The House of Representatives approved in principle yesterday a law widening the scope of tax reductions for people whose immediate relations have disabilities.

MPs at the House meeting voted 266 to zero, with two abstentions, to approve an amendment to the Revenue Code allowing people to deduct income tax of 30,000 baht if their parents, spouse, or children are disabled, said Deputy Finance Minister Pradit Phataraprasit.

The current law already allows taxpayers to deduct their expenses in taking care of disabled parents, a spouse and children, by up to 30,000 baht.

The new law, to be considered by a House special committee for another seven days, is among the package of state measures to stimulate the economy and improve the quality of life of the disabled, said Mr Pradit.

However, the opposition Democrat MP for Phitsanulok Juti Krairiksh argued that only a small number of people - no more than five million - would receive any benefit from the law.

A better way to bolster the economy, he said, would be for the government to distribute 500 baht each to Thailand's 7.2 million elderly people.

"It's like the government is trying to look good rather than actually solve economic problems," he said.

Bangkok Post, Thursday October 30, 2008