Is Tala legit?
Tala is on the SEC list, but its published top rate is above the SEC caps on a ₱5,000, 120-day loan. It is run by Tala Financing Philippines Inc (SEC Reg. No. CS201710582, CA No. 1132). The SEC list dated Sep 29, 2026 records it as "Tala". Being registered does not make every charge lawful: a charge above the caps can be reported to the SEC. SEC list, Sep 29, 2026
| Item | Result | Source |
|---|---|---|
| App on the SEC list of recorded online lending platforms (dated Sep 29, 2026) | Yes, as "Tala" | SEC list, Sep 29, 2026 |
| Company and SEC Reg. No. | Tala Financing Philippines Inc., CS201710582 | SEC list, Sep 29, 2026 |
| Certificate of Authority No. | 1132 (as printed by Tala) | Google Play, updated Sep 21, 2026 |
| SEC notices naming the app or lookalikes | 6 documents, latest SEC advisory on unrecorded online lending platforms of Aug 20, 2026 | SEC, Aug 20, 2026 |
| Price published | Yes: Processing fee 3.99% to 9.99%; service fee 0.23% to 0.43% a day; monthly EIR 11.00% to 12.00%; maximum APR 141.76%. All fees are collected on your chosen repayment date. | Google Play, updated Sep 21, 2026 |
| Loan amount and term | Up to ₱25,000, over Up to 120 days | Google Play, updated Sep 21, 2026 |
| Google Play rating | 4.8 of 5 from 1,097,672 ratings, 10M+ installs, as of Oct 2, 2026 | Google Play, updated Sep 21, 2026 |
On ₱5,000 for 120 days, Tala's published terms come to at most ₱3,080 in interest and fees (₱1,580 at its lowest published rate): no interest as such, since it charges fees instead, and an all-in cost of 12.7% a month because its processing fee and service fee are added on top. Tala states a monthly EIR of up to 12%; at the top of every published fee range at once, its terms give 12.7%. Tala on Google Play, updated Sep 21, 2026
Working: processing fee 9.99% × ₱5,000 = ₱500; service fee 0.43% a day × 120 days × ₱5,000 = ₱2,580. The all-in rate is the monthly rate at which one payment of ₱8,080 repays the ₱5,000 you receive (SEC MC No. 14 s.2025 Sec. 2(d)).
Above the SEC caps for this loan: no interest charged, so the 6% interest cap is not reached; all-in 12.7% a month against the 12% cap (above it) (SEC MC No. 14 s.2025, effective Apr 1, 2026). SEC MC No. 14 s.2025
Next: check the worked Disclosure Statement below, then compare Tala with the other recorded apps, or get it from its official Google Play listing.
Tala interest rate and what you pay back
Processing fee 3.99% to 9.99%; service fee 0.23% to 0.43% a day; monthly EIR 11.00% to 12.00%; maximum APR 141.76%. All fees are collected on your chosen repayment date.Its own example, ₱1,000 for 61 days
Principal Amount: P1,000; Processing Fee: P99.90; Service Fees at 61 days: P140.30; Total amount to be paid: P1,240.20
- You pay back
- ₱6,580 to ₱8,080
- Cash you receive
- ₱5,000
- Interest and fees
- ₱1,580 to ₱3,080
- Interest a month, at most
- 0%
- All-in cost (EIR) a month, at most
- 12.7%
- Share of the loan
- 61.6%
Terms from Tala's Google Play listing, updated Sep 21, 2026. The calculator gives the same ₱1,240 for Tala's own example. Documentary stamp tax on a ₱5,000 loan for 120 days is about ₱12.33 (NIRC Sec. 179); check whether the Disclosure Statement passes it on. DST calculator Source
Tala Disclosure Statement, worked out: ₱5,000 for 120 days
Tala must give you this statement in writing before the loan is made (RA 3765, the Truth in Lending Act, Sec. 4). These are the figures it should show at its published maximum; if yours differ, ask why before you accept.
| Figure | Inputs | Rule | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amount financed | ₱5,000 borrowed, nothing taken off | RA 3765 Sec. 4(5) | ₱5,000 |
| Interest | 0% a day × 120 days × ₱5,000 | Tala's published maximum | ₱0 |
| Processing fee | 9.99% × ₱5,000, added to repayment | Part of the finance charge, RA 3765 Sec. 3(3) | ₱500 |
| Service fee | 0.43% a day × ₱5,000 × 120 days, added to repayment | Part of the finance charge, RA 3765 Sec. 3(3) | ₱2,580 |
| Finance charge | Interest + every fee above | RA 3765 Sec. 4(6) | ₱3,080 |
| Simple annual rate | Tala publishes its maximum APR | RA 3765 Sec. 4(7) | Up to 141.76% |
| Late penalty, at most | 5% × ₱8,080 due | SEC MC No. 14 s.2025 Sec. 3 | ₱404 a month |
| All charges together, at most | 100% × ₱5,000 | SEC MC No. 14 s.2025 Sec. 3 | ₱5,000 |
| Documentary stamp tax on the loan | ⌈₱5,000 ÷ ₱200⌉ × ₱1.50 × 120/365 | NIRC Sec. 179, as amended by RA 10963 | ₱12.33 |
| Owed to you if the statement leaves one out | Greater of ₱100 or 2 × ₱3,080, up to ₱2,000 | RA 3765 Sec. 6(a) | ₱2,000 |
Should you borrow from Tala?
