Visa Question Duty and Tax Exemption

I will be shipping a 40 foot cargo container of personal effects when we move to Dgt. My wife is Filipino citizen and I will have a 13A visa. I thought that showing the 13A visa and my wife's passport at the Cebu port when we pickup the cargo shipment would be sufficient to bring the shipment in duty and tax exempt. But I have since heard that it is necessary to first obtain a specific "Duty and Tax Exemption Certificate" from the Dept. of Finance in Manila in order to avail of the tax exempt status for a returning citizen moving back to the Philippines.

Does anybody have any experience with process of bringing in a duty and tax exempt cargo shipment through the port of Cebu when moving to the Philippines?

 

Nope, but according to link below, the answer is yes. This is from the LA consulate.

Duty Free Shipment of Personal and Household Effects into the Philippines – Philippine Consulate General Los Angeles California

Highlighted information from link above.

2. If you qualify on 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 800 (f) CMTA as provided below

b. However, 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.

3. A letter of Request for tax and duty exemption should be addressed to the Philippine Department of Finance Mabuhay Lane Office:

Mabuhay Lane Office
Address : Podium, DOF Bldg., BSP Complex, Roxas Blvd., Manila, 1004, Philippines
Telephone No. : (632) 526-8458
Fax No. : 523-4955
Email : helpdesk@dof.gov.ph Website: Department of Finance

4. The following documents should accompany the Request Letter for tax and duty free importation:

4a. Import shipping documents (AWB/BL)

4b. Import commercial documents (Invoice & Packing List)

Photocopies of:

4c. 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)

4d. For Filipino citizens, copy of marriage certificate as proof of residency in the foreign country

4e. For 13A and 13G visa holders: copies of Alien Certificate of Registration (ACR) and Immigration Certificate of Residence (ICR)

4f. Affidavit of Ownership that has undergone consular notarization [click here for procedure] or authentication [click here for procedure].

4g. Authority of Representative (in lieu of consignee)

4h. Contract of Employment 6. Employment Contract (Certified True Copy)

4i. Tour of Duty (Certified True Copy)

4j. Birth Certificate (copy)

4k. Marriage Contract (if married to Filipino)

5. 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.

 

Thanks! That item number 5 is confusing. It says "for presentation to the Department of Finance OR Bureau of Customs when claiming your goods". That makes it sound it is an option to simply bring all of that documentation with you when you go to claim your goods instead of applying for written advance approval from the DOF. ?? I guess when in doubt ... do both.

 

My read is you need the DoF certificate, but be ready to back it up with the documents you used to get the certificate. Not sure where you live, but #4f may be a challenge as it requires a trip to an Embassy in the US, unless you can get it in the Philippines. Consular notarization seems to indicate a consulate visit prior to importation.

 

Hello Sedona, I am in similar situation, planning to ship a container in October, so would be extremely interested to hear what you find out. Thanks

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From four different sources I have been told four different procedures. The most recent is that I have now been told by the Dept. of Finance office in Manila that the Duty and Tax Exemption can not be applied for while still living in the US; it can only be applied for in person, in Manila, after arrival in the Philippines. Here is some additional information copied from the email that they sent to me:

In this connection, as you arrived in the Philippines, please submit the following documents to Mabuhay Lane, Revenue Office, Podium Level, Department of Finance, Executive Tower Building, BSP Complex, for evaluation:

1. Letter request addressed to Sec. Carlos G. Dominguez
Attention: Director Sheila N. Castaloni, Revenue Office
2. Original Passport
3. Bill of Lading (signed by shipping company)
4. Packing List
5.Affidavit of Ownership/Undertaking (duly notarized)
6. 13 a visa
7 Marriage contract (photo copy)
8. TIN No.
9. Payment of Filing Fee of Php200.00 per Department of Finance Order
No. 54-2000 dated December 13, 2000

 

I've emailed 3 persons in the DOF now, and they all tell me that the TEC must be applied for in person in Manila. Their explanation is that since the law says that you must apply for the TEC within 60 days of arrival, that means that it MUST be applied for after arrival. But from what I can see that is not true, and they are confused. Just because IF you choose to apply after arrival you must do so within 60 days, that does not imply that you are not permitted to apply BEFORE you arrive. In fact if you look at this embassy document:

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct...on.pdf&usg=AFQjCNE19yg5HmB4olLBUpUzlet5gbHYcg

It says:

However, 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.

I have sent that link to the Manila DOF, and they just reply, "Sorry sir, you must apply for TEC in person in Manila". If that is true, then they need to correct the Embassy document. I will be going to the Phil. Embassy in SF in two weeks and hopefully someone there will be able to clear this up.

 

Different country with different rules so need different expectations. I think all of us agree websites, especially government websites should have the most current information. In the Philippines this is simply not true. Many sites, government included, have only partial information and often is two, three, four or more changes out of date. "See, it says right here on your website xxxx" works in the States but has little value here.

 

I brought a container in via Manila, transhipped to Dumaguete, 5 years ago. The local shipping agent, Goetz in Manila, handled all the documentation for duty exemption. So I would contact the local agent representing your original shipping agent and see what they say. They will (should) have the latest info on what's required and would hopefully do it for you.