarding the company’s formation shall be attached thereto.
Article 6.- The recordation of all the documents pertaining to the Mercantile Registry shall be made in separate books, according to the matter, in the form of an abstract making reference to the essence of the document, including the document registered, book, page, and date.
Article 7.- Mercantile Registration shall be made at the Chamber of Commerce and Production having jurisdiction at the domicile of the individual or corporation concerned.
Article 8.- The fees to be charged to business establishments for their registration shall be determined by the Chambers of Commerce and Production. All proceeds therefrom shall be considered income for the corresponding Chamber of Commerce, which may use them to cover the expenses created by such Registration and other services, within the framework of the purposes established for their activities in Law No. 50-87 on Chambers of Commerce and Production.
Article 9.- All registrations in the Mercantile Registry shall be evidenced by the Certificate of Registration issued by the respective Chamber of Commerce and Production.
Article 10.- A request for Mercantile Registration shall include:
a) In the case of an individual, the applicant’s full name, a copy of his/her identification card, nationality, activity or business in which he/she is engaged, domicile and address, place or places where his/her activities are conducted on a permanent basis, his/her liquid assets, real estate owned, amount of investments in said business activity, name of the person who manages such business and his/her powers, credit institutions with which he/she has made or intends to make operations, and reference from two (2) registered businesspersons; and
b) In the case of a corporation, its corporate name, address and activities pursued, particulars of the majority shareholder(s) and its directors; amount of the investments made in the business activity, credit institutions with which it has made or intends to make operations, and reference from two (2) registered establishments.
Any application submitted by a minor should contain such authorizations as shall have given him/her the capacity to conduct business, according to law.
Article 11.- The Chambers of Commerce and Production shall provide a form to help users supply the necessary information. They may also require applicants for Mercantile Registration to substantiate the information given in the application by presenting certifications regarding their marital status, business activities, banking operations or any other instruments evidentiary of the information provided in the application.
CHAPTER III
MERCANTILE REGISTRATION UPDATE
Article 12.- Every two (2) years, counting from the date of the initial registration, all individuals or corporations subject to Mercantile Registration should renew their registration at the appropriate Chamber of Commerce and Production.
No communication or notice will be considered in relation to unregistered persons, or if signed by persons other than the directors and/or representatives of registered businesses.
Article 13.- The registration of minutes of extraordinary shareholders’ assemblies or meetings of corporations registered with the Mercantile Registry containing additions and amendments to the bylaws or regarding the dissolution of the company should be requested within a month after such general assembly is held.
All registered annual regular shareholders’ assemblies shall contain information regarding the report submitted by the Commissioner, his/her election, the directors’ election, if applicable, as well as the obtainment or not of profits from the appropriate commercial closing, the application thereof, and proof of payment of taxes. In the event of a suspension of business activities without proceeding to hold shareholders’ meetings, the registered individual or corporation should inform the Chamber of Commerce and Production in his/her/its jurisdiction, in writing, the decision taken and the term during which operations are to be suspended.
Article 14.- The registration of all other documents mentioned in this law may be requested at any time, although they shall not be effective in relation to third parties until the date of their registration.
Article 15.- The Chambers of Commerce and Production should record in the appropriate business registers any objection, cancellation or annulment proceedings in connection with the commercial names used by the business establishments registered, according to the publication made thereof.
Article 16.- In the event of loss or destruction of a registered document by the registered business, the Chamber of Commerce and Production where such registration was made may issue a certificate containing the text kept by said Chamber. Such document shall have the same evidentiary value as its original.
Article 17.- Any inaccuracy in the registry entries due to errors or omissions in the recorded document shall be rectified, provided that a document of the same nature is provided, or upon submission of a court order containing the necessary elements for such purpose.
In the case of a material error or omission in the registration in connection with the document recorded, the correction shall be made having in sight the document that caused such error or omission.
