Zubiri vows to oppose tax on books, other learning materials

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri on Monday vowed to oppose any proposal that would result in the imposition of tax on books and other reading and learning materials.

“I will oppose the provisions on the Train 2 bill that will tax books and other reading and learning materials,” Zubiri said in a statement.

He was referring to the administration’s proposed second tax reform package, previously called Train 2 but is now known as Tax Reform for Attracting Better and High-quality Opportunities or “Trabaho.”

“The tax exemption on these items should remain as books are an integral part of education and learning,” the Majority Leader said.

“We should keep books as affordable and accessible as possible. The internet cannot replace the value of reading and the literacy skills that accompany it,” he added.

It was earlier reported that the version of the Trabaho bill in the Senate contains a proposal to repeal Section 12 of Republic Act No. 8047, or the Book Publishing Industry Development Act enacted in 1995.

The said provision exempts books, magazines, periodicals, newspapers, including book publishing, printing, distribution and circulation, from the expanded value added tax.

Once the bill is enacted into law, tax would then be imposed on said goods and services. /je

READ: TRAIN 2 to tax books?