How to Register and Form a Corporation in the Philippines

Last Updated on – Oct 16, 2023 @ 8:52 am

This entry was co-authored by NVMA Consulting Inc. & Nicolas & de Vega Law Offices (NDVLaw.com).

The Philippine economy is on a roll.

From 1982 until the end of 2016, our GDP Annual Growth Rate averaged 3.68 percent.

Do you know what our average GDP was at the end of 2017?

It was 6.7 percent. Almost double of what we had for more than three decades.

Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is used by economists to measure a country’s economic progress.

Simply put, if GDP is rising, it means the economy is moving forward.

What does this mean to our fellow Filipinos? For our business-minded kababayans, they might find this the perfect time to set up their dream business.

But what does it take to set up a business in the Philippines? And are the words “business”, “company”, and “corporation” one and the same? Someone might ask, “I own a business. How does it differ from a corporation? Are their advantages?”

In casual conversation, it’s common for people to interchange these three terms when explaining a financial venture. When someone says, “I want to start a business”, “I’m setting up my own company”, or “we’re one big corporation” — you have a general idea of what they’re referring to.

However, all three have their own unique distinctions and knowing about them is important if you’re an enterprising individual.

Let’s take a quick look at their definitions:

Business – An organization or economic system where goods and services are exchanged for one another or for money. It can be classified as privately-owned, non-profit, or state-owned.
Company – A company is any entity that engages in business and can be a proprietorship, partnership or corporation.
Corporation – A type of company that declares the business as a separate, legal entity guided by a group of officers known as the board of directors.

I like to link their definitions in a top-down approach where the word “Business” is on top followed by “Company” which then branches down to several types where it includes “Corporation”.

Easy enough, right? BusinessDictionary.com expounds on the difference between a company and a corporation:

“All corporations are companies, but not all companies are corporations. Company is a much broader term than Corporation, and it encompasses a lot of different types of businesses.”

Why is it important to classify their differences? Because each one of them requires different steps to set-up. And in this article, we’ll be focusing on how to register a corporation in the Philippines.

What is a Corporation?

Our definition earlier states that a Corporation is, “A separate, legal entity guided by a group of officers known as the board of directors.”

To fully grasp its meaning, we have to understand what “legal entity” means first. From the same site:

A legal entity has legal capacity to enter into agreements or contracts, assume obligations, incur and pay debts, sue and be sued in its own right, and to be held responsible for its actions.

That last line made me chuckle. “Be held responsible for its actions”.

It almost sounds like “legal entity” is an actual person.

But if you think about it, it actually does make sense to compare a corporation to an actual person to better understand its meaning. Why?

Because this line of thought gives us a glimpse of why corporations are created in the first place: Limited Liability.

Put simply, “Limited Liability” states that the owners and shareholders of the corporation are not responsible for all its debts if the company fails. The company itself, as a legal entity, is liable for the rest.

It’s as if there’s another person who can be held liable in the event the business goes bankrupt.

It allows shareholders to protect their personal assets in the event that the business fails. Or if somebody sues the company, all damages will be limited to the assets that are within the company. The suing party can’t go after the shareholders’ personal assets like their cars, homes, and other belongings.

The same cannot be said for a sole-proprietorship type of business because it does not separate the business entity from its owner. In the event the company gets sued or goes into debt, the owner is responsible for it. The creditors or suing party can go after the owner’s personal assets.

Which is why while it’s more costly and complicated to set-up, bigger businesses choose to establish a corporation in order to have this kind of protection. Let’s take a closer look at the Pros and Cons of running a corporation:

Pros of a Corporation:

Risk and liability is limited to the corporation.
Owners are not liable themselves.
Founders can raise capital through issuance of stocks to shareholders
Ownership can be transferred to different owners
Existence of a corporation has no limits
Acting as a legal entity means it can take legal actions like person
A board of directors handles management of the corporation

Cons of a Corporation:

More expensive to set up versus single proprietorship
Requires more legal paperwork to accomplish
Operating costs are higher
Taxes incurred are higher
Subject to more Government requirements and laws

Recommended Reading: 10 Best Business Books for Filipino Entrepreneurs

Steps on How to Register a Corporation

1. Reserve and register business name in SEC (Security and Exchange Commission)

Visit SEC website or make a personal appearance at their office in Mandaluyong.
Complete and sign all required documents: Articles of Incorporation, By-Laws, Treasurer’s Affidavit, Joint Affidavit of Two Incorporators. All documents need to be notarized (more on this below).