For ₱5,000 over 120 days, Pocketcash (Elending) costs at most ₱300, which is ₱2,780 less than Tala's published maximum of ₱3,080.
Choose Tala if
- you have one valid ID and no payslip.
Skip Tala if
- you borrow ₱5,000 for 120 days at its top rate: that is above an SEC cap.
- you need more than 120 days to repay.
- you need to pay in instalments: everything is due on one date.
Tala requirements, customer service and how to pay
- Requirements
- Resident citizen of the Philippines, 18 or older; At least one valid ID; Mobile number
- In its words
No income proof needed. Only 1 valid ID is needed.
- hello@ph-support.tala.co
- Phone
- Not listed on its Google Play listing
- Pay through
- Maya, ShopeePay, GCash, BPI, BDO, Metrobank, QR code
As Tala lists them on its Google Play listing, updated Sep 21, 2026. Use only these channels or the app itself. Source
If you cannot pay Tala on time
If all ₱8,080 of a ₱5,000, 120-day Tala loan fell due unpaid, the penalty could be at most ₱404 a month, and interest, fees and penalties together could never pass ₱5,000. Tala Financing Philippines Inc's collectors, and any agency it hires, may not post your details, threaten you, call before 6 a.m. or after 10 p.m., or message anyone in your contacts except the guarantors you named (SEC MC No. 18 s.2019).
Complain to Tala first at hello@ph-support.tala.co. If that fails, report Tala Financing Philippines Inc to the SEC on hotline 14732 or the iMessage portal, and report messages to your contacts to the National Privacy Commission at complaints@privacy.gov.ph. All eight prohibited collection practices.
Tala regulatory history
- Aug 20, 2026The SEC warned about fakes using this name: Tala - Online Lending App, at uptrendsolutionsph.com. They are not run by Tala Financing Philippines Inc. Source
- Jun 9, 2026The SEC warned about fakes using this name: Tala- Cash Loan Philippines and Tala AISI-loan app quickly on the Apple App Store, and Tala Shuk Lending Inc. They are not run by Tala Financing Philippines Inc. Source
- Apr 28, 2026The SEC warned about fakes using this name: Tala Maya, Tala Now and Tala Peso on the Apple App Store. They are not run by Tala Financing Philippines Inc. Source
- Mar 25, 2026The SEC warned about fakes using this name: Tala Finance-Online Loan App and TALA: Fast Cash Online Loan on the Apple App Store. They are not run by Tala Financing Philippines Inc. Source
- Mar 6, 2026The SEC warned about fakes using this name: Napaka Tala on Google Play; Tala Peso, Tala CashPro, Tala Loan, TalaCash and Tala Pera on the Apple App Store; and fpcreditcorp.com. They are not run by Tala Financing Philippines Inc. Source
- Jan 29, 2026The SEC warned about fakes using this name: TalaCredit-loan app quickly on the Apple App Store. They are not run by Tala Financing Philippines Inc. Source
This page covers Tala's published terms and SEC record, not the offer in your own loan agreement. For a dispute over a specific loan, contact Tala first, then the SEC (hotline 14732); for a legal claim, a lawyer.
Questions about Tala
Who owns Tala?
Tala Financing Philippines Inc (SEC Reg. No. CS201710582), per the SEC list dated Sep 29, 2026.
What is Tala's interest rate?
Tala states (Tala's Google Play listing, updated Sep 21, 2026): "Processing fee 3.99% to 9.99%; service fee 0.23% to 0.43% a day; monthly EIR 11.00% to 12.00%; maximum APR 141.76%. All fees are collected on your chosen repayment date." On ₱5,000 for 120 days: no interest as such, since it charges fees instead, and an all-in cost of 12.7% a month because its processing fee and service fee are added on top.
What are the requirements for Tala?
Tala lists (Tala's Google Play listing, updated Sep 21, 2026): Resident citizen of the Philippines, 18 or older; At least one valid ID; Mobile number.
What is Tala's customer service number or e-mail?
E-mail: hello@ph-support.tala.co. As listed by Tala (Tala's Google Play listing, updated Sep 21, 2026).
How do I pay my Tala loan?
Tala lists these channels (Tala's Google Play listing, updated Sep 21, 2026): Maya, ShopeePay, GCash, BPI, BDO, Metrobank, QR code. You should get a payment reference or receipt in the app; if none appears, the payment has not posted, so keep your proof of payment.
Does Tala call your contacts?
Tala Financing Philippines Inc may not contact anyone in your phone contacts except the guarantors or co-makers you named, even if you allowed access (SEC MC No. 18 s.2019, Sec. 1(h), issued Aug 19, 2019). Raise it with Tala at hello@ph-support.tala.co, then the SEC on 14732.
Cheaper than Tala for ₱5,000 over 120 days
No lender pays to appear on this site or to change its position.
- Pocketcash (Elending): at most ₱300 in interest and fees (18% a year × 120/360 days × ₱5,000 = ₱300 (interest and fees)); lends ₱1,000 to ₱50,000.
- Vplus: at most ₱300 in interest and fees (18% a year × 120/360 days × ₱5,000 = ₱300 interest); lends ₱1,000 to ₱50,000.
- Pesos.ph: at most ₱395 in interest and fees (24% a year × 120/365 days × ₱5,000 = ₱395 interest); lends ₱1,500 to ₱50,000.