PHILIPPINE TRAVEL TAX: The right way to Pay + The right way to Apply for Exemption & Refund

One of many issues that we, Filipinos, must handle earlier than any worldwide journey is the journey tax. However do you know that not all vacationers must pay this? Sure varieties of vacationers are eligible for exemption or decreased fee. 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, you should 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 Greater Schooling (CHED)
• 10% to the Nationwide Fee for Tradition and the Arts (NCCA)

How a lot is the journey tax?

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

I say “most instances” as a result of some varieties of vacationers are eligible for decrease or decreased charges.

Right here’s the value matrix:

So who can avail of the decreased journey tax?

REDUCED Journey Tax Eligibility & Necessities

Vacationers falling beneath eligible lessons will pay decreased or discounted journey tax as a substitute of the total quantity. There are two important classes: STANDARD decreased journey tax and PRIVILEGED decreased journey tax.

To avail of the decreased charges, it’s possible you’ll apply on-line or on web site:

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

Listed below are the eligible varieties of passengers and the corresponding paperwork you should current to avail of the decreased charges.

STANDARD Decreased Journey Tax

CHILDREN: 2 years and 1 day to 12 years previous

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

Accredited Filipino journalists on task

• Authentic 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

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

PRIVILEGED Decreased Journey Tax

Some relations of Abroad Filipino Staff (OFWs) could avail of the decreased 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 Reputable Partner

• Authentic Passport
• Flight reserving affirmation, if issued
• OEC – Abroad Employment Certificates (authentic copy) or Balik-Manggagawa Type (licensed true copy)
• Marriage contract, authentic 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 (reputable or illegitimate)

• Authentic Passport
• Flight reserving affirmation, if issued
• OEC – Abroad Employment Certificates (authentic copy) or Balik-Manggagawa Type (licensed true copy)
• Start certificates, authentic 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)

• Authentic Passport
• Flight reserving affirmation, if issued
• OEC – Abroad Employment Certificates (authentic copy) or Balik-Manggagawa Type (licensed true copy)
• Start certificates, authentic or authenticated
• Certification that the seaman’s dependent is becoming a member of the vessel, issued by the manning company
• PWD ID card, authentic 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 varieties 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 Staff (OFWs)

• Authentic 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 via POEA, Abroad Employment Certificates (OEC)
• If immediately 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

• Authentic 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 a minimum of 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

• Authentic 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 applicable entries within the passport)

Infants (2 years previous and beneath)

• Authentic 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 introduced, delivery certificates (authentic copy)

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

The right way to Pay Journey Tax

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

Possibility A: Upon reserving your flight

Some legacy airways robotically embrace the Philippine journey tax in every reserving. Most low-cost carriers don’t, however offer you 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 fee. It comes with a PHP 50 processing charge.

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 can be handed two copies of the official TIEZA receipt. You’ll be able to maintain the unique copy to your self, however the duplicate copy have to be submitted to the check-in agent as a way to obtain your boarding go.

Should you’re undecided if it’s already included in your flight ticket, verify the fee breakdown in your reserving affirmation. It ought to present you the varied taxes and charges that you simply paid for, however look particularly for PH TAX that prices P1620 (P2700 for first-class) or equal quantity in overseas forex.

Should you discover it, no must pay on the airport. In any other case, don’t pay simply but since you is likely to be double charged. As a substitute, skip the journey tax counter and line as much as the check-in counter immediately. 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 offer you a boarding go.

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

Possibility C: By way of the TIEZA Web site

You may also pay on-line upfront. Simply go to the TIEZA Fee Web page, fill out the shape, and choose probably the most handy fee methodology for you.

You’ll be able to pay via 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 Heart, EC Pay, The SM Retailer, Robinsons Malls, and many others.

⚠️ Be aware: The TIEZA web site expenses a processing charge of PHP 50. As well as, paying through GrabPay and bank card entails further cost of 1.4% of complete quantity.

Journey Tax Refund

You’ll be able to file for a refund should you paid once you’re not imagined to otherwise you paid greater than what you’re imagined to.

Listed below are the suitable causes or instances 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 cause.
• You’re a non-immigrant foreigner who aren’t topic to the Philippine journey tax.
• You’re eligible for journey tax exemption.
• You’re eligible for decreased journey tax however you paid the total quantity. On this case, you will 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.

Should you paid the journey tax on the airport counter, you will get the refund on the identical day or on the newest, throughout the subsequent 24 hours. Should you paid it through different channels, it’d take longer to course of, relying in your chosen fee methodology.

On the whole, listed below are the necessities you should current to say a refund:

• authentic passport
• TIEZA refund type no. 353
• TIEZA journey tax receipt
• airline ticket exhibiting you paid the journey tax (if included within the flight fee)

However relying in your cause, there could also be further paperwork you should current to assist your case. You will discover the total listing of necessities right here.

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

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