Push for wealth tax resurfaces

As digital tax seen to hit consumers more

- By LOUISE MAUREEN SIMEON

The proposal to tax the wealthy population has resurfaced again after the government imposed a valueadded tax (VAT) on foreign digital service providers which would hit Filipino consumers anew.

Consumer group Samahan at Ugnayan ng mga Konsyumer para sa Ikauunlad ng Bayan (SUKI) Network renewed its call for a wealth tax while decrying the recently enacted 12-percent VAT on all digital services consumed in the Philippines.

The group said the new VAT is a burden to consumers and instead called for a direct tax on corporations and billionaires.

The new law on digital services includes online search engines, marketplaces, cloud services, online media, online advertising and digital goods.