2. Acquire Barangay Clearance

Visit the Barangay where your business is located and request for clearance.
Submit the following together with your Barangay clearance: Certificate of Business Registration from SEC, Two (2) Valid IDs, Proof of Address (Contract of Lease or Certificate of Land Title)

3. Acquire Business Permit from Mayor’s Office

Visit the municipal office where your business is located and request for a business permit form.
Submit the following together with your completed Business Permit: Certificate of Business Registration from SEC, Two (2) Valid IDs, Proof of Address (Contract of Lease or Certificate of Land Title), Barangay Clearance.

4. Register with BIR (Bureau of Internal Revenue)

Visit the Regional District Office that covers your business location
Request for a copy of BIR Form 1903 — Application for Registration of Partnership or Corporation
Submit the following together with your completed Business Permit: Certificate of Business Registration from SEC, Two (2) Valid IDs, Proof of Address (Contract of Lease or Certificate of Land Title), Barangay Clearance, Business Permit from Mayor’s office
Pay all applicable fees and register your book of accounts and receipts
Claim your Certificate of Registration

Full List of Requirements & Documents needed for SEC

The incorporation process is lodged with the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC).

The following requirements/documents must be submitted with the SEC:

1. Name Reservation/Verification Slip
2. Cover Sheet
3. Articles of Incorporation
4. Corporate By-laws
5. Registration Data Sheet
6. Registration Data Sheet (CAPITAL STOCK / INCORPORATORS /DIRECTORS / OFFICERS INFORMATION)
7. Affidavit of Undertaking to Change Corporate Name
8. Treasurer’s Affidavit stating the amount of the shares of stock subscribed and the amount of the subscription price which has been paid-in to him as Treasurer-in-Trust of the proposed corporation. He should likewise certify that at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the authorized capital stock has been subscribed, and at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the amount subscribed has been paid-in to him for the benefit and to the credit of the corporation.
9. Bank Certificate

Also Read: 38 Business Documents & Letters [with samples and templates]

Anent the documents, the following information must be supplied to adequately fill out the necessary documents for submission with the SEC:

Corporate Name (The last part must end with Inc., Incorporated, Corporation or Corp.)
Purpose of the Corporation
Address of the Corporation
Telephone Number
Value of each share (This is usually P100.00 for 1 share)
Authorized capital (Total number of shares of the Corporation)
Subscribed capital (Number of shares to be subscribed by the incorporators. This cannot be less than 25% of the authorized capital)
Paid-up capital (Number of shares paid by the incorporators. This cannot be less than 25% of the paid-up capital)
Name and Branch of Bank where the paid-up capital amount will be deposited
Incorporators (Name, nationality, address, birthday, Tax Identification Number, Community Tax Certificate Number or Passport Number)
Shares of the Incorporators (number of subscribed shares, number of shares paid and percentage of ownership)
Number of Directors and their names (Must be an incorporator. Not less than 5 and not more than 15 directors)
Name of the Chairman of the Board
Name of President
Name of Corporate Secretary
Name of Treasurer
Term of existence of the Corporation
Preferred date of Annual Stockholders’ Meeting, e.g. any day in May of each calendar year
Accounting Year of the corporation (Calendar Year or Fiscal Year. Calendar Year is recommended since this is used by most government agencies)

Note: In addition, the incorporators must own or be a subscriber of at least one (1) share of the capital stock of the corporation. Please note that the Treasurer must be a resident of the Philippines while the Corporate Secretary must both be a resident and citizen of the Philippines. Furthermore, the President CANNOT serve concurrently as secretary or treasurer.

The SEC filing fees for the incorporation of a domestic corporation are as follows:

Basic Filing Fee for the Articles of Incorporation – 1/5 of 1% of the authorized capital stock or the subscription price of the subscribed capital stock, but not less than P2,000.00
Legal Research– 1% of the filing fee
Examining and Filing Fee for the By-Laws – P1,010.00
Cost and registration of the Stock & Transfer Book – P470.00

It would approximately take 2 – 3 weeks for the SEC to examine the documents and correspondingly issue a Certificate of Incorporation.

