By Jess Diaz (The
Philippine Star) | Updated December 7, 2015 - 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines - The
House of Representatives Committee on Ways and Means has approved tax
incentives for first-time homebuyers to make homeownership easier and more
affordable.
The panel, chaired by
Marikina Rep. Romero Federico Quimbo, approved the proposed First-time
Homebuyers Act upon the recommendation of the Committee on Housing and Urban
Development and the Committee on Appropriations chaired by Rep. Alfredo Benitez
of Negros Occidental and Isidro Ungab of Davao City, respectively.
Rep. Arthur Yap of Bohol is
the principal author of the proposed law.
The incentives are
exemption from payment of transfer tax and a five-percent discount on the cost
of a dwelling unit. The seller or developer who gives the discount can claim it
as a tax credit for the year it was given.
Yap said his bill aims to
enable the government “to achieve its sworn goal to alleviate the condition and
welfare of a majority of the Filipino families, especially those who have the
basic need for shelter.”
“With this measure, such
goal can be partly achieved. It would make it easier and affordable, especially
to low and middle income groups, to finally acquire the dream home they may
call their own,” he said.
He said his proposed law,
if enacted, would not only give first-time homebuyers incentives but would
further fuel the construction boom, which would become the catalyst of economic
growth and development.
“It would strengthen,
promote and support the component activities of housing production and finance.
Finally, it would increase private sector participation in the investment of
their funds into housing finance, construction and development,” he added.
The measure refers to a
“first-time homebuyer” as any person who, for the first time, purchases a house
and lot or condominium unit or constructs a house on a land he/she owns and who
intends to occupy the same as his/her principal place of residence.
The incentives may be
availed of for the purchase of a housing package or the construction of a house
falling under the category of low-cost housing and medium-cost housing as
determined by the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC)
and the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).
The first-time homebuyer
would be provided the schedule of payment of installments until full payment of
the purchase price.
The bill provides a fine of
P5,000 to P50,000 or imprisonment of six months, or both at the discretion of
the court, for any person who makes a false claim regarding first-time
homeownership and the tax credit arising from it.
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