Tax: up to 12%

Duties: up to 20%

Restricted items: Second-hand Goods

Non-working days: Saturday, Sunday, and Public Holidays 

Lead times: 4-5 Weeks

Best Carrier option: Freight Forwarder

Prominent Languages: Tagalog & Cebuano

The Complexities of Importing into the Philippines

In the last decade, the tech industry in the Philippines has gone from strength to strength. Its rapid growth has been partly due to increases in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), providing more employment opportunities and allowing primary industry verticals, such as software development and hardware sales, to grow. Even with encouraging foreign investment, Pilipino customs can be tricky to navigate, and free trade zones also add a surprising additional layer of complexity.

One oddity to consider is the need to declare goods at market value. While not unheard of, in this instance, the repercussions for mistakes in this area are exceptionally severe. As such, re-valuations are frequent, and errors carry penalties of up to 500% of the total duties and taxes. Furthermore, goods destined for free trade zones or PEZAs require additional documentation, taking up to seven days to obtain.

How TecEx Can Help You Import into the Philippines

By acting as IOR, we import the goods in our name mitigating all your risks and responsibilities when shipping to the Philippines. Our cost calculations are incredibly reliable, supported by a team of experts who ensure all valuations are correct before shipping. Our extensive experience in the region also means we can flag shipments destined for PEZA zones early, applying for documentation on your behalf. Our full DDP service means you can relax knowing that your goods are in safe hands from pre-compliance to final delivery.

Click here to learn more about what to expect when importing into Asia. 

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