The Department of Finance (DoF) is open to retain the value added tax (VAT) exemption for seniors and persons with disabilities (PWDs), Senate ways and means committee chair Senator Juan Edgardo Angara yesterday said.
Angara said state economic managers have decided to come up with a revised tax reform proposal, which among others, keeps the VAT exemption benefits of senior citizens and PWDs.
Angara, who heads the ways and means committee tasked to evaluate and study the government’s tax programs, said the DOF has presented to the panel the latest draft of the revised version of the first of six packages of the Duterte administration’s comprehensive tax reform program.
Package 1, he said, seeks to lower personal income tax rates, broaden the VAT base, and adjust excise taxes of petroleum products and automobiles.
“The DoF is open to retaining the VAT exemption of senior citizens and PWDs. Ibig sabihin po nito ay nakikinig ang ating administrasyon sa ating mga panawagan at sa hinaing ng taumbayan (This means the current administration is listening to public call and clamor),” Angara said. (Hannah Torregoza)
