SEC. 2. Section 53 of the National Internal Revenue Code is hereby amended to read as follows:
"SEC. 53. Withholding tax at source.-
"(a) xxx
"(b) xxx
"(c) Witholding tax on interest on bank deposits.-
"(1) Rate of withholding tax.-Every bank or banking institution shall deduct and withhold from the interest on bank deposits (except interest paid or credited to non-resident alien individuals and foreign corporations), a tax equal to fifteen per cent of the said interest: Provided, however,That no withholding of tax shall be made if the aggregate amount of the interest on all deposit accounts maintained by a depositor alone or together with another in any one bank at any time during the taxable period does not exceed three hundred fifty pesos a year or eighty-seven pesos and fifty centavos per quarter. For this purpose, interest on a deposit account maintained by two person shall be deeme to be equally owned by them.
"(2) Treatment of bank deposit interest.-The interest income shall be included in the gross income in computing the depositor,s income tax liability in accordance with existing law.
"(3) Depositors enjoying tax exemption privileges or preferential tax treatment.-In all cases where time depositor is tax-exempt or is enjoying preferential income tax treatment under existing laws, the withholding tax imposed in this paragraph shall be refunded or credited as the case may be upon submission to the Commissioner of Internal Revenue of proof that the said depositor is a tax-exempt entity or enjoys a preferential income tax treatment.
"(4) Manner of withholding.-Without divulging the names of the depositors, the tax shall be withheld by the bank an paid in the same manner and subject to the same conditions provided in Section 54 of this code.
"(d) xxx."