TIEZA taps GCash to ease refund of travel tax

The Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) signed Tuesday an agreement with mobile wallet GCash to ease the refund process of travel tax payments of those exempted from paying the levy on travelers leaving the Philippines.

Officials of TIEZA led by its Chief Operating Officer Mark Lapid and representatives from GCash led by its Vice President and Head of Public Sector Cleo Celeste Santos signed a memorandum of agreement to facilitate the service.

"They will be handling the refund of all the exemptions from travel tax," Lapid said.

"The refund will be zero convenience fee," he said.

Those exempted from paying the P1,620 for economy class and P2,700 for first class travel tax, include overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), Filipino permanent residents abroad whose stay in the Philippines is less than one year, and infants (two years old and below).

Other exemptions include crew members of airplanes plying international routes, government officials traveling on official business, Muslim-Filipinos attending pilgrimage, Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and its delegation to international competitions, and exporters joining international trade fairs.

Lapid said the travel tax refund process through GCash will be soft launched on December 20, 2025.

"I express my deep gratitude to TIEZA, for entrusting GCash with this opportunity to work together… Through Gcash fund disbursement service, travel tax refunds will be [credited] directly to GCash accounts of travelers. They can enjoy real time and seamless experience," said Santos.

According to data from TIEZA, a total of 36,823 travelers availed travel tax refund in 2024. — VDV, GMA Integrated News