One interesting tax measure presently being tackled by the House Ways and Means Committee chaired by Congressman Hermilando I. Mandanas of Batangas is the excise tax on cigarettes. A number of bills have already been filed to change the existing cigarette excise tax structure, and several groups are supporting this initiative to generate more revenues for the government as well as to discourage smoking. At the same time, opposing legislators fi ... Jump to full article >>

According to a recent report, raising the price of tobacco products through excise tax increases is the most effective way to reduce tobacco use in Turkey, which is a win-win situation for public health and government revenues. The tobacco excise tax is calculated on an ad valorem basis. However, if the calculated tax falls below a minimum amount, a specific tax rate applies. As of Jan. 1, 2010, the ad valorem tax is 63 percent of retail price. ... Jump to full article >>

The Department of Finance (DoF) said that it expects up to P51.41 billion in revenue to be generated from the proposed reform for the excise tax on tobacco and alcohol products. In a document from the DoF, the finance department believes it necessary to push for the passage of the reformed excise tax on alcohol and tobacco products to correct the weaknesses of the Republic act 9334. Estimates released by the DoF showed that adopting a unitary an ... Jump to full article >>

Yushchenko accused of doing tobacco industry’s bidding. Ukrainian President Victor Yushchenko (left) shakes hands with a representative of international tobacco giant British American Tobacco during a Nov. 24 visit to the company’s production plant in Chernihiv Oblast’s Pryluky. The visit follows a controversial veto by Yushchenko of legislation that would have hiked the excise tax on tobacco products. Ukraine’s cigarettes are among the ... Jump to full article >>