All About the Tax and Fee Codes on Your Airline Ticket
As governments and other taxing authorities get more and more creative, the number of different extra costs that appear on your ticket continue to get longer and longer.
We remember, “back in the good old days”, when a domestic ticket typically had only one fee, and international tickets three or four. Now, depending on where you fly, you might see as many as a dozen or more.
But you also need to realize that not all the taxes and fees you see on your ticket are truly what they seem. The airline you’re flying might well be trying to sneak in some extra money that it keeps for itself, enabling it to keep its apparent fare low and to vaguely blame “the government” for all the “taxes” on its low fare.
So if you’re ever noticed and been upset that the taxes and fees seem to be greater than the airfare on your ticket, perhaps you’re just falling victim to the airline’s own perfidy.
Here’s an incomplete list of tax/fee codes to help you decode these costs. If your ticket has another code on it, please send us a copy of the ticket and we’ll try to help you figure it out. There is a complete list published by IATA, which contains more than 1500 entries! Unfortunately, they charge $4599 for a web download of this information (we kid you not – see this page).
Do you have a mystery tax code on your ticket you don’t understand?
Please first check to see if it is in the long list below. The list is alphabetical. At least three quarters of all requests we get are for codes already in the list!
If it’s not in the list already, use this form to send in its details and we’ll research it for you.
We need the details of your itinerary and ideally a copy of your ticket so as to research the code.
Note – the column on the right for “Date Verified” is the last time we looked up and confirmed the tax code. All undated tax codes date back to about August 2019. (Our sense is that tax codes change from time to time.)
| Code | Paid To | Description | Date Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| A1 | Costa Rica | Baggage Inspection Fee | 8/4/20 |
| A7 | Bolivia | Passenger Service Charge | 1/6/20 |
| AA | Dominican Republic | Airport Departure Tax Intl | |
| AB | Haiti | Airport Departure Tax International | |
| AE | UAE | Passenger Service Charge Intl | 6/9/20 |
| AH | Panama | Airport Security Fee Departures | |
| AJ | Venezuela | Airport Exit Tax International | |
| AK | Venezuela | Airport Departure Tax | |
| AR | Argentina | Ticket Tax | 8/4/20 |
| AT | Austria | Passenger Security Charge | |
| AU | Australia | Passenger Movement Charge | 6/9/20 |
| AX | Vietnam | Passenger Service Charge Domestic | 1/6/20 |
| AY | United States | “Sept 11” Security Fee, currently (2019) $5.60 one way or $11.20 roundtrip | 8/4/20 |
| B1 | Costa Rica | Boarding Tax | 8/4/20 |
| B6 | Nepal | Airport Development Fee | 6/9/20 |
| BB | Barbados | Value Added Tax | |
| BE | Belgium | Passenger Service and Security Charge | |
| BL | Bermuda | Aviation Security Fee | 8/4/20 |
| BM | Bermuda | Passenger Tax | 8/4/20 |
| BO | Bolivia | Sales Tax | 1/6/20 |
| BP | South Korea | International Psc Departure Tax And Global Disease Eradication Fund | 8/4/20 |
| BR | Brazil | Embarkation Fee International | 3/9/20 |
| BU | Belize | Airport Development Fee | |
| C2 | Venezuela | Biosecurity Service Fee Arrivals | |
| C4 | Vietnam | Passenger And Baggage Security Screening Service Charge | 6/9/20 |
| C7 | Myanmar | Advance Passenger Information User Charge International Arrivals | |
| C9 | Bahamas | Value Added Tax | |
| CA | Canada | Air Travelers Security Charge | 8/4/20 |
| CE | New Zealand | Aviation Security Screening Levy Domestic | 1/6/20 |
| CH | Switzerland | Airport Passenger Security And Noise Charge | 8/4/20 |
| CJ | Netherlands | Security Service Charge | 7/18/20 |
| CN | China | Airport Fee (varies per airport) | 8/4/20 |
| CO | Colombia | Airport Tax | |
| CR | Costa Rica | Transportation Tax | 8/4/20 |
