The tax panel of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party decided Dec. 2 not to introduce an environmental tax aimed at combating global warming in the year beginning in April, saying it will study the proposed levy over the long term, party officials said.

The panel will instead study boosting tax benefits for home buyers for a longer period of time, extending the tax break on securities investment profits for another three years and making tax-exempt domestic companies' dividend receipts from their overseas subsidiaries, the officials added.

The panel decided to postpone making any decision on whether to lower the corporate tax on grounds that the matter should be considered together with measures such as the proposed consumption tax hike in a context of overall tax reform.