Bills on Re-Deliberation
The National Assembly today re-deliberated on the recommendations made by the National Council on the following three Bills.
1. Civil Service Reform Bill of Bhutan 2022
2. Tax Bill of Bhutan 2022
3. Property Tax of Bhutan 2022
1. Civil Service Reform Bill of Bhutan 2022: The Civil Service Reform Bill of Bhutan 2022 was deliberated and passed by the National Assembly on 10th November 2022 and transmitted to the National Council as an Urgent Bill. Today, the Chairperson of the Good Governance Committee, Hon’ble Tenzin presented the five recommendations made by the National Council on the Civil Service Reform Bill of Bhutan 2022 along with the Committee’s decision to accept all the recommendations.
The House adopted all five recommendations from the National Council on the Civil Service Reform Bill with all 44 Members present and voting and voting in favor of the Bill.
The Bill will be submitted to His Majesty The King for Royal Assent.
2. Tax Bill of Bhutan 2022: The Tax Bill of Bhutan 2022 was deliberated and passed by the National Assembly on 18th November 2022 and transmitted to the National Council.
The National Council made recommendations on the Preamble, tax rates on the Bhutan Trade Classification (BTC) codes and proposed two new general recommendations regarding the reduction of sales tax on movie tickets and imposing a 10% sales tax on mobile phones.
The House through detailed deliberation supported the National Council’s recommendations and reduced the ST on movie tickets to 0%. The House also supported the majority of the recommendations submitted by the National Council except on the recommendations to reduce the sales tax rate on sausages and similar products, and types of pasta to 10% from the Government proposed 20% and to impose a 10% sales tax on mobile phones.
The House endorsed the decision with 100% Yes votes from the 43 Members presenting and voting.
The Bill will be submitted to His Majesty The Druk Gyalpo for Royal Assent.
- Property Tax Bill of Bhutan 2022: The Property Tax Bill of Bhutan 2022 was deliberated and passed on 22nd November 2022 and transmitted to the National Council.
The Deputy Chairperson of the Legislative Committee, Hon’ble Karma Lhamo from Mongar Constituency submitted that the National Council has amended 25 sections of the Bill including a new section after section 19. The new section states that “A concession of 50% of the amount of land tax payable on land which is registered as Kamzhing land and under cultivation under the Land Act of Bhutan 2007 shall be granted.” The Member further submitted that the National Council’s recommendation includes amendments in meaning for 8 sections while the rest 16 sections were of clerical changes.
The House deliberated in length regarding the National Council’s recommendation to amend the land tax rate from 0.1% to 0.075% on the taxable land value. However, while ascertaining the support of the House through a majority show of hands, the recommendation was not supported. However, the House had supported Council’s new section after section 19 to give 50% concession to cultivable dry land. The House further supported the Council’s recommendation to amend the title of the chapter “Land Surcharge Tax” to “Vacant Land Tax” along with the amendment in the related sections.
The House through a comprehensive deliberation supported 11 of the 25 recommendations made by the National Council on the Property Tax Bill of Bhutan. The House voted 41 Yes and 1 Abstain out of 42 Members present and voting, thereby endorsing the decision on the amendments made to the Bill.
The Bill will be submitted to His Majesty the Druk Gyalpo for Royal Assent.
