Ordanes
Senior Citizens Party-list Representative Rodolfo “Ompong” Ordanes has filed a measure that seeks to grant income tax exemption to Filipinos aged 60 and above who continue to earn a living.
Under House Bill No. 2563, or the proposed Income Tax Exemption for Senior Citizens Act, working seniors earning up to P800,000 annually would be exempted from paying income tax. The measure covers those employed full-time, part-time, or under consultancy and contractual arrangements.
The bill also proposes that all forms of additional pay—such as holiday pay, overtime, night shift differential, and hazard pay—be included in the exemption.
“Many senior citizens continue working not because they want to, but because they have to—either to support their families, buy medicines, or cope with rising living costs,” Ordanes said. “After decades of service, they deserve relief—not more financial strain from income tax deductions.”
He emphasized that the measure is rooted in social justice, noting that senior citizens should not be penalized for remaining productive. “If corporations and foreign investors enjoy tax incentives, our hardworking seniors should also receive similar consideration,” he added.
Currently, senior citizens benefit from discounts and VAT exemptions under the Expanded Senior Citizens Act, but no existing law provides income tax relief for those still in the workforce.
Ordanes urged his colleagues in Congress to support the measure, saying it would offer meaningful recognition to elderly Filipinos who continue to contribute to the economy.
“Granting tax exemption to working senior citizens is a simple yet powerful way to honor their lifelong contribution and uphold their dignity in their later years,” he concluded.