Being able to accept GCash payments, Maya, and QR Ph in the Philippines is more straightforward than it might seem. By integrating local payment methods in the Philippines, international businesses can reach millions of Filipino customers. GCash alone says 94 million Filipinos have used its app.
According to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, 57.4% of retail payments by volume in the Philippines were made digitally in 2024. Payments provider Antom also reports that 7 in 10 Filipinos prefer paying via e-wallets over cards.
So demand isn’t the problem. The harder part is knowing which methods to offer and what rules apply once you do. Below, we cover the main local methods, what the National Payment Systems Act means for a foreign merchant, and how VAT on digital services works for nonresident sellers.
The payment methods in the Philippines that matter most
Cards work in the Philippines, but several customers may rather pay from an e-wallet. A card-only checkout leaves out anyone who doesn’t have a card or doesn’t want to use one.
GCash is one of the most widely used and accessible e-wallets in the country. Customers use it to send money, pay bills and shop online, which makes it a natural first local method to add at checkout.
Maya puts an e-wallet, savings, credit and debit cards in one app. Its users can pay from their wallet balance or their Maya credit line.
QR Ph is the Central Bank of the Philippines’ (otherwise known as Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas or BSP) national QR code standard for interoperable QR payments. One QR Ph code can be scanned by apps from participating banks and e-wallets, so a single integration reaches customers across many providers.
If you’re based outside the Philippines, plan around these local methods. Card network rules don’t allow Philippine providers to onboard foreign merchants for card payments.
Do you need a Philippine payments license?
In most cases, no. Not if you accept payments through a BSP-registered provider.
Under RA 11127, the National Payment Systems Act, operators of payment systems must register with the BSP/the country’s Central Bank. The law defines an operator as anyone who provides clearing or settlement services in a payment system, or who defines, designs, controls or maintains its operational framework.
Payment providers, including a GCash payment gateway, may fall under these requirements when they perform regulated payment system functions. A merchant that simply accepts payments through a BSP-registered provider generally doesn’t need to become a payment system operator itself.
Your exact obligations still depend on your business model, so confirm with local counsel before you launch.
VAT on digital services under RA 12023
If you sell digital services to Filipino consumers, plan for tax as well. RA 12023, the VAT on Digital Services Act, puts a 12% VAT on digital services consumed in the Philippines, including those sold by nonresident providers. Think streaming, online ads, cloud software, e-books and online games. The implementing rules, BIR Revenue Regulations No. 3-2025, came out in February 2025, and the VAT has applied to nonresident providers since June 2, 2025.
You need to register if your gross sales of digital services in the Philippines passed ₱3 million in the last 12 months, or are expected to in the next 12. Registration is online, through the BIR’s Virtual Digital Service (VDS) Portal, and you don’t need a local office or representative to do it.
Who pays depends on the buyer. On consumer sales, you collect and remit the VAT yourself through the VDS Portal. On sales to Philippine businesses, the buyer handles it under a reverse-charge mechanism, though you still report those sales.
None of this covers physical goods. If you sell products or a mix of goods and services, get a tax adviser to look at your setup.
Getting set up
The simplest route is usually a BSP-registered payment provider that already supports local methods. Before you sign with one, work through this list.
1. Pick your payment methods. GCash, Maya and QR Ph are the obvious starting point. Note that cards aren’t an option for foreign merchants here: card network rules (Visa and Mastercard) don’t allow Philippine providers to onboard merchants based outside the Philippines for card acceptance.
2. Expect an approval step. Access to e-wallets and QR Ph is subject to assessment and approval by the BSP-regulated provider you work with. Ask what they review, what documents they need, and how long approval usually takes.
3. Check the provider’s registration. Ask which BSP registrations or licenses it holds for the payment functions it performs.
4. Look at the integration. One API or hosted checkout for several methods means less engineering work and one place to reconcile.
5. Ask about settlement. Which currencies can you settle in, how often do payouts run, and what does cross-border settlement cost?
6. Check your VAT position. If you sell digital services and expect to pass the ₱3 million threshold, register with the BIR before you start collecting.
7. Test on mobile. E-wallet payments are completed in the customer’s phone app, so run a few real transactions on a phone before launch.
Some providers bundle several local methods behind one integration. Ask each one exactly which methods and settlement options are included, and which ones you’re eligible for.
Payments on TNKR
TNKR takes cards, GCash, Maya, GrabPay, ShopeePay, QR Ph and online banking through one integration, reconciled on a single ledger and settled to you. See Payments
Talk to an expert — tell us which methods you want to accept. Read documentation — see how payment acceptance works.
Frequently asked questions
Originally published