Roxas welcomes House OK of tax relief to low-income earners
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 18:06:00 05/13/2008
Filed Under: Congress, Legislation, State Budget & Taxes
MANILA, Philippines -- Senator Manuel Roxas II has welcomed the approval by the House of Representatives of giving tax relief to low-wage earners even as he vowed to push the Senate version at the soonest possible time.
Voting 192-3 Monday, the House approved on third and final reading House Bill No. 3971, which would grant tax exemption to workers with annual income of P200,000 and below. The bill also proposed a simplified net income taxation for self-employed and professionals.
“This measure was promised to workers in the past Labor Day celebrations. Now that this tax relief is forthcoming, our workers can now focus on the work of regional wage boards and the grant of non-wage benefits,” Roxas said.
Roxas filed in June last year Senate Bill No. 103 seeking to exempt low-wage earners from income tax. The tax relief bill was certified as urgent at the recent Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC).
He indicated that any tax proposal must come from the House.
While the both houses want to raise take-home pay for low-wage workers, Roxas said the House version only raised the amount of tax exemption. But Roxas said his bill wanted the complete removal of income tax imposed on low-wage workers.
John Alliage Morales, Contributor
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