Philippines Company Registration
Business Overview
The Philippines is one of the fastest-growing economies in Southeast Asia, with a young population, strong English proficiency, and close trade ties with the United States and ASEAN markets. Its open investment environment and competitive operating costs make it an attractive destination for foreign enterprises expanding into Asia.
With clear corporate laws and an established financial system, the Philippines is particularly suitable for trading companies, service providers, holding companies, and regional headquarters.
Advantages of Registering a Company in the Philippines
100% foreign ownership permitted in most industries
English used as an official business and legal language
Simple company structure and transparent legal system
Competitive labor and operating costs
Strategic gateway to ASEAN and the US market
Mature banking system with international connectivity
Common Company Types
Domestic Corporation
Most commonly used structure for foreign investors
Allows foreign shareholding (subject to industry regulations)
Suitable for commercial and operational activities
Branch Office
Extension of a foreign parent company
No separate legal personality
Suitable for centralized management structures
Representative Office
Non-revenue-generating entity
Used for market research, liaison, and coordination
Basic Registration Requirements
Shareholders: Minimum 2 (individuals or corporate entities)
Directors: Minimum 2 directors
Corporate Secretary: Mandatory, must be a Philippine resident
Registered Address: Local business address required
Authorized Capital: Depends on business nature and ownership structure
Company Registration Process
Company name verification and reservation
Preparation and filing of incorporation documents
Registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
Tax registration and issuance of Tax Identification Number (TIN)
Business permit and local government registration
Corporate bank account opening
Estimated timeline: 7–10 working days, subject to government approval.
Taxation Overview
Corporate Income Tax: Generally 25% (subject to incentives)
Value-Added Tax (VAT): 12%
Withholding Tax: Applicable depending on transaction type
All registered companies are required to comply with:
Annual financial statements
Tax filings and statutory reporting
Corporate secretarial maintenance
Our Services
We provide end-to-end company incorporation services in the Philippines, including:
Company registration and licensing
Registered office address
Corporate secretary services
Assistance with bank account opening
Ongoing compliance and advisory support
Ideal for
International trading companies
Service and consulting firms
Holding and investment structures
ASEAN regional operations
Philippines Company Incorporation
Company Setup Overview
Company Types
DTI (Sole Proprietorship)
OPC (One Person Corporation)
Joint Venture Company
Wholly Foreign-Owned Company
Capital Requirements
DTI
Minimum registered capital: PHP 500,000
OPC
Minimum registered capital: PHP 100,000
Joint Venture Company
Minimum registered capital: PHP 1,000,000
For regulated industries (e.g. retail, finance), minimum paid-up capital of PHP 1,000,000 is required
Wholly Foreign-Owned Company
General business activities (including wholesale): USD 200,000
Retail and financial sectors: USD 500,000
Minimum paid-up capital: USD 200,000
After capital verification, funds may be transferred to the operational bank account and used as working capital
Special note on paid-up capital
For DTI, OPC, and Joint Venture companies (excluding regulated industries), the minimum paid-up capital requirement is 6.25% of the registered capital.
Currently, this payment is handled on behalf of clients by our firm, with no action required from the client.
If the client chooses to pay directly, the capital may be transferred to the operational account after verification.
Shareholder Requirements
DTI / OPC:
Minimum 1 individual shareholder
Joint Venture Company:
Minimum 1 foreign individual shareholder
Minimum 2 Filipino individual shareholders
Wholly Foreign-Owned Company:
Minimum 2 foreign individual shareholders
Tax Filing & Audit Obligations
After incorporation, all Philippine entities must comply with annual audit and tax filing requirements, regardless of business activity.
Applicable taxes may include:
Corporate Income Tax
Value-Added Tax (VAT)
Percentage Tax
Annual audit deadline: 15 April of the following year
Late or non-filing will result in government penalties and fines.
License Renewal & Compliance
DTI licenses and company registrations must be renewed annually by 20 January
Failure to renew on time may result in:
Administrative penalties
Suspension of business operations
License revocation after repeated non-compliance
Additional penalties:
Failure to renew business licenses on time may incur:
25% surcharge, plus
2% monthly penalty after the deadline
Severe non-compliance may lead to company closure or asset seizure
Failure to renew BIR Form 2303 on time may result in:
Fines ranging from PHP 5,000 to PHP 20,000
Possible imprisonment of 6–24 months in serious cases
Company Packages
Philippines Business Registration Price List
Service Scope Overview
| Item | Service Description | Deliverables | Joint Venture | Wholly Foreign-Owned | DTI (E-commerce) | DTI (Standard) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DTI Registration | Sole proprietorship registration | DTI Certificate, TIN Card, BIR 2303 | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Company Registration | Company setup & Articles of Association | SEC Certificate, BIR 2303, Official Receipt Authority, Local Permits | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Foreign Director TIN | TIN application for foreign directors | Foreign Director TIN Card | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bank Account Opening | Corporate bank account | AUB Bank account & credentials | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Nominee Shareholder | Filipino nominee shareholder | One Filipino nominee (1 year) | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Virtual Shareholder | Virtual nominee service | Anonymous Filipino shareholder | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Registered Address | Registered office address service | One-year address service | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Corporate Secretary | Director & corporate secretary service | One-year secretary service | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Social Security Registration | SSS, PhilHealth, Pag-IBIG setup | SSS, Pag-IBIG, PhilHealth certificates | ✓ | ✓ |
Pricing & Service Terms
Package prices are bundled promotional rates.
If clients provide certain items independently, RMB 1,000 will be deducted per excluded item.Standalone services (individual services outside packages) are not eligible for discounts.
DTI packages do not include audit services.
Audit fees are charged separately if required.Estimated processing time:
Company registration: 35–60 working days (Philippine working days)
Bank account opening: 20–30 working days
Final timelines are subject to government approval and certificate issuance.Renewal of Filipino shareholders, registered address, and corporate secretary services must be completed at least one month in advance.
Late renewal may result in:Corporate secretary resignation
Company being listed as non-compliant
Disruption to normal business operations