| CU | Cuba | Passenger Services Airport Tax | |
| CZ | Czech Republic | Embarkation Tax | 8/4/20 |
| D5 | Indonesia | Passenger Service Charge | 6/9/20 |
| DC | Romania | Security Charge | 7/18/20 |
| D9 | Jordan | Cute User Fee (ie Common User Terminal Equipment) | |
| DD | Trinidad and Tobago | Concourse Fee International | |
| DE | Germany | Airport Security Charge (varies per airport) | 8/4/20 |
| DI | Barbados | Airport Facilitation Fee International | |
| DY | Peru | Tourism Arrival Tax | 1/6/20 |
| E2 | Ecuador | Infrastructure Tax Arrivals | 8/4/20 |
| E3 | Saudi Arabia | Security Charges Intl Departure/Arrival | 6/9/20 |
| E6 | Bermuda | Air Terminal Improvement Fee | 8/4/20 |
| E7 | Thailand | Advance Passenger Processing User Charge | 8/4/20 |
| EA | Bahamas | Passenger Departure Tax | |
| EC | Ecuador | Government Transportation Tax | |
| ED | Ecuador | Tourism Fee International | |
| EG | Egypt | Solidarity Tax (formerly/aka Transportation Tax) | |
| EK | Jamaica | Passenger Service and Security Fee | |
| EL | Jamaica | Airport Improvement Fee | |
| EN | Bermuda | Passenger Facility Charge | 8/4/20 |
| EQ | Egypt | Service Charge | |
| EU | Venezuela | Inac Civil Aviation Services Improvement Fee | |
| EV | South Africa | Passenger Safety Charge | |
| EX | Italy | Security Bag Charge | 8/4/20 |
| EY | Fiji | Airport Departure Tax | |
| EZ | Fiji | Airport Security Charge | |
| F1 | New Zealand | Border Clearance Levy Intl Arrival | 3/6/20 |
| F3 | Panama | Airport Development Fee | |
| F6 | UAE | Passenger Facilities Charge | 6/9/20 |
| FA | Fiji | Airport Development Charge | |
| FC | Nicaragua | Terminal Fee Intl | |
| FD | Nicaragua | Tourism Fee Intl | |
| FE | Hungary | Security Charge | |
| FN | Italy | VAT on other ticket fees | 7/18/20 |
| FP | Haiti | Security Control Fee | |
| FR | France & Dependencies | Civil Aviation Tax and Airport Tax | 7/18/20 |
| FS | Costa Rica (formerly Airline) | Common Area User Charge Departure (formerly Fuel Surcharge) | 8/4/20 |
| FU | Belize | Conservation Tax | |
| FV | Belize | Passenger Service Fee | |
| FW | Belize | Security Fee International | |
| FX | Uzbekistan | Security Tax | |
| FZ | Panama | Airport Departure Tax | |
| G1 | Malaysia | Departure Levy | 5/29/20 |
| G2 | Norway | Airport Passenger Tax | 1/6/20 |
| G3 | Hong Kong | Airport Construction Fee | 6/9/20 |
| G4 | Qatar | Passenger Facility Charge | 6/9/20 |
| G8 | Thailand | Intl Arrival Fee | 8/4/20 |
| GB | United Kingdom | Air Passenger Duty varies depending on distance flown and class of service £13 – £172 as of 2019 | 6/9/20 |
| GJ | Bahamas | Airport Facility Fee Departure | |
| GK | Bahamas | Security Fee | |
| GR | Greece | Airport Development Charge | 8/4/20 |
| GZ | Kuwait | Airport Service Charge International | |
| H8 | Malaysia | Regulatory Charge Domestic And International | 5/29/20 |
| HB | Italy | Council City Tax | 8/4/20 |
| HG | Jamaica | Tourism Enhancement Fee Intl | |
| HI | Haiti | Immigration Processing Fee Arrival | |
| HJ | Japan | Passenger Facility Charge, Domestic Departures | 6/9/20 |
| HK | Hong Kong | Passenger Departure Tax | |
| HL | Kyrgyzstan | Airport Development Charge International | |
| HQ | Jordan | Embarkation Tax International | |
| HU | Hungary | Airport Tax | |
| HW | Peru | Airport Departure Tax | |
| I5 | Hong Kong | Passenger Security Charge | 1/6/20 |
| I6 | Iran | Passenger Safety Oversight Services Fees | |
| IA | New Zealand | Passenger Security Charge Intl | 1/6/20 |
| ID | Indonesia | Value Added Tax Passengers Domestic | |
| IK | Costa Rica | Security Fee International Arriving/Departing | 8/4/20 |
| IL | Israel | Departure Passenger Airport Tax International | |
| IN | India | User Development Fee Departures | 1/13/20 |
| IO | Saudi Arabia | Airport Building Charge For Arrivals | 6/9/20 |
| IR | Iran | Airport Tax International | |
| IS | Iceland | Airport Service Charge | 1/13/20 |
| IT | Italy | Embarkation Tax | 8/4/20 |
