cost to incorporate philippines

I think it depends on what type of business you are planning on starting up.....but here is what I found:

Spoiler: Incorporate and register a new firm in Philippines

1. Verify and reserve the company name with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
Agency: Securities and Exchange Commission

The name search can be done electronically via the SEC's online verification system, but applicants must pay for the reservation fee on site at the SEC. Once the reserved name was approved by the SEC, it costs PHP 40 for the first 30 days. The company name can be reserved for a maximum of 90 days for a fee of PHP 120, which is renewable upon expiration of the period. The reservation certificate is obtained in-person at SEC.

1 day - PHP 40

2. Deposit the paid-in minimum capital at the bank
Agency: Bank

According to Section 13 of the Corporation Code, the paid-in minimum capital is 5,000 pesos. Even though a certificate of deposit is not a requirement by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for company registration, this procedure must be completed in order to abide by the applicable law.

The required minimum paid-in capital is reflected in the Articles of Incorporation and supported by the Treasurer's Affidavit as provided under Section 14 of the Corporation Code. SEC requires a Treasurer's Affidavit stating that the deposit has been made in the corporation's treasurer-in-trust account.

1 day - no charge

3. Notarize articles of incorporation and treasurer's affidavit at the notary
Agency: Notary

According to Section 14 and 15 of the Corporation Code, articles of incorporation should be notarized before filing with the SEC. Under Section 15 of the Corporation Code, the Treasurer's Affidavit should also be notarized. The 2004 Rules on Notarial Practice require the presence of the person(s) who executed the document (Articles of Incorporation and Treasurer's Affidavit) before the notary public.

1 day - PHP 500

4. Register the company with the SEC and receive pre-registered Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN)
Agency: Securities and Exchange Commission

The company can register online through SEC i-Register, but entrepreneurs must pay at the SEC. The following documents are required for SEC registration:

a. Company name verification slip;
b. Articles of incorporation (notarized) and by-laws;
c. Treasurer's affidavit (notarized);
d. Statement of assets and liabilities;
e. Registration data sheet with particulars on directors, officers, stockholders, and so forth;
f. Written undertaking to comply with SEC reporting requirements (notarized);
g. Written undertaking to change corporate name (notarized).

On August 15, 2011, SEC launched the Green Lane Unit (GLU) that provides 1 day registration of applications for stock corporations and partnership. In practice, it takes 1-3 business days to process incorporation papers and obtain SEC approval.

The pre-registered Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) is automatically obtained from the SEC Head Office upon registration. However, the company must still register with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) in order to identify applicable tax types, pay an annual registration fee, obtain and stamp sales invoices, receipts and the books of accounts.

Cost: 1/5 of 1% of the authorized capital stock or the subscription price of the subscribed capital stock (whichever is higher but not less than PHP 1,000) + legal research fee (LRF) equivalent to 1% of filing fee but not less than PHP 10 + PHP 500 By-laws + PHP 150 for registration of stock and transfer book (STB) required for new corporations + PHP 320 STB + PHP 10 legal research fee for the By-laws.

2 days on average see procedure details

5. Obtain barangay clearance
Agency: Barangay

To get the barangay clearance, the following documentary requirements should be submitted to the Barangay: Application form, SEC Certificate of Incorporation and approved articles of incorporation and bylaws, location plan/site map and the contract of lease over the corporation's office.

This clearance is obtained from the Barangay where the business is located. Barangay fees vary in each Barangay since they have the discretion to impose their own fees and charges as long as these fees are reasonable and within the limits set by the Local Government Code and city ordinances. In Quezon City, the fees range from PHP 300 to PHP 1000.
The clearance is obtained in one day, provided that the barangay captain is in the office as the captain is the only official authorized to sign.

