Your personal retirement fund.
Government-backed. Tax-free.

PERA is the Philippine government's retirement savings program designed to give ordinary Filipinos a real tax advantage when they save for retirement. ezPERA makes opening and managing your PERA account as simple as it should be.

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by Zalamea Actuarial
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Good morning, Maria 👋
74,500.00
↑ +10.51%
₱7,500 earned tax-free
2026 PERA Limit₱125,500 left
₱74,500 contributedof ₱200,000
Invested
₱74,500
2 funds
Tax Credit
₱3,725
earned this year
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Add Funds
₱125,500 room left this year
My Holdings
2 funds
BDO
BOND
PERA Bond Index Fund
BDO Unibank
₱40,477
+8.4% YTD
BPI
MM
PERA Money Market Fund
BPI Wealth
₱34,023
+4.1% YTD
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Home
📈
Invest
🕐
Activity
👤
Account
🛡️
Investment gains
100% tax-free
💸
5% tax credit
on contributions
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Annual limit
₱200,000 / year
Regulated & supervised by
What is PERA?

A government-backed retirement fund that actually rewards you for saving

PERA stands for Personal Equity and Retirement Account — it's a voluntary, government-backed retirement savings program established under Republic Act 9505. Think of it as your own personal retirement fund: your money grows free of income tax and capital gains tax, and the government gives you a 5% tax credit on every peso you personally contribute. Whether you're employed, self-employed, or working abroad as an OFW, PERA is open to any Filipino with a TIN. You decide how much to put in, how to invest it, and which funds to use.

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Government-backed and regulated

PERA is established under Republic Act 9505 and governed by the BSP, SEC, and BIR. Your account is held by an accredited custodian bank and administered by ezPERA by Zalamea, a fully accredited PERA administrator.

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Your money, your investment choices

You choose where to invest within your PERA, from equity funds to money market funds. You can adjust your allocation as your goals change over time.

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Designed for the long term

PERA is a retirement account, so withdrawals are typically available at age 55 with at least 5 years of participation. Early withdrawals may be subject to taxes and penalties.

The Tax Benefits

Three ways PERA puts more money in your pocket

PERA comes with real, concrete tax advantages built directly into the law.

0%
Tax on investment income and gains

Dividends, interest, and capital gains earned inside your PERA are not subject to income tax. Everything stays in your account and compounds over time.

5%
Tax credit on personal contributions

For every peso you contribute from your own pocket, you get a 5% tax credit directly against your income tax due — a peso-for-peso reduction in the tax you owe.

₱200K
Annual contribution limit per person

You can contribute up to ₱200,000 to your PERA each year. OFWs may contribute up to ₱400,000 annually under applicable PERA rules.

Example: Carlo, age 33, ₱45,000 monthly salary
Without PERA
Annual bonus₱30,000
Tax withheld on bonus−₱7,500
Take-home after tax₱22,500
With PERA (employer-facilitated)
Annual bonus₱30,000
Withholding taxExempt
Amount invested in PERA₱30,000

For educational purposes only. Actual tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and compliance with PERA rules and BIR regulations. Please consult a tax professional for advice specific to your situation.

Getting Started

Open your PERA account in minutes

No branch visits, no paperwork. We walk you through every step from account opening to your first investment.

1
Open your PERA account

Fill in your personal details and submit a valid ID. The whole thing takes about five minutes and you won't need to visit a branch.

2
Fund your account

Link your bank and make your first deposit. Contribute at whatever amount and cadence works for you, up to the annual ₱200,000 limit.

3
Find the right funds for you

Browse available PERA funds and answer a short questionnaire about your goals and how comfortable you are with risk. We use your answers to match you with funds that actually fit.

4
Start investing

Put your money to work in the fund that fits your profile. Your returns grow completely tax-free, and every peso you put in earns a 5% government tax credit.

Where Your Money Sits

Accredited banks. BSP-approved funds.

Your PERA account is custodied by an accredited bank and invested through BSP-approved fund providers, not by us directly.

One account, several fund houses

We work with BDO, BPI Wealth, Metrobank, EastWest Bank, PNB, and Landbank, giving you access to equity, bond, balanced, and money market funds all in one place. More banks and funds are being added all the time.