| IZ | France | Passenger Solidarity Tax varies depending on destination and class of service €1.13 – €45.07 as of 2019 | 1/20/20 |
| JC | Vietnam | Passenger Service Charge International | 6/9/20 |
| JD | Spain | Departure Charge | 8/4/20 |
| JG | Barbados | Passenger Service Charge International | |
| JH | Barbados | Security Fee International | |
| JK | Egypt | Departure Fee | |
| JP | Japan | Consumption Tax | 6/9/20 |
| JS | Colombia | Tourism Tax | |
| JT | Jamaica | Passenger Facility Charge | |
| K3 | India | Goods And Service Tax Interim Domestic | 6/9/20 |
| K7 | Saudi Arabia | Value Added Tax | 1/13/20 |
| KJ | Jordan | Civil Aviation Fee | |
| KK | New Zealand | Passenger Service Charge Intl Arrivals | 1/6/20 |
| KO | Haiti | Territorial Development Tax | |
| KP | North Korea | Passenger Service Charge International | |
| L2 | Kuwait | Transfer Fee | |
| L7 | Singapore | Airport Development Levy | 6/9/20 |
| L8 | Dominican Republic | Tourism Tax | 1/6/20 |
| LI | Philippines | Passenger Service Charge | 8/4/20 |
| LJ | Sweden | Aviation Tax | |
| LK | Sri Lanka | Embarkation Tax | 3/9/20 |
| M3 | Barbados | Airport Service Charge | |
| M6 | Turkey | International Flights Security Charge | 1/6/20 |
| MA | Morocco | Passenger Service Charge | |
| MJ | Italy | Passenger Service Charge on Departures | 8/4/20 |
| MM | Myanmar | Passenger Service Charge | |
| MO | Macau | Airport Security Tax | 1/6/20 |
| MX | Mexico | Transportation Tax IVA Domestic | |
| MY | Malaysia | Passenger Service And Security Charge | 5/29/20 |
| N8 | Costa Rica | Sales Tax | 8/4/20 |
| N9 | Pakistan | StampTax | 1/25/20 |
| NC | New Caledonia | Passenger Service Charge | |
| ND | Poland | Passenger Service Charge | 8/4/20 |
| NH | Jordan | Passenger Terminal Use Fee | |
| NI | Nicaragua | Sales Hacienda Tax | |
| NP | Nepal | Passenger Service Charge | 6/9/20 |
| NQ | Nepal | Tourism Service Fee | 6/9/20 |
| NW | Costa Rica | Tourism Arrival Tax | 1/20/20 |
| NZ | New Zealand | Goods and Services Tax | |
| O4 | France | Solidarity Tax Surplus | 1/20/20 |
| O5 | Argentina | Inclusive and Solidarity Tax Pais | 8/4/20 |
| OB | Airline | Booking Fee and Surcharges | |
| OG | Spain | Aviation Safety and Security Fee | 8/4/20 |
| OI | Japan | Passenger Security Service Charge | 8/4/20 |
| OP | Singapore | Aviation Levy | |
| OR | Ecuador | Airport Tax | |
| OY | Germany | Air Transport Tax | 3/25/20 |
| PB | Pakistan | Advance Tax International | |
| PF | French Polynesia | Local Departure Tax | |
| PH | Philippines | Travel Tax | 8/4/20 |
| PO | Bahamas | Passenger Processing Fee | |
| PT | Portugal | Security Tax | |
| PX | Nicaragua | Airport Security Charge | |
| PZ | Qatar | Passenger Service Charge Arrivals | 6/9/20 |
| QA | Qatar | Airport Fee Intl | |
| QB | Ecuador | Airport Tax | 8/4/20 |
| QC | Australia | Used to be Cairns Airport Authority Fee | |
| QD | Austria | Air Transport Levy Domestic | |
| QH | Egypt | Embarkation Tax | |
| QI | Ecuador | Airport Auxiliary Facilities Tax | 8/4/20 |
| QK | Jamaica (Australia) | Airline Passenger Levy (Formerly was Sydney noise levy) | |
| QO | Argentina | Custom And Immigration Services Tax International | 8/4/20 |
| QP | Turkmenistan | Passenger Safety And Airport Development Charge | |
| QR | Australia | Passenger Service Charge Domestic Departure/Arrival | 6/9/20 |
| QV | Spain | Security Tax | 8/4/20 |
| QW | France | Passenger Service Charge Domestic | 1/20/20 |
| QX | France | Passenger Service Charge Intl | 7/18/20 |
| RA | Germany | Passenger Service Charge for Intl Departures | 8/4/20 |
| RC | Canada | Harmonized Sales Tax | 8/4/20 |
| RG | Pakistan | Federal Excise Duty Red | 6/9/20 |
| RI | Russia | Terminal Use Charge (Departure or Arrival) | |
| RN | Netherlands | Passenger Service Charge | 7/18/20 |
| RO | Romania | Airport Departure Tax | 7/18/20 |
| SG | Singapore | Passenger Service And Security Fee | |
| SP | Pakistan | Embarkation Fee | 5/29/20 |
| SQ | Canada | Airport Improvement Fee | 8/4/20 |
