House ratifies bill exempting PWDs from VAT
House of Representatives.
The House of Representatives on Wednesday ratified the bill exempting persons with disabilities (PWDs) from paying value-added tax (VAT).
The lower chamber ratified the bicameral conference committee report which was also approved by its Senate counterpart on Tuesday.
READ: Senate ratifies bill giving disabled persons VAT exemption, tax relief to caretakers
The bicameral version of the bill is a result of the bicameral conference committee composed of both Houses of Congress, which consolidates its two version of a bill.
The ratification of the bicameral version of the bill then gives way to the signature of the President’s approval.
The bill, which would amend the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons, would exempt PWDs from paying the value added tax, on top of the 20 percent discount that they are entitled to receive for certain goods and services under the law.
The bill would also allow their relatives taking care of them to claim a tax deduction of P25,000 in their annual income tax.
This would apply to relatives up to the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity.
READ: Senate ratifies bill giving disabled persons VAT exemption, tax relief to caretakers
The ratification followed the Senate approval on final reading of its version of the bill on Sept. 2.
READ: Senate approves VAT exemption for PWDs
The House of Representatives approved its version of the bill last Dec. 2014.
According to House version of the bill, the following would be exempted from VAT: medical and dental services; purchase of medicines in all drugstores; public railways, skyways and bus fare; admission fees charged by theaters, cinema houses, concert halls, circuses, carnivals and other places of culture, leisure and amusement; and all services in hotels and similar lodging establishments, restaurants, and recreation centers. TVJ
READ: House OKs VAT exemption for PWDs
