Title
Travel Tax Law Amendments 1979
Law
Batas Pambansa Blg. 38
Decision Date
Sep 7, 1979
A Philippine law enacted in 1979 imposes a travel tax on citizens, permanent resident aliens, and non-immigrant aliens leaving the country, with exemptions for certain individuals and reduced rates for specific groups, and the proceeds from the tax go to the General Fund of the National Government.
A

Exemptions from Travel Tax

  • Exempt persons include:
    • Philippine government officials/employees traveling on official business.
    • Persons traveling with fares paid from Philippine government funds.
    • Accredited foreign diplomatic and consular officials and their immediate families.
    • Officials, consultants, and employees of the United Nations and related agencies.
    • Personnel of multinational companies with regional HQs in the Philippines but not engaged in business locally, with dependents.
    • Ship and airplane crew on international routes returning to their vessels/planes.
    • Filipino permanent residents abroad staying ≤1 year in the Philippines.
    • Bona fide students approved by NEDA Scholarship Committee and foreign students with dependents.
    • Infants 2 years old and below.
    • Scientists and experts invited by the Philippine government.
    • Destitute persons needing medical treatment abroad, certified by relevant ministries.
    • Various U.S. military personnel, associated Filipino personnel, and dependents traveling on U.S. government transport or funded fares.
    • Persons traveling funded by foreign governments maintaining diplomatic relations with the Philippines.
    • Special cases authorized by the President for national interest reasons.

Reduced Travel Tax Rates (Section 2-A)

  • Reduced travel tax rates (PHP 540 for first class, PHP 405 for economy) apply to:
    • Accredited Filipino journalists on official assignments.
    • Officials and employees of government-owned/controlled corporations on official business.
    • Members of government-organized missions (economic, scientific, educational, trade, tourism, cultural).
    • Children aged over 2 years but 12 years or below.
    • Passengers under steerage class.
    • Officials/employees of travel agencies, airlines, and shipping companies traveling on non-revenue/discounted/service fee tickets.
    • Recipients of foreign awards and grants certified by NEDA.
    • Those authorized by the President for national interest.

Contract Workers and Families (Section 2-B)

  • Contract workers with approved employment contracts and their spouses and dependents (≤21 years old) pay reduced rates:
    • PHP 400 for first class passage.
    • PHP 300 for economy class passage.
  • Certification required from the Ministry of Labor.

Revenue Allocation

  • Proceeds from the travel tax accrue entirely to the National Government's General Fund.

Repeal and Effectivity

  • Prior inconsistent laws, decrees, orders, and regulations are repealed or modified accordingly.
  • The Act takes effect immediately upon approval.

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