House ratifies bill giving VAT-exemption, more benefits to PWDs

A measure exempting persons with disabilities from paying value-added tax (VAT) is just one signature away from becoming a law after the House of Representatives ratified Wednesday the bicameral conference committee report on the measure.

Under the bill, PWDs will be exempt from paying the Value Added Tax (VAT) on top of the 20 percent discount they are entitled to on certain goods and services. It also allows a relative of a PWD up to the 4th civil degree of consanguinity or affinity to claim a tax deduction of P25,000 in his annual income tax.

With the measure, PWDs will be able to enjoy the same privileges as senior citizens under the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010.

At present, under the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons, PWDs are entitled to a 20 percent discount on certain goods such as medicines, hospital and laboratory work, hotel stay, local transport fares and theater admission.

In addition to exemption from VAT, the measure adds funeral services and burial expenses to the list of assistance to be given to PWDs.

According to the 2010 Census of Population and Housing released in 2013, the Philippines has 1.443 million PWDs, or 1.57 percent of the country's total. —JST, GMA News