Accredited fund providers
Funds span equity, bond, balanced, and money market categories. More providers on the way.
Who We Are

Retirement plan experts, not a startup figuring it out

ezPERA is powered by E. M. Zalamea Actuarial Services — an actuarial and retirement plan administration firm that has been setting up, managing, and valuing employee retirement plans for Philippine employers for over a decade.

We know the PERA regulations from the inside because retirement plan administration is what we do every day. When you open a PERA account through ezPERA, you're backed by the same team that manages defined contribution and defined benefit plans for some of the biggest companies in the Philippines. We have the SEC and BIR accreditations, the regulatory relationships, and the actuarial depth to make sure your retirement account is in good hands for the long run.

Regulatory accreditation
SEC-Accredited PERA Administrator
BIR-Accredited PERA Administrator
What we've done
Actuarial valuations for large employer-sponsored retirement plans
Plan design and setup for defined contribution and defined benefit programs
Ongoing retirement plan administration for Philippine employers across industries
Common Questions

Everything you've been
meaning to look up about PERA.

Straight answers based on RA 9505 and the PERA IRR.

The Basics
Who can open a PERA account?
Any person with the legal capacity to contract and a valid Philippine Tax Identification Number (TIN) can open a PERA account. This covers Filipino employees, self-employed individuals, professionals, and Overseas Filipinos. Foreign nationals working in the Philippines who have a TIN are also eligible. There is no age restriction beyond legal capacity.
Can I have more than one PERA account?
You can have up to a maximum of five (5) PERA sub-accounts at any one time, for example invested across different funds or products, but you can only have one PERA Administrator at a time. All your sub-accounts must fall under this single administrator. You can fully transfer your entire portfolio to a different administrator if you choose, but you cannot be active with two administrators simultaneously.
Tax Benefits
How does PERA interact with my SSS or GSIS contributions?
PERA is completely separate and independent from SSS (for private sector employees) and GSIS (for government employees). Your mandatory contributions to these continue as normal; PERA does not replace or reduce them. PERA is simply an additional, voluntary savings layer on top of your existing social insurance benefits.
Your Investments
Who decides where my money is invested?
You do. The PERA law gives the contributor absolute discretion over investment choices. You can appoint an Investment Manager to advise and manage your portfolio, but this is entirely optional; the decision always stays with you. Your Administrator is responsible for safekeeping and administration, not investment advice.
Can my PERA savings be seized, garnished, or pledged as collateral?
No. Under the PERA law, your PERA assets are completely protected. They cannot be assigned to another person, pledged as loan collateral, garnished by creditors, or seized in any legal proceeding. This protection applies regardless of your financial situation and is one of the strongest features of PERA as a retirement savings vehicle.
Withdrawals & Retirement
When can I make a tax-free qualified withdrawal?
You are eligible for a qualified withdrawal (fully tax-free on all earnings) when you reach the age of 55 and have been contributing to PERA for at least 5 years. Both conditions must be met. When you qualify, you can choose to receive the funds as a lump sum, as a pension for a fixed period, as a lifetime pension, or you can keep the account active and continue growing your investment.
What happens if I withdraw early?
Early withdrawal triggers a 20% penalty, but this applies to the income earned only, not your principal. Your original contributions are returned without penalty. You also have to return all the 5% tax credits you previously claimed. Additionally, withdrawing from any one PERA sub-account closes your entire PERA portfolio; you cannot partially withdraw while keeping the rest invested.
Are there any exceptions that allow penalty-free early access?
Yes. Three situations allow you to access your PERA account early without the 20% penalty: (1) accident or illness-related hospitalization lasting more than 30 days, (2) permanent total disability, and (3) death, in which case your PERA assets are distributed to your legal heirs completely tax-free regardless of your age at the time. There is also a 15-day grace period to transfer funds from one PERA investment product or administrator to another without triggering early withdrawal penalties.

Your future self will thank you

Interested in opening a PERA account through ezPERA? Get in touch and we'll walk you through everything.

We usually reply within one business day.