Goodall hits on millionaire salaried employees: Malawi govt introduces 10% excise tax on TV subscription fees

Finance, Economic Planning and Development minister Goodall Gondwe has hit on employees receiving monthly salary from K3 million above by imposing a top rate 35% Pay as you Earn (PAYE) while easing the pressure for those who earn less by increasing the tax bracket from K20,000 to K30,000 per month.

Gondwe: Budget delivered

Presenting this year’s budget statement in Parliament, Gondwe said the increase of the tax bracket from K20,000 to K30,000 is expected to cost government revenue in excess of K10 billion and said there was need to explore other means in recouping this loss and found an answer in the millionaire salaried employees.

“In order to improve the distribution of income from the rich to the poor and increase the progressivism of the tax system, government is introducing an additional bracket of 35% on those earning alarmed income above K3,000,000 per month,” said Gondwe.

“I wish to highlight that this top rate of 35% will not affect individuals who earn their income from businesses,” Gondwe clarified quickly.

Earlier, Gondwe announced the increase in minimum wage from K19,000 to K25,000 per month adding that with the increase of the tax threshold, those earning a minimum wage will be below the threshold.

Tax on TV subscription fees

While the millionaire salaried employees will be worried about the cut in their earnings through the additional top rate PAYE, they should also expect to dig deeper in their pockets if they want to enjoy quality television entertainment at home, Gondwe had some disturbing news in this area as well; introduction of a 10% excise tax on TV subscription!

He said excise taxes have a multifaceted function ranging from revenue generation to income distribution and influencing consumption behaviour of the populace.

“To the extent that we are shifting reliance, in the long term, on domestic resources mobilisation from income and investment to consumption tax and to expand the revenue base, we are introducing 10% excise tax on fee based TV services,” said Gondwe.

He however said government is providing free TV services through MBC TV and was pleased that some private media houses are also providing these free TV services.

“The 10% excise tax will be levied on subscription fees paid by only those consumers offee based TV service providers effective midnight tonight,” said Gondwe.

Both the millionaire salaried employees and the ‘normal’ salaried employees will at least afford tea with milk as Gondwe removed Value Added Tax (VAT) on milk after receiving several outcries on the introduction of VAT on milk.

 

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Zidzete Za DPP
Zidzete Za DPP
6 years ago

Stupid government with the corrupt pipo. Hahahahahahahaha mukagere uko

Elix Malanga
Elix Malanga
6 years ago

Mr. Minister you introduced five years average gratuity scheme where retirees were left crying until PP Govt came in to improve the situation now you are introducing tax on DSTV be careful 2019 is at the corner you leave to remember

Alex Nyalapa
Alex Nyalapa
6 years ago

This Minister is tired. Why not President, Ministers and MPs paying tax including Chiefs. Unless President pay tax and Ministers who cash-gate our tax feel pain they will stop stealing. DPP plan for us to pay 10% on subscription we will get an injunction this is a human right violation. Goodal GONDWE is political stoog his father behaved the same way. If people end like this it is catastrophic. I thought with World Bank budget support you will reduce tax but you are continuing pounding and pouncing us with taxes. GOODAL GONDWE it was better to remove tax on water,… Read more »

Alex Nyalapa
Alex Nyalapa
6 years ago

This Minister is tired. Why not President, Ministers and MPs paying tax including Chiefs. Unless President pay tax and Ministers who cash-gate our tax feel pain they will stop stealing. DPP plan for us to pay 10% on subscription we will get an injunction this is a human right violation. Goodal GONDWE is political stoog his father behaved the same way. If people end like this it is catastrophic. I thought with World Bank budget support you will reduce tax but you are continuing pounding and pouncing us with taxes. GOODAL GONDWE it was better to remove tax on water,… Read more »

avinty
6 years ago

after consulting the masses, this is what they told you bwana Gondwe????? Tax tax tax???? Koma ya!!!! DPP told us that no machenje as salaries, where is your manifesto??????? Revisit it other wise it shall be a tool that shall be used to pull this government come 2019!!!

Andrew
Andrew
6 years ago

While reducing the gap between the rich and the poor, the poor are still sinking into an abyss of poverty. There are already many taxes and I thought there would be a reduction on some of them.

benjones
6 years ago

Useless!!!

Njoyaman
Njoyaman
6 years ago

The tax levied on Dstv is counter productive.
Not many Malawians will be able to subscribe now. As a result Dstv will not make good profits as such come end of the year they will pay little or no corporate tax. Who loses? Its government.

khu chinula
6 years ago

its mainly good to those who earn more than to those who earn less hundred thousand.infact the tax collected shld go straight to govt not in pockets

Panganani
6 years ago

Mr Minister, in developed countries, TV is used to educate poor masses. Slapping theTV subscription by 10% is just STUPID and encouraging the general masses not to watch, stay less informed and remain stupid to be manipulated by the DPP.

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