Sotto files bill exempting Teachers I, II, III from income tax

A bill seeking to exempt public school teachers I, II, and III from paying income taxes has been filed in the Senate.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III introduced Senate Bill No. 241, or an Act Providing Tax Relief to Public School Teachers by Exempting them from Income Taxation, Amending for the Purpose Sections 22 and 24A of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, As Amended.

He said he filed the bill to show appreciation to the teachers who selflessly, untiringly, and devotedly impart their knowledge and build the character of students.

“It is apt for the government to create measures which will promote the welfare and economic well-being of our teachers, specifically public school teachers whose salary are currently just a little higher than the minimum wage,” he said in the explanatory note of the bill.

He said by lifting the burden of paying the income tax, teachers are given what they rightfully deserve. He said the measure is a gift for the teachers’ unconditional love and sacrifice in molding the youth to be the future’s leaders.

Under the bill, the term Teacher I, Teacher II, and Teacher III shall refer to the basic classroom teacher positions in public elementary and secondary schools as defined by the Department if Education.

Aside from the taxable income, Sotto also proposed to exempt from tax the holiday pay, overtime pay, night shift differential, and hazard pay of the teachers covered.

“This bill is in consonance with the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers which aimed to promote and improve the social and economic status of public school teachers, their living and working conditions, their terms of employment and career prospects,” the Senate leader said.

He said senators of the 18th Congress will work to increase the salary of public school teachers so they can be at par with their counterparts from neighboring Asian countries.

“We recognize the inevitable fact that our teachers play a crucial and significant role. The future of our youth and nation lies in the nurturing hands of our teachers. We consider them as our modern day heroes,” he added. — MDM, GMA News