The first step would be to reserve your corporate name either online or personally with the SEC. Once the name is reserved, you may proceed to SEC to submit the documents listed above.

A faster way to procure the listed documents is to buy the “Green Lane Forms” from the SEC. Said forms cost Five Hundred Pesos (P500.00) and takes one to two days to process.

Why is it important to have a Business License?

Legal Protection.

To receive a business license, a business must comply with all requirements of the city granting the license. Applying for a business license ensures that the new business owner’s infrastructure, plans and policies are in line with city regulations.

In addition, most cities legally require businesses to be licensed, so possessing a business license protects the owner from being shut down for having an illegal business.

Credibility.

Customers are often wary of new businesses. Prior to purchasing goods or services, particularly over the Internet, customers want to ensure that the business is legitimate.

If the entrepreneur displays her business license in her store or on her company website, it helps reassure customers that they are dealing with a business and not a scam artist. Other businesses the entrepreneur deals with also may need to see the business license prior to doing business.

Receiving Funds.

Many cities offer to fund to new businesses, particularly start-up businesses. To qualify for funds, a business must possess a business license demonstrating that the city approves of the business venture.

Tax Compliance.

From the point of view of the city issuing a license, business licenses are important because they provide a record of all businesses who may owe tax to the city.

Many cities require license holders to pay quarterly taxes on merchandise sold in order to keep the license current. From entrepreneurs’ point of view, business licenses are equally important because they allow them to easily keep up with taxes owed to the city, keeping them out of legal and financial trouble.

In addition, many businesses must pay federal and state taxes on a quarterly basis; paying city taxes to keep the license current can help remind business owners to pay other taxes due.

Wholesale Benefits.

If an entrepreneur resells merchandise purchased elsewhere, he can get the merchandise at lower cost if he has a license. Licenses allow entrepreneurs to purchase items at the wholesale cost–the cost of producing the item–rather than at the price it sells for in stores. Entrepreneurs do not pay tax on items bought for resale; the customer pays tax when the item is resold.

Many manufacturers require entrepreneurs to show them a license prior to selling items at discounted prices. This ensures that the entrepreneur is legitimate rather than someone trying to buy items for personal use at lower prices.

What are the legal matters a Corporation must take into consideration?

The main advantage of incorporating is the protection from personal liability, but these should not be taken for granted.

Once a business is incorporated, the directors must ensure that it retains its legal status. You must keep detailed financial records and ensure that tax returns are filed fully and on time, for starters.

A business that fails to perform these legal duties risks losing its corporate status (and the protections of incorporation). A corporation that is delinquent on its taxes or otherwise out of compliance, for instance, may not be able to file a civil lawsuit or secure capital until it resolves these issues.

Depending on the business form, the certain legal formalities must be followed in order to maintain the legal status of a corporation. Once incorporated, a business’s ongoing obligations include the following:

First Board Meeting

You will need to call and conduct an initial meeting of the board of directors or shareholders as required in the articles of incorporation. This will help set the tone and establish the direction of the new corporation.

Successive Board Meetings

Hold future meetings at least as often as required by applicable business laws.

Following the Articles of Incorporation

Conform all decisions and internal procedures to the outline set forth by the articles of incorporation.

Meeting Minutes

Record all the actions and decisions of the board of directors in the corporate minute book. Minutes typically include the names of the board members and anyone else present at the meeting, with a record of reports by the officers, actions taken, etc.

General Information Sheet

Maintain your GIS with the SEC, as required by law.

Renewal of Business Permit

Maintain your permit by renewing quarterly (for new business) and annually on the succeeding years provided you have shifted the payment from quarter to annual.

Licensing and Professional Standards

Some businesses must comply with licensing requirements or professional standards to preserve their status. These businesses may need to maintain further records or use special procedures or equipment based on rules for their specific industries.

Taxes

Obtain tax identification numbers for the business, and file necessary tax returns annually.

Securities

Issue shares of stock as mandated by the articles of incorporation and securities laws.

