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PERA is the Philippine government's retirement savings program designed to give ordinary Filipinos a real tax advantage when they save for retirement. ezPERA is the app that makes opening and managing your PERA account as simple as it should be — no branch visits, no paperwork.
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.
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.
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.
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.
PERA comes with real, concrete tax advantages built directly into the law.
Dividends, interest, and capital gains earned inside your PERA are not subject to income tax. Everything stays in your account and compounds over time.
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.
You can contribute up to ₱200,000 to your PERA each year. OFWs may contribute up to ₱400,000 annually under applicable PERA rules.
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.
MP2, UITFs, mutual funds and digital banks are all good places to grow your money. PERA is the only one that also gives you a 5% tax credit just for contributing, on top of tax-free growth. Here's how they stack up.
| What matters to you | PERA | MP2 (Pag-IBIG) | UITF / Mutual Fund | Digital bank / Time deposit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5% tax credit on what you put in | Yes, unique to PERA | None | None | None |
| Tax on investment earnings | Tax-free | Tax-free dividends | Generally taxed | Interest generally taxed |
| You choose how it's invested | Yes, across multiple fund types | No, one Pag-IBIG-managed fund | Yes, per product | No |
| Time horizon | Built for retirement, access from age 55 | 5-year savings cycle | Withdraw anytime | Short term |
| Oversight | RA 9505, BSP / SEC / BIR | Pag-IBIG Fund (HDMF) | SEC / BSP regulated | BSP, PDIC-insured |
| Best suited for | Long-term retirement saving with tax perks | Medium-term, tax-free savings | Flexible, general investing | Emergency fund, short-term cash |
PERA works well alongside these, not just instead of them. Many Filipinos keep an emergency fund in the bank, save medium-term in MP2, and use PERA for long-term retirement money so they capture the tax credit and tax-free growth. Dividend and return rates for all products vary year to year and are not guaranteed. For educational purposes only; please consult a professional for advice specific to your situation.
Move the sliders to see what your PERA could be worth by retirement. The numbers update live as you go.
No branch visits, no paperwork. The ezPERA app walks you through every step from account opening to your first investment.
Fill in your personal details and submit a valid ID right from the app. The whole thing takes about five minutes and you won't need to visit a branch.
Link your bank and make your first deposit. Contribute at whatever amount and cadence works for you, up to the annual ₱200,000 limit.
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.
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.
ezPERA is built for people who want a simple, transparent way to manage their retirement savings on their own terms.
See your PERA balance, fund performance, and contributions at a glance. Live data, always.
Choose from a curated selection of accredited funds across equity, fixed income, balanced, and money market categories. Adjust your allocation anytime.
Track how much you've contributed against the annual ₱200,000 limit. Set reminders so you never miss a contribution window.
Your PERA account is custodied by an accredited bank and invested through BSP-approved fund providers. ezPERA works 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.
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.
Straight answers based on RA 9505 and the PERA IRR.
Interested in opening a PERA account through ezPERA? Get in touch and we'll walk you through everything.