Article 18.- The Chamber of Commerce and Production having jurisdiction to make a registration should keep a copy of the complete text of all the documents subject to such recordation by any technical means allowing for the exact conservation and reproduction thereof.
CHAPTER IV
PUBLICITY
Article 19.- A registration shall be evidenced by the certificate issued for that purpose by the Chamber of Commerce and Production, or by a copy thereof.
Article 20.- The recordation of documents under this law shall entail delivery forthwith, with no other proceeding, of the original and copies delivered for this purpose, with the annotations regarding such registration.
Article 21.- The registration of documents under this law shall make the information contained therein opposable to third parties.
Article 22.- The Mercantile Registry shall be a matter of public record. Anyone may examine the books and files where such registrations are kept, take notes of the entries or documents therein, and obtain copies thereof. The information contained in the Mercantile Registry may be accessed upon request.
CHAPTER V
FAULTS AND PENALTIES
Article 23.- After a period of one (1) month, any individual or corporation engaging professionally in business and not registered at the Mercantile Registry shall be liable to a penalty of up to three (3) minimum wages. In the event that such person or corporation should voluntarily submit information concerning such delay and the registration application, such penalty shall not apply. Penalties shall be imposed by resolution of the State Department of Industry and Commerce, stating the reasons justifiying them..
Article 24.- Any falsehood in the information submitted to the Mercantile Registry shall entail a penalty under Article 150 of the Dominican Criminal Code.
Article 25.- Failure to fulfill the obligation of supplying information in connection with any changes in the business shall result in a penalty of fifty percent (50%) of the amount of the minimum wage in effect to such date.
CHAPTER VI
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Article 26.- All individuals or corporations required to apply for registration at the Mercantile Registry under this law have a non-extendable period of one (1) year from the date of enactment, to adapt and submit their application to the Chamber of Commerce and Production of their jurisdiction.
Article 27.- Stock companies shall be exempted from the requirements prescribed by Article 42 of the Commercial Code.
Article 28.- Paragraph I of Article One (1) of Law No. 53, of November 13, 1970, is hereby modified, so that, from this day forward, it reads as follows:
“Paragraph I.- The individuals or corporations and the financial units referred to in this law are obliged to register at the National Taxpayers’ Registry, for which it is obligatory to supply all such information as may be required by the office in charge of such registry, as well as a copy of the certificate issued by the appropriate Mercantile Registry.
Such office may proceed to register, without request of the party concerned, any taxpayer who is not duly registered, and shall send a copy of any such registration to the Chambers of Commerce and Production of the appropriate jurisdiction.
Article 29.- Article 18 of Law No. 2324, of May 20, 1885, is hereby modified, so that, from this day forward, it reads as follows:
“Article 18.- The following are exempted from registration:
1. All acts and resolutions of the Legislative and the Executive Power;
2. All acts of the National Comptroller’s Office;
3. Manifests, forms, and receipts issued by customs for collection of custom fees.
4. Certificates of birth, marriage and death received by Civil Status Officers, and the copies thereof issued by them, unless such copies have to be submitted to a court of law;
5. Legalizations of the signatures of public officials;
6. Passports to travel from one point to another in the national territory and abroad;
7. Bills of exchange or promissory notes, endorsements and payments thereof, unless they are contested and have to be subsequently presented at a court of law;
8. Lawyers’ briefs and pleas submitted to courts of law and to the Supreme Court of Justice;
9. Documents subject to registration as established in the Mercantile Registration Law.
Paragraph.- Certifications issued by the appropriate clerks or employees of any acts of the Legislative or the Executive Power shall be subject to registration fees if they are to be submitted to a court of law by private persons.”
Article 30.- This law repeals and replaces the following provisions:
– Law No. 5260, on the Establishment of Industrial and Commercial Companies, Mercantile Registry and Industrial Registration, dated November 30, 1959; and
– Article 36, Paragraph IV, of Law No. 2569, of December 4, 1950.
It likewise repeals any other law, decree or regulation contrary to the provisions made in this law.
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