Philippine Travel Tax (11 Commonly Asked Questions)

The Philippine Travel tax has become one of the most reliable sources of funding for the government.

In fact, 50 percent of the total travel tax collected is retained by TIEZA. TIEZA or Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority replaced the PTA or Philippine Tourism Authority.

The CHED (Commission on Higher Education) gets 40 percent of the collected tax and the National Commission For Culture and the Arts get the remaining 10 percent of travel tax collected.

Enumerated hereunder are the common questions asked by Filipinos and Tourists alike about the Philippines travel tax.

1. What is the Philippine Travel Tax?

Philippine travel tax is a levy imposed by the Philippine government on individuals who are leaving the Philippines irrespective of the place where the air ticket is issued and form or place of payment.

2. Who Must Pay The Travel Tax?

Citizens of the Philippines
Taxable Foreign Passport Holders
Non-immigrant foreign passport holders who have stayed in the Philippines for more than one (1) year

3. Which Philippine government agency has the power to collect Travel Tax?

The TIEZA or Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority is the government agency mandated by law to collect the travel tax.

4. What is the Travel Tax For?

The Philippine Travel Tax was originally imposed to curtail unnecessary foreign travel and to conserve foreign exchange. Later, the tax was used to generate much-needed funds for tourism-related programs and projects. It is recognized that tourism promotion alone is not enough to attract tourists to the Philippines. Adequate tourism facilities and infrastructures need to be provided for the growth of the tourism industry. The Travel Tax plays an important role in funding the development and maintenance of these tourism facilities and infrastructures to enhance the countries competitiveness as a major tourism destination.

5. Are those exempted from paying travel tax also exempted from paying terminal fee?

Under the law, only the following are exempted from paying terminal fee

OFW (Overseas Filipino Worker)
Pilgrims endorsed by the National Commission of Muslim Affairs
Athletes endorsed by the Philippine Sports Commission
Others authorized by the Office of the President

6. How Much Is The Travel Tax?

philippine travel tax — Travel Tax Rates

Under the law, the rate for a 1st class passenger is 2,700 pesos and the rate for economy class is 1,620 pesos. This rate is the full travel tax.

7. Where to pay Travel Tax in the Philippines?

The Following Companies operating in the Philippines are delegated to collect the tax upon issuance of tickets:
1. Airline Companies
2. Shipping companies
3. Travel agencies

For tickets issued outside the Philippines or for internet-booked tickets, pay the travel tax directly at
1. TIEZA Travel Tax Offices
2. Travel Tax Counter at major international airports like NAIA or Mactan-Cebu international airport or Clark International Airport.

Philippine Travel Tax Online Payment now available.

8. What are the documents required when paying travel tax?

Bring your original passport and airline ticket

9. Who are exempted from paying the Philippine Travel Tax?

Overseas Filipino workers
Filipino permanent residents abroad whose stay in the Philippines is less than one year Family members accompanying such are also exempted
Infants (2 years and below
Foreign Diplomatic and Consular Officials and Members of their Staff
Officials, Consultants, Experts, and Employees of the United Nations (UN) Organization and its agencies
United States (US) Military Personnel including dependents and other US nationals with fares paid for by the US government or on US Government-owned or chartered transport facilities
Crew members of airplanes plying international routes
Filipino permanent residents abroad whose stay in the Philippines is less than one (1) year
Philippine Foreign Service Personnel officially assigned abroad and their dependents
Officials and Employees of the Philippine Government traveling on official business (excluding Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations)
Grantees of foreign government-funded trips
Bona-fide Students with approved scholarships by the appropriate government agency
Personnel (and their dependents) of multinational companies with regional headquarters, but not engaged in business, in the Philippines
Those authorized by the President of the Republic of the Philippines for reasons of national interest

10. May a travel tax be refunded? Yes, travel tax can be refunded like

When there is undue tax – you are exempt but you paid
Tax inadvertently paid twice for the same ticket
Entitled to exemption or reduced tax
Offloaded passengers /canceled flights
Downgraded ticket
Reduced Travel Tax
Travel Tax Exemption
Unused ticket

11. Where are the locations of TIEZA travel tax offices?

Provincial Offices

Laoag Travel Tax Unit
Departure Lobby
Laoag International Airport
Laoag City, Ilocos Norte
Telefax: (077) 772-1162
Monday to Friday, 8 am – 5 pm
Saturday and Sunday, 8 am – 9 pm

Baguio Travel Tax Unit
Department of Tourism Building
Governor Pack Road Baguio City
Tel. No.: (074) 442-6226
Monday to Friday, 8 am – 5 pm

