Bam proposes tax exceptions for workers earning P60K/year

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV is pushing for the passage of his measure that proposes tax execeptions for workers earning not over than P60,000 a year.

Explaining Senate Bill No. 1942, Aquino said there’s an urgent need to revise the current tax bracket set by the National Internal Revenue Code, which was passed in 1997.

“Now is the time to get this updated and be attuned to the present time,” Aquino stressed. “We cannot continue using outdated tax brackets and a threshold which were approved fifteen years ago.”

If approved, Aquino said the Tax Reform Act will lower taxes imposed on the Filipino working class, which comprises about 22 million of the nation's population. This will allow them to enjoy a higher net income and increase their purchasing power, the senator said.

Under Aquino’s bill, Section 24 of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997 will be amended by adjusting the levels of the net taxable income and simplifying the nominal tax rates in computing individual income tax, based on current prices.

Aquino recommended that those with income over P60,000 but not over P140,000 should be taxed for P5,000 plus 15 percent of the excess of P60,000 from the current 20 percent.

For income over P140,000 but not over P280,000, the senator is proposing a tax rate of P17,000, plus 20 percent of the excess over P 140,000. A tax rate of P45,000 plus 25 percent of the excess over P 280,000 is proposed for those with income ranging from  P250,000 to P500,000, and P100,000 plus 30 percent in tax rate of the excess over P500,000 will be imposed for those with income of over P500,000 but not over P1 million.

For those with income over P1 million but not over P12 million, the senator wants a tax rate of P250,000 plus 32 percent of the excess over P1 million.

For those with income over P12 million, a tax of P4 million plus 35 percent of the excess over P12 million should be imposed under the Aquino measure.

“The Tax Reform Act effectively lowers the taxes on the Filipino working class, allowing them to enjoy a higher net income and increasing their purchasing power,” Aquino said.

The senator also assured that the bill would not impose a burden on the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) that comprise a majority of employers in the Philippines.

With a just tax system, Aquino believes that it will encourage citizens to declare their true income and pay their taxes.

“It also supports the government’s push for inclusive growth while ensuring that government is still able to raise funds for social programs that directly benefit the poor,” Aquino said.  “It is a win-win solution that offers the greatest benefit to the greatest number of Filipinos.”

Aquino added that the bill also adjusts the tax level of the upper one percent (1%) of taxpayers, making sure that the government is able to collect a larger share of income from those who can afford to pay more.