Republic Act
Approved August 29, 2003

Republic Act No. 9224

An act rationalizing the excise tax on automobiles, amending for the purpose the national internal revenue code of 1997, and for other purposes.

An Act Rationalizing the Excise Tax on Automobiles, Amending for the Purpose the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, and for Other Purposes.

In plain language

Republic Act No. 9224 (RA 9224) was enacted on August 29, 2003, to rationalize the excise tax on automobiles by amending Section 149 of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997. The act introduces a new tax schedule based on the vehicle's price, provides for periodic indexing of the brackets by the Secretary of Finance, defines various vehicle categories, exempts automobiles used exclusively in freeport zones, and requires the issuance of rules and regulations within 30 days. It also contains separability and repealing clauses and becomes effective 15 days after publication of the implementing rules.

  • Amended Sec. 149 to impose a new ad valorem tax schedule on automobiles.
  • New tax rates based on vehicle price brackets.
  • Indexing of tax brackets by Secretary of Finance when exchange rate changes exceed 10% or 20%.
  • Definition of automobiles, trucks, buses, etc.
  • Exemption of automobiles used exclusively in freeport zones.
  • Requirement to promulgate rules and regulations within 30 days.
  • Separability clause.
  • Repealing clause.
  • Effectivity clause.
Tax
Excise Tax
Automobiles
Revenue Code
Philippines

Congress of the Philippines Twelfth Congress Third Regular Session

Begun held in Metro Manila on Monday, the twenty-eighth day of July, two thousand three.

Republic Act No. 9224 August 29, 2003

AN ACT RATIONALIZING THE EXCISE TAX ON AUTOMOBILES, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE THE NATIONAL INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1997, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippine Congress Assembled:

Section 1

Section 149 of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997 is hereby amended to read as follows:

SEC. 149. Automobiles. There shall be levied, assessed and collected an ad valorem tax on automobiles based on the manufacturer's or importer's selling price, net of excise and value-added taxes, in accordance with the following schedule: | Net manufacturer's price/ Importer's selling price | Rate | | --- | --- | | Up to P600 Thousand | 2% | | Over P600 Thousand to P1.1 Million | P12,000 + 20% of value in excess of P600 Thousand | | Over P1.1 Million to P2.1 Million | P112,000 + 40% of value in excess of P1.1 Million | | Over P2.1 Million | P512,000 + 60% of value excess of P2.1 Million | Provided, That the brackets reflecting the manufacturer's price or importer's selling price, net of excise and value-added taxes, will be indexed by the Secretary of Finance once every two (2) years if the change in the exchange rate of the Philippine peso against the United States (U.S) dollar is more than ten percent (10%) from the date of effectivity of this Act, in the case of initial adjustment and from the last revision date in the case of subsequent adjustments. The manufacturer's price or importer's selling price, net of excise and value-added taxes, shall indexed by the full rate of the peso depreciation or appreciation, as the case may be. Provided, further, That in case the change in the exchange rate of the Philippine peso against the U.S dollar is at least twenty percent (20%) at anytime within the two-year period reffered to above, the Secretary of Finance shall index the brackets reflecting the manufacturer's price or importer's selling price, net of excise and value-added taxes, by the full rate of the peso depreciation or appreciation, as the case may be. As used in this Section (a) Automobile shall mean any four (4) or more wheeled motor vehicle regardless of seating capacity, which is propelled by gasoline, diesel, electricity or any other motive power: Provided, That for purposes of this Act, buses, trucks, cargo vans, jeeps/jeepneys/jeepney substitutes, single cab, chassis, and special-purpose vehicles shall not be considered as automobiles (b) Truck/cargo van shall mean a motor vehicle of any configuration that is exclusively designed for the carriage of goods and with any number of wheels and axles. Provided, That pick-ups shall not be considered as trucks.

(c)Jeep/jeepneys/jeepney substitutes shall mean as "Philippine jeep or jeepney" which are of the jitney type locally designed and manufactured generally from surplus parts and components. It shall also include jeepney substitutes that are manufactured from brand-news single cab chassis or cowl chassis and locally customized rear body that has continuous sideway row seats with open rear door and without retractable glass windows.
(d)Bus shall mean a motor vehicle of any configuration with gross vehicle weight of 4.0 tons or more with any number of wheels and axles, which is generally accepted and specially designed for mass or public transportation.
(e)Single cab chassis shall mean a motor vehicle with complete engine power train and chassis equipped with a cab that has a maximum of two (2) doors and only (1) row pf seats.
(f)Special purpose vehicle shall mean a motor vehicle designed for specific application such as cement mixer, fire truck, boom truck, ambulance and/or medical unit, and off-road vehicles for heavy industries and not for the recreational activities.

Provided.That in the case of imported automobiles not for sale, the tax imposed herein shall be based on the total landed value, including transaction value, customs duty and all other charges. Automobiles used exclusively within the freeport zones shall be exempt from excise tax. Section 2. Rules and Regulations - The Secretary of Finance, upon the recommendation of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue shall promulgated the necessary rules and regulation for the effective implementation of the provision of the provisions of this Act within thirty (30) days from the date of approval.

Section 3. Separablitiy Clause

If any provision of this Act is held unconstitutional or invalid, all other provisions not affected thereby shall remain valid.

Section 4. Repealing Clause

All laws, decrees, executive order, letters of instruction, rules and regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly:

Section 5. Effectivity Clause

This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after the publication of the approved implementing ruled and regulations.

Approved,

FRANKLIN DRILON

President of the Senate

JOSE DE VENECIA JR.

Speaker of the House of Representatives

For information and research only, and not legal advice. This text may not reflect later amendments. For certified copies, refer to the Official Gazette or the issuing agency.