Bookkeeping

Establish and maintain corporate books and records, including accounting ledgers, shareholder records, and corporate minute books.

Failure to Follow Legal Procedures of a Corporation

A failure to honor these and other corporate obligations can result in personal liability for directors, officers, or shareholders for business obligations and debts. Because of these harsh consequences and because the specific legal requirements vary depending on the business’s location and form, businesses should seek professional legal assistance.

In many states, this suspension or revocation of corporate status is referred to as a “loss of good standing.”

Generally speaking, a company that fails to follow the legal corporate procedures may face the following consequences:

Personal liability for the acts of the company
Inability to file a civil lawsuit
Tax liens (nonpayment of tax obligations)
Difficulty securing capital investments or loans (see: where to get loans)
Fines and other penalties

Get Help Complying with Your Corporation’s Legal Requirements

Organizing your business as a corporation provides many advantages over other legal structures, mainly having to do with taxes and protection from personal liability. But once you incorporate, it’s important that you follow certain procedures in order to maintain these protections. Corporate officers are busy running their business.

Also Read: 100 Profitable Small Business Ideas & Opportunities in the Philippines

How To Register A One-Person Corporation

The passage of RA 11232, also known as Revised Corporation Code in the Philippines on February 23, 2019, paved the way for One Person Corporation (OPC). It’s a corporate structure that can be owned by a single stockholder who can be a natural person, trust, or estate.

The goal is to improve the ease of doing business and entice more investments in the country.

Banks, quasi-banks, pre-need, insurance, trust, public and privately-listed companies, including government-owned corporations are not allowed to incorporate as OPC.

Foreign nationals are allowed to form an OPC subject to constitutional and statutory restrictions on foreign participation as reflected in SEC Memorandum Circular No. 7, Series of 2019.

Compared to a single proprietorship, an OPC is considered a Limited Liability Corporation, which means it has a separate judicial entity from its owner.

Eligibility and Requirements

To form a One-person corporation, the following documents will be required:

Articles of Incorporation for One Person Corporation
Written Consent from the Nominee and Alternate Nominee
Cover Sheet
Other Requirements, if applicable:
- Proof of Authority to Act on Behalf of the Trust or Estate (for trusts and estates incorporating as OPC)
- Foreign Investments Act (FIA) Application Form (for a foreign natural person)
- Affidavit of Undertaking to Change Company Name, in case not incorporated
- Tax Identification Number (TIN) for Filipino single stockholder
- Tax Identification Number (TIN) or Passport Number for Foreign single stockholder
Filing Fees (which includes):
- Registration Fee
- Legal Research Fee
- Name Reservation Fee
- Documentary Stamp Fee
- FIA Fee (if applicable)

Once established, the SEC will require the following to be submitted on certain periods:

Annual financial statements audited by an independent CPA
Reports containing details or comments by the President on every qualification, reservation or disclaimer made by the auditor in the Audit Report.
Disclosure of all self-dealings and related transactions between the one-person corporation and the single stockholder
Other reports as the SEC may require.

Steps for registering a One-Person Corporation

Due to the implementation of ECQ in Luzon, the Commission has set-up an interim online registration system in April 2020 to facilitate application for registration of One Person Corporations (OPC).

Step 1: Visit https://apps004.sec.gov.ph:8001/application and click the “Proceed to Application form” button on the lower-left corner.

Step 2: Processing office refers to the SEC Office where the signed and notarized hard copies of the registration docs are submitted and where the Certificate of Registration will be released.

Step 3: Provide your current and valid contact information as all email notifications will be sent to the email address indicated.

Step 4: Proposed Corporate Name and Trade name/s, if any should comply with the SEC guidelines and procedures on the use of Corporate and Partnership Names For further information click the link provided to learn more about the guidelines.

Step 5: Corporations are classified by industry based on the Philippine Standard Industrial Classification (PSIC). Select the exact or closely related industry division and group in relation to the proposed primary business activity.

Step 6: The principal office address refers to a place where the company is located within the Philippines. You need to provide the complete principal office address.

Step 7: Review all the information you entered before hitting submit.

Step 8: Once all fields are complete, click “Create Application” at the bottom of the page. An application reference number will be provided and will be used for tracking your application.