1 day - PHP 500

6. Pay the annual community tax and obtain the community tax certificate (CTC) from the City Treasurer's Office (CTO)
Agency: City Treasurer's Office

The company is assessed a basic and an additional community tax. The basic community tax rate depends on whether the company legal form is a corporation, partnership, or association (PHP 500 or lower). The additional community tax (not to exceed PHP 10,000.00) depends on the assessed value of real property the company owns in the Philippines at the rate of PHP 2.00 for every PHP 5,000.00 and on its gross receipts, including dividends or earnings, derived from business activities in the Philippines during the preceding year, at the rate of PHP 2.00 for every PHP 5,000.00.

1 day - PHP 500

7. Obtain the business permit to operate from the BPLO
Agency: Business Permits and Licensing Office

The fees vary depending on the LGU issuing the permit. The rate of license fee imposed in Quezon City is 25% of 1% of the authorized capital stock. Other permits, such as location clearance, fire safety and inspection certificate, sanitary permit, certificate of electrical inspection, mechanical permit, and other clearances or certificates required depending on the nature of business, are also imposable. The rate of these fees depends on the nature of business and land area occupied by the proposed corporation.

The barangay clearance is a prerequisite for the issuance of business permit to operate.

Executive Order No. 17, series of 2011 created the Business-One-Stop-Shop to obtain a business permit. The entire procedure including getting approval for the business permit takes around one to two weeks.

Cost: (PHP 2,408.05 business tax (25% of 1% of paid-up capital) + PHP 200 mayor’s permit + PHP 150 sanitary inspection fee + PHP 50 signboard fee + PHP 300 business plate + PHP 100 QCBRB + PHP 545 zoning clearance + PHP 1,300 garbage fee+ PHP 300 FSIC (10% of all regulatory fees))

6 days see procedure details

8. Buy special books of account at bookstore
Agency: Bookstore

Special books of accounts are required for registering with the BIR. The books of accounts are sold at bookstores nationwide. One set of journals consisting of four books (cash receipts account, disbursements account, ledger, general journal) costs about PHP 400.

If the company has a computerized accounting system (CAS), it may opt to register its CAS under the procedures laid out in BIR Revenue Memorandum Order Nos. 21-2000 and 29-2002.

The BIR Computerized System Evaluation Team is required to inspect and evaluate the company’s CAS within 30 days from receipt of the application form (BIR Form No. 1900) and complete documentary requirements.

1 day - PHP 400


9. Apply for Certificate of Registration (COR) and TIN at the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR)
Agency: Bureau of Internal Revenue

After the taxpayer obtains the TIN, the company must pay the annual registration fee of PHP 500 at any duly accredited bank, using payment form BIR Form 0605).

All newly formed corporations subject to SEC registration are issued pre-generated TIN by SEC-Head Office, which is indicated on their SEC Certificate of Registration. The corporation only has to register its pre-generated TIN with the BIR and report all internal revenue taxes that it expects to be liable for.

The requirements for application for COR with the BIR are:
a. Duly accomplished and filled-out BIR Form No. 1903 (Application for Registration for Corporations);
b. Payment Form (BIR Form No. 0605);
c. SEC Certification of Incorporation;
d. Articles of Incorporation and By-laws;
e. Contract of Lease (with BIR Form No. 2000 and supporting BIR Payment Form as proof of payment of documentary stamp tax on the lease agreement);
f. Documentary Stamp Tax Return (BIR Form No. 2000) on the original issuance of shares and Payment Form (for the DST payment); and
g. Mayor’s Permit/Business Permit Application (duly stamped received by the Business Licensing Division of the local government of Quezon City).

1 day - PHP 100 (certification fee) and PHP 15 (documentary stamp tax, in loose form to be attached to Form 2303)

10. Pay the registration fee and documentary stamp taxes (DST) at the AAB
Agency: Bureau of Internal Revenue

The rate of documentary stamp tax on original issuance of shares of stock shall be PHP 1.00 for every PHP 200.00 or fractional part thereof, of the par value, of such shares of stock.

The documentary stamp tax return shall be filed and the tax paid on or before the fifth (5th) day after the close of the month of approval of SEC registration.

