Tax exemption of minimum wage earners and other tax relief

The President signed into law on June 17, 2008 Republic Act No. (RA) 9504 granting additional tax relief to individuals and corporations, as follows:

Exemption of minimum wage earners

The new law exempts minimum wage earners in the private and public sector from payment of income tax. The exemption will cover not only the basic pay but also holiday pay, overtime pay, night shift differential, and hazard pay received by said minimum wage earners.

Prior to enactment of RA 9504, individual employees whose compensation income does not exceed the statutory minimum wage or five thousand pesos (P5,000) per month were exempted from withholding tax under Revenue Regulations No. 01-06. The law grants minimum wage earners full tax exemption by exempting them from payment of income tax.

2. Increase in personal and additional exemptions

RA 9504 increases the level of personal exemption allowance of each individual taxpayer to a uniform amount of P50,000 regardless of the status of the taxpayer, and additional exemption allowance for each qualified dependent from P8,000 to P25,000, as follows:

Type of taxpayer	Old Law	New Law	Incremental Exemption
Single individuals	20,000	50,000	30,000
Head of family	25,000	50,000	25,000
Married individuals	32,000	50,000	18,000
Additional exemption for each qualified dependent/child	8,000	25,000	17,000

The maximum number of qualified dependents remains at four.

3. Optional Standard Deduction (OSD) for corporations and increased OSD for individuals

The OSD is a scheme whereby a taxpayer is given the option to deduct from his gross revenue or gross income a lump sum equivalent to a percentage of such gross revenue or gross income for purposes of computing the net taxable income on which the income tax rate will be applied. This is in lieu of the itemized deduction scheme where the taxpayer enumerates all his expenses and the corresponding amounts incurred to determine the amount of allowable deductions. The option can be availed of on an annual basis and shall be irrevocable for that taxable year.

The 10% OSD allowed to an individual engaged in business and practice of profession was increased to 40% of gross sales or gross receipts.

Furthermore, corporations are now given the option to avail of the OSD at 40% of gross income. . Previously, they were only allowed to claim itemized deductions in computing their taxable net income.

The law shall take effect on July 07, 2008 15 days after its publication last June 22, 2008 in major dailies. The new law shall be effective starting taxable year 2008. A revenue regulation will be issued by the BIR to implement the adjustment in the withholding tax.

For your reference and guidance, a copy of Republic Act No. 9504 can be emailed to those who may want a copy for their files.