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Section 105 of the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines as amended by Executive Order No. 206 provides duty and tax free privileges to the following individuals, the extent of which depends on their particular status:

  1. Returning Resident - Filipino national who has gone abroad and is now returning. Only those Returning Residents who have an uninterrupted stay abroad for at least six (6) months prior to their return to the Philippines are entitled to duty and tax free privileges.
  2. Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) - Filipino national who worked in a foreign country under an employment contract. Only OFWs who have an uninterrupted stay abroad for more than six (6) months are entitled to duty and tax free privileges.
  3. Former Filipino - Filipino national who has acquired foreign citizenship abroad and is now returning. Only former Filipinos who are coming to settle permanently in the Philippines and have stayed abroad for at least six months are entitled to the duty and tax exemption privileges.
BALIKBAYAN is another term for an OFW or a former Filipino. A returning resident is also a BALIKBAYAN when he has stayed abroad for at least one year. Balikbayans are entitled to duty and tax free privileges.

The extent varies as follows:

  1. Returning Resident. Personal effects and household goods used by him abroad for at least six (6) months and the dutiable value of which is not more than Ten Thousand Pesos (10,000.00) are exempt from duties and taxes. Any amount in excess of P10,000.00 is subject to 50% duty to the first P10,000.00 exemption across the board as provided for under Section 105 (F) of the TCCP.
  2. Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW). In addition to the privileges granted to Returning Residents as described above, an OFW may be allowed to bring in, duty and tax free Ten Thousand (P10,000.00) of USED home appliances, provided:
    1. the quantity is limited to one of each kind;
    2. the privilege has not been enjoyed previously during the calendar year which fact must be declared under oath by the owner;
    3. the owner's passport is presented at the port/airport of entry;
    4. any amount in excess of P10,000.00 will be subject to duty and tax.
  3. Former Filipino. Professional instruments and implements, tools of trade occupation or employment, wearing apparel, domestic animals, and personal household effects shall be exempt from payment of Customs duties and taxes. Provided that the change of residence was bonafide, the privilege of free entry was never availed of before and that the articles are brought from their former place of abode.

Further information may be obtained from http://www.customs.gov.ph/faqs.php#2.2 .

Duty-Free Shipment of Personal Effects into the Philippines

Under Section 105 (h) of the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines, personal and household effects (EXCEPT MOTOR VEHICLES, VESSEL,  AIRCRAFT, MACHINERIES AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES) of persons coming to settle permanently in the Philippines can apply for duty-free treatment. Such persons include:

a)    Filipinos who are now residents of another country (including dual citizen)

b)    Foreigners married to Filipinos (13A visa)

c)    Former Filipinos (13G visa)

If you qualify for any of the above categories, please be guided by the following:

a)    Shipment of your personal and household effects will be exempted from payment of customs, duties and taxes as provided for in Section  105 (h) of the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines.

b)    The person who wishes to avail of such privilege should secure either before departure from country of residence or within 60 days upon his arrival in the Philippines,   written approval from the Department of Finance for  tax and duty-free importation of   household goods.

A letter of request for tax and duty exemption should be addressed to:

The Secretary of Finance
Attn: Mabuhay Lane Office
Podium, Executive Tower Building,
BSP Complex, Manila 1004 Philippines
Phone: 632.526.8470
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Website: www.dof.gov.ph

Photocopies of the following documents should accompany the Letter of Request for tax and duty  free importation:

a)    Passport (if Filipino citizen), or for dual citizenship, foreign passport, Oath of Allegiance as  Filipino Citizen and Order Granting Filipino  Citizenship,13A visa (if foreigner is married to a  Filipino citizen) or 13G visa (if former Filipino)

b)    For Filipino citizens, copy of marriage certificate as proof of residency in the foreign country

c)    For 13A and 13G visa holders: copies of Alien Certificate of Registration (ACR) and  Immigration Certificate of Residence (ICR)

d)    Inventory List

e)    Bill of Lading

f) Affidavit of Ownership (duly authenticated by the Philippine Embassy of Consulate with jurisdiction over your state of residence. (Note: it is suggested that whenever possible, applicants should come to the Consulate or Embassy to sign their affidavit personally in  front of the  Consular officer. In this case, authentication can follow right away. If the affidavit  is sent by mail, it should first be notarized by a qualified  notary, then authenticated by the State Secretary of the applicant's State of residence. Only after the State Secretary's authentication should it be sent to the Philippine Embassy or Consulate for final  authentication).

Applicants for tax and duty-free importation should be ready with the original copies of documents mentioned in paragraph 4 above for presentation to the Department of Finance or Bureau of Customs when claiming your goods or as otherwise required.

Section 105 (h) of the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines

Professional instruments and implements, tools of trade, occupation or employment, wearing apparel, domestic animals, and personal and household effects belonging to persons coming to settle in the Philippines or Filipinos and/or their families and descendants who are now residents or citizens of other countries, such parties hereinafter referred to as Overseas Filipinos, in quantities and of the class suitable to the profession, rank or position of the persons importing them, for their own use and not for barter or sale, accompanying such persons, or arriving within a reasonable time, in the discretion of the Collector of Customs, before or after the arrival of their owners, which shall not be later than February 28, 1979 upon the production of evidence satisfactory to the Collector of Customs that such persons are actually coming to settle in the Philippines, that change of residence was bona fide and that the privilege of free entry was never granted to them before or that such person qualifies under the provisions of Letters of Instructions 105, 163 and 210, and that the articles are brought from their former place of abode, shall be exempt from the payment of customs duties and taxes: Provided, That vehicles, vessels, aircrafts, machineries and other similar articles for use in manufacture, shall not be classified hereunder.