PHILIPPINE TRAVEL TAX: Tips on how to Pay + Tips on how to Apply for Exemption & Refund

One of many issues that we, Filipinos, must deal with earlier than any worldwide journey is the journey tax. However do you know that not all vacationers must pay this? Sure forms of vacationers are eligible for exemption or lowered price. On this article, we’ll sort out all these, so learn on!

What’s journey tax?

The Philippine journey tax (or just “journey tax”) is a levy collected from vacationers leaving the Philippines. Typically, it’s already included in your flight reserving. More often than not, it is advisable to settle this by yourself on the airport.

However this quantity doesn’t go to the airline. It goes to the Philippine authorities:

• 50% of the proceeds to the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA)
• 40% to the Fee on Larger Schooling (CHED)
• 10% to the Nationwide Fee for Tradition and the Arts (NCCA)

How a lot is the journey tax?

Usually, the journey tax prices PHP 1,620 for economic system class passengers or PHP 2700 for first-class passengers.

I say “most circumstances” as a result of some forms of vacationers are eligible for decrease or lowered charges.

Right here’s the worth matrix:

So who can avail of the lowered journey tax?

REDUCED Journey Tax Eligibility & Necessities

Vacationers falling underneath eligible lessons will pay lowered or discounted journey tax as a substitute of the complete quantity. There are two most important classes: STANDARD lowered journey tax and PRIVILEGED lowered journey tax.

To avail of the lowered charges, you could apply on-line or on website:

• In case you don’t have a flight ticket but, accomplish this TIEZA type on-line.
• In case you’ve already booked your flight, you could file at any TIEZA journey tax workplace together with the journey tax counter on the counter.

Listed here are the eligible forms of passengers and the corresponding paperwork it is advisable to current to avail of the lowered charges.

STANDARD Diminished Journey Tax

CHILDREN: 2 years and 1 day to 12 years previous

• Unique Passport
• Flight reserving affirmation, if issued
• If the unique passport can’t be offered, submit unique delivery certificates and photocopy of identification web page of passport

Accredited Filipino journalists on project

• Unique Passport
• Flight reserving affirmation, if issued
• Certification from the Workplace of the Press Secretary
• Certification from the station supervisor or editor

People with authorization from the President

• Unique Passport
• Flight reserving affirmation, if issued
• Written authorization from the Workplace of the President

PRIVILEGED Diminished Journey Tax

Some members of the family of Abroad Filipino Employees (OFWs) could avail of the lowered charges in the event that they’re touring to the nation the place the OFW is predicated and capable of present the next paperwork:

OFW’s Legit Partner

• Unique Passport
• Flight reserving affirmation, if issued
• OEC – Abroad Employment Certificates (unique copy) or Balik-Manggagawa Type (licensed true copy)
• Marriage contract, unique or authenticated
• Certification that the seaman’s dependent is becoming a member of the vessel, issued by the manning company

OFW’s kids who’re single and beneath 21 years previous (professional or illegitimate)

• Unique Passport
• Flight reserving affirmation, if issued
• OEC – Abroad Employment Certificates (unique copy) or Balik-Manggagawa Type (licensed true copy)
• Delivery certificates, unique or authenticated
• Certification that the seaman’s dependent is becoming a member of the vessel, issued by the manning company

OFW’s kids with disabilities (no matter age)

• Unique Passport
• Flight reserving affirmation, if issued
• OEC – Abroad Employment Certificates (unique copy) or Balik-Manggagawa Type (licensed true copy)
• Delivery certificates, unique or authenticated
• Certification that the seaman’s dependent is becoming a member of the vessel, issued by the manning company
• PWD ID card, unique copy issued by a Nationwide Council of Incapacity Affairs (NCDA) workplace

EXEMPTION Eligibility & Necessities

Some vacationers are additionally exempted from paying the journey tax altogether. TIEZA has recognized 19 forms of passengers who’re eligible for exemption together with worldwide flight crew members, diplomats, and Philippine officers on official enterprise.

However let’s spotlight these 4 (4) classes as these are probably the most inclusive:

Abroad Filipino Employees (OFWs)

• Unique passport
• Copy of passport bio web page
• 2×2 ID picture, taken throughout the previous six months (JPG solely)
• Airline ticket or flight reserving
• If employed by POEA, Abroad Employment Certificates (OEC)
• If instantly employed overseas, Employment Contract authenticated by the Philippine Embassy or Consulate OR Certificates of Employment issued by the Philippine Embassy or Consulate

Balikbayans whose keep within the Philippines is shorter than one yr

• Unique passport
• Copy of passport bio web page
• 2×2 ID picture, taken throughout the previous six months (JPG solely)
• Copy of stamp of final departure from the Philippines and stamp of arrival within the Philippines, which ought to present period of no less than one (1) yr
• Flight ticket/reserving used to journey to the Philippines