Step 9: You will be advised of the status of your OPC application through the email address you provided in your application form within 3 working days.

Step 10: If approved, you may pay the registration fees specified on the payment assessment form, and submit proof of payment, signed and notarized hard copies of the registration documents to the selected SEC Office within thirty (30) calendar days from the date of payment of registration fees.

Step 11: If the application fails to receive approval, the applicant may re-submit with the recommended changes set forth by the reviewing officer (as indicated on the disapproval notice).

Should you have any questions or need assistance, you can contact the SEC through email: crmd_registration_opc@sec.gov.ph or crmd_registration_234@sec.gov.ph

Pros and Cons of a One-person Corporation

Pros:

A separate judicial entity from its owner
No minimum capital stock is required to register.
No need to submit and file corporate by-laws
OPC can also avail of the Optional Standard Deduction of 40% on its net revenue. It can deduct costs first and then deduct the 40% optional deduction from its gross income.
Easy to switch from an OPC to a domestic corporation (versus single proprietorship)
Succession and business continuity are smoother versus single-proprietorship. The perpetuity of the corporation is preserved.

Cons:

Professionals and banks are not eligible
More administrative requirements when compared to a sole proprietorship
Current fixed income tax of 30%. Compared to sole proprietorships with 8% income tax if its annual income is less than Php 3million.

Powers of a Sole Director in an OPC

The single stockholder shall be the sole director and president of the OPC. An OPC must designate a treasurer or corporate secretary within 15 days the Certificate of Incorporation gets issued and should notify the SEC about it within 5 days of appointment. Note that the sole stockholder cannot assume the role of a corporate secretary but may assume the role of a Treasurer.

If he is concurrently the Treasurer, he must post a bond based on the authorized capital stock of the OPC. The bond will remain as a requirement for as long as the single stockholder is the Treasurer. It is subject to renewal every two years.

It’s worth noting that while technically deemed as 1-person ownership, the law requires a single stockholder to assign a nominee and an alternate nominee who shall assume the position of director (sole stockholder) in the event of death or incapacity.

The single stockholder has the power to change both nominee and alternate nominees by submitting a written consent with the new names to the SEC. There’s no need to amend the Articles of Incorporation for this type of change in an OPC.

If the nominee becomes disabled, incapacitated, dies — or fails to execute the duties for managing the corporation, the alternate nominee can step in and assume the role of director.

This role will be managed by the nominee (or alternate nominee) until the law determines the legal heirs of the corporation.

How to Register a Corporation in the Philippines Online

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) launched an online Company Registration System (CRS) accessible via its website to provide individuals with the following services:

Company/Corporation registration
Appeal for proposed company name
Amendments
Search registered company names
Inquiries for requirements regarding application

Registering a new company using the SEC’s online CRS is fairly easy through the following steps:

First, you’ll need to create an account to access the CRS. Follow these steps:

Open your web browser and log on to crs.sec.gov.ph
Click the sign up link below the login button. This will take you to the account creation page.
Complete all required fields, especially the ones marked with asterisks. For additional security, you’ll be asked to provide a security question.
Once all fields are complete, click Submit.
You’ll receive an email with an activation link. Open the email then click the verify address link to complete your account registration.

Once you have an account, you may now start using the SEC CRS to register a company/corporation using the following steps:

Log into the SEC CRS platform.
Click “Register a new company” among other application types.
Choose the company and industry type to verify the proposed company name.
Complete all the application forms that will be displayed. All information you’ll provide in these form/s will be used to generate documents such as Articles of Incorporation, By-Laws, and other company registration documents.
Download the documents once you’re done completing all required fields.
Upload all the required documents listed and shown in the system. Click “Submit”.

A few reminders when registering a company via the SEC CRS platform:

Start step 4 AFTER completing Step 3 within four (4) calendar days otherwise the reserved name will expire.
Steps 4 to 6 should be accomplished within 30 calendar days otherwise all data encoded will be purged by the system.
The verified company name will again be available for use after 30 calendar days.

Tips on Running Your Corporation

Here’s a rundown of who plays what roles in a corporation:

Board of directors

The original directors are designated in the Articles of Incorporation, which is the document filed with the state to legally form the entity.

