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

One of many issues that we, Filipinos, have to handle earlier than any worldwide journey is the journey tax. However do you know that not all vacationers must pay this? Sure kinds of vacationers are eligible for exemption or lowered charge. 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. Generally, it’s already included in your flight reserving. More often than not, it’s essential 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 Increased Training (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 top notch passengers.

I say “most instances” as a result of some kinds 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 beneath eligible lessons pays lowered or discounted journey tax as a substitute of the complete quantity. There are two important classes: STANDARD lowered journey tax and PRIVILEGED lowered journey tax.

To avail of the lowered charges, chances are you’ll apply on-line or on website:

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

Listed below are the eligible kinds of passengers and the corresponding paperwork it’s essential to current to avail of the lowered charges.

STANDARD Diminished Journey Tax

CHILDREN: 2 years and 1 day to 12 years outdated

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

Accredited Filipino journalists on project

• 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 Diminished Journey Tax

Some members of the family of Abroad Filipino Employees (OFWs) might avail of the lowered charges in the event that they’re touring to the nation the place the OFW relies and in a position to present the next paperwork:

OFW’s Authentic Partner

• Authentic Passport
• Flight reserving affirmation, if issued
• OEC – Abroad Employment Certificates (unique copy) or Balik-Manggagawa Kind (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 youngsters who’re single and under 21 years outdated (reputable or illegitimate)

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

OFW’s youngsters with disabilities (no matter age)

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

• 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 by means of POEA, Abroad Employment Certificates (OEC)
• If straight 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 12 months

• 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 not less than one (1) 12 months
• Flight ticket/reserving used to journey to the Philippines

Filipino everlasting residents overseas whose keep within the Philippines is shorter than
one 12 months

• 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 Kind 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 outdated and under)

• 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, start 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.

The best 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 embody the Philippine journey tax in every reserving. Most low-cost carriers don’t, however provide you with an choice to take action.

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

Possibility B: On the Airport Journey Tax Counter

That is the most typical and my most well-liked method 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’ll be handed two copies of the official TIEZA receipt. You may preserve the unique copy to your self, however the duplicate copy should be submitted to the check-in agent with a view to obtain your boarding go.

In the event you’re unsure 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 charges that you just paid for, however look particularly for PH TAX that prices P1620 (P2700 for top notch) or equal quantity in overseas foreign money.

In the event you discover it, no have to pay on the airport. In any other case, don’t pay simply but since you is perhaps double charged. As an alternative, skip the journey tax counter and line as much as the check-in counter straight. As you verify in, the agent will inform you whether or not or not the journey tax has been settled. If not, they may instruct you to pay first and return to them with the receipt earlier than they might provide you with a boarding go.

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

Possibility C: Through the TIEZA Web site

You may as well pay on-line prematurely. Simply go to the TIEZA Cost Web page, fill out the shape, and choose probably the most handy cost technique for you.

You may pay by means of 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 so on.

⚠️ Be aware: The TIEZA web site prices a processing payment 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 may file for a refund if you happen to paid while you’re not alleged to otherwise you paid greater than what you’re alleged 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 have been offloaded, otherwise you simply selected to not for no matter purpose.
• You’re a non-immigrant foreigner who are usually not 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 have been downgraded to economic system class. Partial refund applies.
• You paid the journey tax TWICE for a similar ticket.

In the event 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 the event you paid it by way of different channels, it would take longer to course of, relying in your chosen cost technique.

Usually, listed below are the necessities it’s essential 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’s essential to current to help your case. You’ll find the full listing of necessities right here.

You may file for a refund declare inside 2 YEARS from the date of cost. You probably have unflown tickets from final 12 months or so, you may nonetheless get a refund for that now.

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