Filipino everlasting residents overseas whose keep within the Philippines is shorter than
one yr

• Unique passport
• Copy of passport bio web page
• 2×2 ID picture, taken throughout the previous six months (JPG solely)
• Airline ticket or flight reserving
• Copies of the stamp of final arrival within the Philippines
• Proof of everlasting residence overseas (US Inexperienced card, Canadian Type 1000, or related)
• Certification of Residence, issued by the Philippine Embassy or Consulate (if the nation of residence doesn’t grant everlasting resident standing or acceptable entries within the passport)

Infants (2 years previous and beneath)

• Unique passport
• Copy of passport bio web page
• 2×2 ID picture, taken throughout the previous six months (JPG solely)
• Airline ticket or flight reserving
• If the unique passport can’t be offered, delivery certificates (unique copy)

There are 15 extra eligible sorts. To see the complete listing of eligible passengers and corresponding necessities, go to this web page.

Tips on how to Pay Journey Tax

There are a number of methods to settle the journey tax.

Possibility A: Upon reserving your flight

Some legacy airways mechanically embrace the Philippine journey tax in every reserving. Most low-cost carriers don’t, however provide you with an possibility to take action.

When reserving with Cebu Pacific and AirAsia, the system will ask you if you wish to embrace the journey tax in your cost. It comes with a PHP 50 processing price.

Possibility B: On the Airport Journey Tax Counter

That is the most typical and my most well-liked approach of paying.

TIEZA has journey tax counters in any respect terminals of all worldwide airports within the Philippines. At Manila’s Ninoy Aquino Worldwide Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3, you’ll discover a counter at each aisle. Simply method one and current the next:

• passport
• flight reserving affirmation

As soon as paid, you may be handed two copies of the official TIEZA receipt. You possibly can preserve the unique copy to your self, however the duplicate copy should be submitted to the check-in agent with a purpose to obtain your boarding cross.

In case you’re undecided if it’s already included in your flight ticket, verify the cost breakdown in your reserving affirmation. It ought to present you the assorted taxes and costs that you just paid for, however look particularly for PH TAX that prices P1620 (P2700 for first-class) or equal quantity in international foreign money.

In case you discover it, no must pay on the airport. In any other case, don’t pay simply but since you could be double charged. As an alternative, skip the journey tax counter and line as much as the check-in counter instantly. As you verify in, the agent will let you know whether or not or not the journey tax has been settled. If not, they are going to instruct you to pay first and return to them with the receipt earlier than they may provide you with a boarding cross.

Don’t fear, you received’t must queue up once more. Simply stroll straight to the agent whenever you come again.

Possibility C: By way of the TIEZA Web site

You can too pay on-line prematurely. Simply go to the TIEZA Cost Web page, fill out the shape, and choose probably the most handy cost methodology for you.

You possibly can pay by any of the next:

• E-wallet: GCash, GrabPay, Maya, ShopeePay
• Bank card: Visa, MasterCard
• Financial institution Switch: BDO, BPI, UnionBank, Metrobank, RCBC, Maybank, Instapay
• Over the Counter: 7-Eleven, Cebuana Lhuiller, Western Union, Bayad Middle, EC Pay, The SM Retailer, Robinsons Malls, and many others.

⚠️ Observe: The TIEZA web site expenses a processing price of PHP 50. As well as, paying by way of GrabPay and bank card entails further cost of 1.4% of whole quantity.

Journey Tax Refund

You possibly can file for a refund should you paid whenever you’re not presupposed to otherwise you paid greater than what you’re presupposed to.

Listed here are the appropriate causes or circumstances for a refund:

• You didn’t get to journey as a result of the flight was cancelled, you had been offloaded, otherwise you simply selected to not for no matter purpose.
• You’re a non-immigrant foreigner who will not be topic to the Philippine journey tax.
• You’re eligible for journey tax exemption.
• You’re eligible for lowered journey tax however you paid the complete quantity. On this case, you may get a partial refund.
• You paid for first-class passage however you had been downgraded to economic system class. Partial refund applies.
• You paid the journey tax TWICE for a similar ticket.

In case you paid the journey tax on the airport counter, you may get the refund on the identical day or on the newest, throughout the subsequent 24 hours. In case you paid it by way of different channels, it would take longer to course of, relying in your chosen cost methodology.

On the whole, listed below are the necessities it is advisable to current to assert a refund:

• unique passport
• TIEZA refund type no. 353
• TIEZA journey tax receipt
• airline ticket displaying you paid the journey tax (if included within the flight cost)

However relying in your purpose, there could also be further paperwork it is advisable to current to help your case. You could find the full listing of necessities right here.

You possibly can file for a refund declare inside 2 YEARS from the date of cost. You probably have unflown tickets from final yr or so, you’ll be able to nonetheless get a refund for that now.

Updates Log

2024 • 5 • 9: Unique publication