UPDATE 2-Mexico Senate completes approval of tax plan

* Senate passes telecom tax, Internet exempt

* Oil price set at $59 per barrel in 2010 budget

* Increases in beer, cigarette taxes also approved (Updates with quote from opposition lawmaker)

By Miguel Angel Gutierrez

MEXICO CITY, Oct 31 (Reuters) - Mexico's Senate approved on Saturday a watered-down version of President Felipe Calderon's fiscal reform package to raise taxes to reduce Mexico's dependence on its waning oil industry.

Senators in the early morning hours on Saturday agreed to minor modifications to a bill passed by the lower house last week and now the Congress will have to vet the changes before the bill goes to Calderon's desk for final approval.

Among the additions was a new 3 percent tax on telecommunications that would exclude Internet services.

The Senate supported a measure passed by the lower house to raise the value added tax rate, or VAT, to 16 percent from 15 percent.

The vote marks a partial victory for Calderon, whose original plan would have broadened Mexico's tax base but was rejected in the lower house last week.

Mexican government revenues have plunged this year because of a severe recession and a slump in oil production, which is down by about a quarter from 2004 levels.

"We are seeking to preserve the fiscal and economic stability of the country with this package," said Senator Jose Trejo of Calderon's conservative National Action Party, or PAN.

But it was unclear if the rise in the VAT tax would be enough to stave off a threatened credit-rating downgrade.

The bill, part of the revenue portion of the 2010 budget, also would raise the top income tax rate to 30 percent from 28 percent. The Senate agreed to increase taxes on beer makers to 26.5 percent from 25 percent but still below the 28 percent hike proposed by Calderon.

Senators also raised taxes on cigarettes and gambling and increased taxes to 3 percent on bank deposits larger than 15,000 pesos ($1,134).

BIGGER DEFICIT, HIGHER OIL PRICE

The Senate passed a part of the revenue package that would set the 2010 federal budget deficit at the equivalent of 0.75 percent of gross domestic product.

Calderon originally asked for a 0.5 percent deficit.

Senators signed off on a measure to set a budget forecast that estimates Mexican crude exports will sell for an average $59 per barrel in 2010 -- higher than forecast in Calderon's original plan.

The deficit, oil price estimate and income tax hike were all approved by the lower house last week.

Calderon's conservatives lack a majority in both houses of Congress, and were unable to convince the opposition Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI, to back a 2 percent sales tax on all goods without exception.

The fall in oil output has removed a long-time crutch for public finances that for decades allowed Mexico to keep its tax take at one of the lowest levels in Latin America. Debt rating agencies are threatening a downgrade if Mexico's government fails to boost non-oil revenues.

Lawmakers worry the tax hike could anger voters suffering from a recession. Mexico's economy this year could contract the most since 1932 because of a drop in U.S.-bound exports.

"We are convinced that this package will not solve the problems, it will only fill in fiscal holes caused by the crisis," PRI Senator Francisco Labastida said. ($1=13.2270) (Writing by Mica Rosenberg; Editing by Eric Beech)