San Fernando, La Union Travel Tax Unit
Mabanag Hall, San Fernando, La Union
Telefax: (072) 607-1963
Monday to Friday, 8 am – 5 pm

Clark/DMIA Travel Tax Unit
Departure Lobby
Diosdado Macapagal International Airport
Clarkfield Pampanga
Monday to Sunday, 4 am – 1 am

SM City San Fernando, Pampanga Travel Tax Unit
3/F Government Service Center,
SM City Pampanga
San Fernando, Pampanga
Monday to Friday, 10 am – 6 pm

Kalibo Travel Tax Unit
Departure Area
Kalibo International Airport
Kalibo, Aklan
Monday to Sunday, 8 am – 12midnight

New Bacolod-Silay Airport Travel Tax Unit
Departure Area
New Bacolod-Silay Airport
Brgy. Bagtic, Silay City
Monday to Sunday, 5 am – 7 pm

Iloilo Travel Tax Unit
DOT Region VI Bldg., Capitol Grounds, Bonifacio Drive, Iloilo City
Tel. No.: (033) 366-0480
Telefax: (033) 335-0245
Monday to Friday, 8 am – 5 pm

Iloilo International Airport Travel Tax Unit
Departure Area IIA
Cabatuan, Iloilo
M-T-TH-F-Sunday, 8 am – 11 pm
Wednesday and Saturday 8 am – 5 pm

MCIA Travel Tax Unit
International Departure Area
Mactan Cebu International Airport
Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu
Tel. No.: (032) 236-3481
24/7 Operation

Cebu Travel Tax Unit
Cebu Travel Tax Field Office
Andres Soriano Avenue, cor
P.J. Burgos Street, Centro,
Mandaue City
Telefax: (032) 253-3532
Monday to Friday, 8 am – 5 pm

Cagayan de Oro Travel Tax Unit
2nd Floor Lingkod Pinoy Center
Robinsons Cagayan De Oro
Rosario Crescent, cor. Florentino St.
Limketkai Center, Cagayan De Oro City
Monday to Friday, 10 am – 6 pm

Davao Travel Tax Unit
Door 12, Tourism Complex, Ramon Magsaysay Park, Davao City
Telefax: (082) 221-7123
Monday to Friday, 8 am – 5 pm

Davao International Airport Travel Tax Unit
Departure Area, Davao International Airport
Sasa, Davao City
Monday to Sunday, 3 am – 6 pm

SM City Cebu Travel Tax Service Counter
Government Service Center
North Reclamation Area,
Cebu City 6000
Metro Cebu
Monday to Saturday, 10 am – 7 pm

Zamboanga Travel Tax Unit
NSValderosa Street, Zamboanga City
Tel. No.: (062) 991-8687
Telefax: (062) 992-6246 c/o
Lantaka Hotel
Monday to Friday, 8 am – 5 pm

Metro Manila Travel Tax Offices

TIEZA CENTRAL OFFICE
TIEZA Building
6th & 7th Floors, Tower 1, DoubleDragon Plaza
Macapagal Avenue corner EDSA extension
1302 Bay Area, Pasay City
Philippines
Tel. No.: (02) 512-0485
Email.: traveltax@tieza.gov.ph
Monday to Friday, from 07:30 am – 05:30 pm

SM CITY MANILA TRAVEL TAX SERVICE COUNTER
5/F Government Service Center, SM City Manila
Tel. No.: (632) 463-9934
Monday to Friday, 10 am – 5 pm

NAIA TERMINAL 1 TRAVEL TAX COUNTER
Departure Lobby, NAIA, Pasay City
Tel. No.: (632) 879-6038
24/7 Operation

SM CITY NORTH EDSA TRAVEL TAX SERVICE COUNTER
Government Service Express
The Annex Lower Ground Floor,
Beside SM Bowling Center

Tel. No.:(632)533-5026
Monday to Friday, 10 am – 5 pm

NAIA TERMINAL 2 TRAVEL TAX COUNTER
Departure Lobby, Centennial Terminal 2, Pasay City
Tel. No.: (632) 879-5160
24/7 Operation

ROBINSONS GALLERIA TRAVEL TAX SERVICE COUNTER
Edsa Cor. Ortigas Ave.,
Ugong Norte, Quezon CityTel. No.:(632)475-6347
Monday to Friday, 10 am – 6 pm

NAIA TERMINAL 3 TRAVEL TAX COUNTER
Departure Lobby, NAIA Terminal 3, Pasay City
Tel. No.: (632) 877-7888 loc. 8166
24/7 Operation

POEA MAIN TRAVEL TAX COUNTER
Ortigas Ave., Mandaluyong City
Tel. No.: (632) 533-5174
Monday to Friday, 8 am – 5 pm

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