| SW | Japan | Passenger Service Facilities Charge Intl | 8/4/20 |
| TK | Japan | International Tourist Tax | 8/4/20 |
| TM | Turkmenistan | Passenger Airport Tax Departures | |
| TP | UAE | Passenger Security and Safety Fee | 6/9/20 |
| TQ | Argentina | Security Tax Domestic And International | 8/4/20 |
| TR | Turkey | Airport Service Charge International | 8/4/20 |
| TS | Thailand | Passenger Service Charge | 8/4/20 |
| TU | Kenya | Passenger Airport Service Charge Intl | |
| TW | Taiwan | Airport Service Charge International | 1/6/20 |
| TY | Dominican Republic | Aerocom Fee Arrivals | |
| UA | Ukraine | Security Charge | 8/4/20 |
| UB | United Kingdom | Passenger Service Charge Departures | 8/4/20 |
| UC | Jamaica | Passenger Aviation Service Charge Arrivals | |
| UD | Ukraine | State Charge | 8/4/20 |
| UH | Russia | Security Charge International | |
| UJ | Kazakhstan | Passenger Service Charge | |
| UK | Mexico | Tourism Tax Derecho No Inmigrante | |
| UM | South Africa | ASC Charge | |
| UO | Australia | Goods And Services Tax | |
| UP | Ireland | Passenger Charge | 1/13/20 |
| UQ | Ireland | Inspection Pre-clearance Charge | |
| US | United States | International Arrival/Departure Tax (currently $18.60 each way as of 2019) or 7.5% (as of 2019) US Domestic Transportation Tax | 1/10/20 |
| UX | Dominican Republic | Airport Authority Fee Arrivals | 1/6/20 |
| UZ | Uzbekistan | Airport Departure Tax | |
| VB | Dominican Republic | Airport Infrastructure Fee Arrival | 1/6/20 |
| VQ | Turkey | Airport Service Charge Domestic | 1/6/20 |
| VT | Italy | Security Charge | 8/4/20 |
| VV | Netherlands | Noise Isolation Charge | |
| WC | South Africa | Passenger Tax | |
| WD | Jamaica | Travel Tax Intl | |
| WG | Australia | Safety and Security Charge Departure | 6/9/20 |
| WN | Macao | Passenger Service Charge | 1/6/20 |
| WO | India | Passenger Service Fee | 1/13/20 |
| WP | Greece | Passenger Terminal Facilities Charge | 8/4/20 |
| WQ | Greece | Passenger Security Charge | 8/4/20 |
| WT | Ecuador | Security Fee | 8/4/20 |
| WX | New Zealand | Passenger Levy Domestic | 1/6/20 |
| WY | Australia | Passenger Service Charge Departure/Arrival Intl | 6/9/20 |
| XA | United States | APHIS (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service) Fee (currently $3.96 as of 2019) | 8/4/20 |
| XD | Mexico | Airport Departure Tax Tua Intl | 8/4/20 |
| XF | United States | Passenger Facility Charge (up to $4.50 per applicable airport as of 2019) | 8/4/20 |
| XG | Canada | Goods and Services Tax | 8/4/20 |
| XK | Egypt | Development Fee | |
| XL | Egypt | Stamp Tax | |
| XO | Mexico | Transportation Tax IVA International | 8/4/20 |
| XR | Argentina | Airport Tax International | 8/4/20 |
| XT | Extra tax total, details shown elsewhere | ||
| XV | Mexico | Airport Departure Tax Tua Domestic | |
| XW | Poland | Airport Tax | 8/4/20 |
| XY | United States | Immigration Fee (currently $7 as of 2020) | 8/4/20 |
| YA | Sweden | Passenger Charge | |
| YC | United States | Customs Fee (currently $5.87 as of 2020) | 8/4/20 |
| YD | Pakistan | Infrastructure Development Charge | 5/29/20 |
| YK | Ukraine | Airport Passenger Charge | 8/4/20 |
| YM | India | Development Fee | 1/13/20 |
| YP | Portugal | Madeira Funchal Porto Santo Passenger Service Charge | |
| YQ | Airline | Extra fee (instead of simply charging a higher fare) | 8/4/20 |
| YR | Airline | Extra fee (instead of simply charging a higher fare) | 8/4/20 |
| YW | Bolivia | Exit Tax | 1/6/20 |
| YX | Kuwait | Passenger Service Charge | |
| ZA | South Africa | Passenger Service Charge | |
| ZN | Norway | Passenger Charge | 1/6/20 |
| ZO | Denmark | Passenger Service Charge | |
| ZP | United States | Segment Tax, goes to FAA | 1/6/20 |
| ZQ | Chile | Airport Facility Charge International | 8/4/20 |
| ZR | UAE | Intl Advanced Passenger Info Fee Arrivals | 6/9/20 |
| ZU | Iceland | Passenger Fee Keflavik | 1/13/20 |
| ZY | Austria | Passenger Service Charge | |
| Code | Paid To | Description |
