How to Refund Travel Tax

Travel Tax is a levy imposed by the Philippine government on individuals leaving the country regardless of their destinations. You can read more about it by checking out the Presidential Decree (P.D) 1183 or check out Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) for more details.

Here's who are subjected to it
• Citizens of the Philippines
• Foreigners holding a permanent resident visa Sec. 13 Quota or Preference Immigrant Visa
• Foreign tourists or expatriates who have stayed in the Philippines for more than one (1) year

And here's a table of the tax imposed on travelers set out overseas.

TRAVEL TAX RATES (Philippine Peso)	FIRST CLASS	ECONOMY
Full Travel Tax	2,700.00	1,620.00
Standard Reduced Travel Tax	1,350.00	810.00
Privileged Reduced  Travel Tax for Dependents of an OFW	400.00	300.00

The travel tax is the only thing you have to pay for when you get to the airport as the terminal fee is included in your ticket price. (For more information about the terminal fee integration in the ticket click here).

Who can refund?

You might have been all set but offloaded, got sick and had to cancel at the last minute or just simply changed your mind. Whatever is the case, for as long as you were not able to fly out of the country, you can refund the travel tax. But keep in mind, refunds can only be made within two (2) years from date of payment.

How to refund?
There are two ways to refund your travel tax.

The first one is the Same-Day Refund (SDR). You can claim the amount you paid within 24 hours from payment in the Travel Tax counter (where you also paid it).

1. If you are an offloaded passenger or had your flight cancelled, you have to present your ticket and a certificate from the airline with the authorized signatory.
2. If you are entitled to reduced tax or exempted from paying, present the documents supporting your exemption or reduced travel tax and your ticket.
3. If you inadvertently paid the tax twice for the same ticket, bring the copy of the ticket and the receipts showing proof of the double payment.
4. If it’s undue tax (not really sure what this is, but I read that this is included), bring proof that the ticket is not subjected to tax.

The second one is the Regular Refund, of which you have to go to TIEZA office to pass the requirements and have it reviewed before you can claim the refund.

Just make sure that you bring the following to avoid any hassles:

1. For Cancelled flights/Offloaded passenger

• Copy of fare refund voucher and/or credit memo certified by airline authorized personnel or Certification from the airline authorized signatory that the ticket is unused and has no fare refund value
• For non-revenue tickets, submission of copy of the ticket and certification from the airline authorized signatory that the ticket is unused
• Passport and itinerary receipt (just in case)

2. For Non-coverage presentation of original passport and submission of copy of ticket

• If the original passport cannot be presented, copy of ticket and certification from the Bureau of Immigration indicating the following:

           - Passenger's identity
           - Immigration status
           - Applicable arrival date (and departure as the case may be) 

3. For Travel Tax Exemption/Reduced Travel Tax

• Supporting documents used as basis for the exemption/reduced tax
• Copy of ticket in certain cases

4. For Others

• Downgraded ticket certification from the airline that the ticket was downgraded or a certified copy of the flight manifest
• Double payment of proof that the same ticket was taxed twice
• Undue tax copy of the ticket to show that it is not subject to tax
• If ever, you paid the travel tax directly to TIEZA,bring the airline and the passenger copy of the receipt (the pink and white).

Don't worry, the whole process doesn't take long as they don't have lunch breaks and the employees attend to your concerns as best as they could. A check/cheque will then be issued to you and you will be asked to sign the acknowledgement receipt and a logbook for record purposes that you have refunded the travel tax.

If you want to know more, call the TIEZA office at (02) 551-9533. Their office in Makati is located at 142 Amorsolo St., Legaspi Village (just behind Makati Cinema Square). You won't miss it as there are colorful posters along the windows and the building number is indicated by the door already.

Heads-Up!

**If you have someone else to pass your requirements for refund, be sure to give him/her a Special Power of Attorney (SPA) as the check will be issued in your name. They will ask for valid IDs, so don't forget them!


Here are the other provincial/satellite offices of TIEZA:
NAIA Terminal 1 Travel Tax Counter                
Departure Lobby, NAIA, Pasay City       
 (632) 879-6038                                                                  

NAIA Terminal 2 Travel Tax Counter
Departure Lobby, Centennial Terminal 2, Pasay City
(632) 879-5160

NAIA Terminal 3 Travel Tax Counter                         
Departure Lobby, NAIA Terminal 3, Pasay City 
 (632) 877-7888 loc. 8166

Government Service Center Travel Tax Unit
5th Floor SM City Manila,
San Marcelino, Ermita, Manila

Laoag Travel Tax Unit
Departure Lobby, Laoag International Airport,
Laoag City, Ilocos Norte
Telefax: (077) 772-1162

La Union Travel Tax Unit
Mabanag Hall, San Fernando, La Union
Telefax: (072) 607-1963

Baguio Travel Tax Unit
DOT Building, Governor Pack Road,
Baguio City
(074) 442-6226

Clark (DMIA)  Travel Tax Unit
Departure Lobby,
Diosdado Macapagal International Airport,
Clarkfield, Pampanga

Government Service Center Travel Tax Unit
3rd Floor SM City Pampanga,
San Fernando, Pampanga

Cebu Travel Tax Unit
Cebu Travel Tax Field Office,
Andres Soriano Ave cor. P.J Burgos St.,
Centro, Mandaue City
Telefax: (032) 253-3532

MCIA Travel Tax Unit
International Departure Area,
Mactan, Cebu International Airport,
Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu
(032) 236-3481

Iloilo Travel Tax  Unit
DOT Region VI Building,
Capitol Grounds, Bonifacio Drive, Iloilo City
(003) 337-5411
Telefax: (033) 335-0245

Iloilo International Airport
Departure Area II A,
Cabatuan, Iloilo

Kalibo Travel Tax Unit
Departure Area, Kalibo International Airport,
Kalibo, Aklan

New Bacolod-Silay Airport Travel Tax Unit
Departure Area, New Bacolod-Silay Airport,
Brgy. Bagtic, Silay City

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

Davao Travel Tax Unit
Door 12 Tourism Complex,
Ramon Magsaysay Park, Davao City
Telefax: (082) 221-7123

Davao International Airport Travel Tax Unit
Departure Area, Davao International Airport,
Sasa, Davao City

Zamboanga Travel Tax Unit 
NS Valderosa St., Zamboanga City
(062) 991-8687
Telefax: (062) 992-6246 c/o Lantaka Hotel