House panel approves Duterte tax reform package

The House committee on ways and means has approved the substitute bill on the Comprehensive Tax Reform Package proposed by the Duterte administration.

The substitute bill was approved, 17-4-3, with voting at the mother committee done on Wednesday, hours after the scheduled technical working group meeting on the proposed measure.

ACT-Teachers Party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio, a member of the committee, confirmed this to GMA News Online.

Tinio, who voted ’no’ because of the excise tax on fuel and expanded value-added tax coverage, said the key features  of the package, “as proposed by Malacañang, remain intact.”

The committee is also eyeing to include the tax on sugar sweetened beverages and carbonated drinks.

The bill seeks to lower personal income tax rates, while increasing excise tax rates on petroleum products and automobiles and expanding the value-added tax base as compensating measures. — VDS, GMA News