Previous Story
Consulate announces hike in travel tax
|
Posted on Jan 15 2001
The Philippine Consulate on Friday clarified that effective Jan. 1, 2001, the processing fee collected for every travel tax certificate issued, whether exemption, reduced rate, or refund, is increased from P50.00 ($1.00) to P100.00 ($2.00).
Travel tax, which is collected by the Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA) in Manila, is a levy imposed on certain individuals leaving the country irrespective of the place where the air ticket is issued and the form or place of payment.
The PTA issues travel tax certificates to individuals entitled under the law to exemption or reduction of payment, or refund of travel tax.
Those exempted are: foreign diplomatic representatives; employees of the United Nations (UN) Organization or its agencies; United States (US) Military Personnel including dependents and other US nationals with fare paid for by the US Government-owned chartered transport facilities.
Also exempted are Filipino overseas contract workers (OCWs), Filipino permanent residents abroad, including balikbayans and their dependents, whose stay in the Philippines is less than one year; international carrier crew; and Filipino permanent residents abroad whose stay in the Philippines is less than one year;
The Consulate also mentioned that the exemptions include: Philippine Foreign Service Personnel assigned abroad and their dependents; Philippine government (excluding government-owned and controlled corporation) employees on official travel; grantees of foreign government-funded trips; students with approved scholarships by appropriate government agency; infants (two years and below); personnel and their dependents of Philippine offices of multinational companies not engaged in business in the Philippines; and those authorized by the President of the Philippines.
Reduced rate may be availed by minors from two to 12 years old, legitimate spouses and unmarried children below 21 years old of OCWs.
Following is a table of the current travel tax rates:
First Class Passage
Full Rate P2,700.00
Standard Reduced Rate P1,350.00
Economy Class Passage
Full Rate P1,620.00
Standard Reduced Rate P810.00
Privileged reduced rate for Dependents of Overseas Contract Workers is between P 400 and P 300.