Cost: (PHP 500 registration fee + PHP 5,165.345 DST on original issuance of shares of stock. DST on the lease contract is not included in the computation of the cost)

1 day see procedure details


11. Obtain the authority to print receipts and invoices from the BIR
Agency: Bureau of Internal Revenue

The authority to print receipts and invoices must be secured before printing the sales receipts and invoices. The BIR issued Revenue Regulations No. 18-2012 and it became effective on January 18, 2013. It adopted the online system for authority to print official receipts, sales invoices and other commercial invoices. In this regard, all unused or unissued receipts and invoices which were printed prior to January 18, 2013 will be deemed valid only until June 30, 2013.

To obtain the authority to print receipts and invoices from the BIR, the company must submit the following documents to the Revenue District Office (RDO):

a. Duly completed application for authority to print receipts and invoices (BIR Form No. 1906);
b. Job order;
c. Final and clear sample of receipts and invoices (machine-printed);
d. Application for registration (BIR Form No. 1903); and
e. Proof of payment of annual registration fee (BIR Form No. 0605).

1 day no charge

12. Print receipts and invoices at the print shop
Agency: Bureau of Internal Revenue

The cost is based on the following specifications of the official receipt: 1/2 bond paper (8 ½ x 5 ½ cm) in duplicate, black print, carbonless. The minimum print volume is 25 booklets.

7 days - PHP 3,500

13. Have books of accounts and Printer’s Certificate of Delivery (PCD) stamped by the BIR
Agency: Bureau of Internal Revenue

After the printing of receipts and invoices, the printer issues a Printer’s Certificate of Delivery of Receipts and Invoices (PCD) to the company, which must submit this to the appropriate BIR RDO (i.e., the RDO which has jurisdiction over the company’s principal place of business) for registration and stamping within thirty (30) days from issuance. The company must also submit the following documents:

a. All required books of accounts;
b. VAT registration certificate;
c. SEC registration;
d. BIR Form W-5;
e. Certified photocopy of the ATP; and
f. Notarized taxpayer-user’s sworn statement enumerating the responsibilities and commitments of the taxpayer-user.

The company must also submit a copy of the PCD to the BIR RDO having jurisdiction over the printer’s principal place of business.

1 day - no charge

14. Register with the Social Security System (SSS)
Agency: Social Security System

To register with the SSS, the company must submit the following documents:
a. Employer registration form (Form R-1);
b. Employment report (Form R-1A);
c. List of employees, specifying their birth dates, positions, monthly salary and date of employment; and
d. Articles of incorporation, by-laws and SEC registration.

Upon submission of the required documents, the SSS employer and employee numbers will be released. The employees may attend an SSS training seminar after registration. SSS prefers that all members go through such training so that each member is aware of their rights and obligations.

2 days - no charge

15. Register with the Philippine Health Insurance Company (PhilHealth)
Agency: Philippine Health Insurance Corporation

To register with PhilHealth, the company must submit the following documents:
a. Employer data record (Form ER1);
b. Report of employee-members (Form ER2);
c. SEC registration;
d. BIR registration; and
e. Copy of business permit.

Upon submission of the required documents, the company shall get the receiving copy of all the forms as proof of membership until PhilHealth releases the employer and employee numbers within three months.

1 day - no charge


* 16. Register with Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-ibig)
Agency: Home Development Mutual Fund

To register with the HDMF, the corporation must submit the following documents:
a. Employer's Data Form (EDF [FPF040]);
b. Specimen Signature Form (SSF[FPF170]);
c. Copy of SEC Certificate of Incorporation;
d. Copy of Approved Articles of Incorporation and By-laws; and
e. Board Resolution or Secretary’s Certificate indicating the duly designated Authorized Representative.

Upon submission of the complete documents and payment of the first contribution to the fund, the Pag-IBIG will issue the HDMF number and the HDMF Certificate of Registration.

Starting a Business in Philippines - Doing Business - World Bank Group