Directors oversee the officers of the company and assure that it operates according to law and corporate procedures. Directors have a fiduciary duty to the corporation to act in the corporation’s best interest, not to their own best interest, among other legal duties.

These duties are to protect the shareholders’ investments in the corporation. Investors often want at least one representative on the board of directors, since the board formally controls the decisions of the company.

However, sometimes investors avoid having any directors and arrange other contractual alternatives in order to avoid the fiduciary duty requirements to act for the benefit of the corporation rather than themselves.

The board of directors appoints and may fire the corporation’s officers, who are responsible for the day-to-day operations of the company.

Shareholders

Shareholders are people who’ve been granted stock by the corporation in exchange for money paid or services performed for the corporation.

The shareholders meet annually, at the corporation’s annual meeting, to elect the board of directors. Shareholders are not financially liable for the debts of the corporation and are not legally liable for any wrongdoing of the corporation.

Investors will be granted shares in exchange for their investment. Typically, they will want “preferred shares, which means that if there are minimal dividends or other negative financial events, they will have priority in getting their money over the “common stock” shareholders.

Officers

Officers typically include at least a CEO and/or president, secretary and treasurer/CFO. Officers do not have the same heightened level of fiduciary duties to the corporation that the board of directors has.

After You’ve Incorporated

Once you’re incorporated, be sure to follow the rules of incorporation. If you don’t, a court can pierce the corporate veil and hold you and the other owners personally liable for the business’s debts.

It is important to follow all the rules required by state law. You should keep accurate financial records for the corporation, showing a separation between the corporation’s income and expenses and that of the owners’.

The corporation should also issue stock, file annual reports and hold yearly meetings to elect officers and directors, even if they’re the same people as the shareholders. Be sure to keep minutes of these meetings.

On all references to your business, make certain to identify it as a corporation, using Inc. or Corp., whichever your state requires. You also want to make sure that whomever you deal with, such as your banker or clients, knows that you are an officer of a corporation.

To make sure your corporation stays on the right side of the law, heed the following guidelines:

Call the secretary of state each year to check your corporate status.
Put the annual meetings (shareholders’ and directors’) on tickler cards.
Check all contracts to ensure the proper name is used in each. The signature line should read “Juan de la Cruz, President, XYZ Corp.,” never just “Juan de la Cruz.”
Never use your name followed by “dba” (doing business as) on a contract. Renegotiate any old ones that do.
Before undertaking any activity out of the normal course of business–like purchasing major assets–write a corporate resolution permitting it. Keep all completed forms in the corporate book.
Never use corporate checks for personal debts and vice versa.
Get professional advice about continued retained earnings not needed for immediate operating expenses.

If you need help in starting a company, incorporating a corporation, and identifying and complying with the legal procedures of a corporation in the Philippines, you may e-mail us at info@ndvlaw.com or contact us at (+632)8470-6126.

Credits:

Co-authors and Contributors:

NVMA Consulting Inc. – is a business process outsourcing & consulting firm which provides services of incorporation, business registration, visa permit, and other government compliance for business. If you need help in starting a company or incorporating a corporation in the Philippines, you may e-mail NVMA at nvmaconsulting@gmail.com or contact via phone at +639159862388.
Nicolas & de Vega Law Offices (NDVLaw.com) – a full-service law firm that provides a wide range of services, from family law, corporate law, criminal/civil litigation, up to local and international taxation legal services. If you need help in starting a company or incorporating a corporation in the Philippines, you may also reach NDVLaw at info@ndvlaw.com or contact via their hotline at (+632)8470-6126.
TJ Ibay – lead editor of Grit PH.

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Comments

Luis says
May 23, 2018 at 11:12 am
Thank you for this article. You really covered the basics of starting a corporation.
Gari says
November 19, 2018 at 11:16 pm
Great article for someone like myself. Thank you.
Ivan says
July 9, 2021 at 2:27 pm
A corporation should have an authorising document, or Articles of Incorporation. The photocopies of the following documents must be submitted and verified to the Securities and Exchange Commission by a process called “Certification.

How to Register and Form a Corporation in the Philippines

What is a Corporation?

Steps on How to Register a Corporation

Full List of Requirements & Documents needed for SEC

Other Legal Documents to consider when establishing your business: