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Philippines company help: answers by topic

10 answers for owners and founders of a Philippines company, from ordering to banking, annual compliance and what happens after incorporation. General information, not legal or tax advice: your specialist confirms how it applies to you.

Start in PhilippinesPhilippines company formation

Getting started

Which documents must be apostilled for a Philippine company?

Anything signed or issued abroad that the SEC relies on, such as a foreign shareholder's corporate documents, board resolutions or powers of attorney. They are notarised where signed and then apostilled, because the Philippines has applied the Apostille Convention since 14 May 2019. Documents from a country outside the Convention go through consular legalisation instead.

Certification and apostilleSource: Status table: Apostille Convention, Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH) (accessed Sep 2026)

How is a Philippine company name approved?

The name is verified and reserved online with the SEC before the articles are filed. It must not be identical or confusingly similar to an existing name, and it usually ends with “Corporation”, “Corp.”, “Incorporated” or “Inc.”; a One Person Corporation ends with “OPC”. We check your choices and reserve the best one.

Source: Republic Act No. 11232, Revised Corporation Code of the Philippines, Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines (accessed Sep 2026)

Pricing & payment

Banking

How should I send the capital to the Philippines?

By bank transfer from abroad into an account opened for the company in formation, so the bank can issue a certificate of deposit for the SEC filing. Keep the inward remittance records: they are needed to register the investment with the central bank, which matters when you later send profits or capital back out (confirm with your specialist).

Business account supportSource: Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas: foreign investment registration, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (accessed Sep 2026)

What will a Philippine bank ask for once the company is registered?

The SEC certificate, articles and by-laws, the latest General Information Sheet, a secretary's certificate naming the signatories, and identity documents for directors, officers and main shareholders. Some banks also want the mayor's permit and BIR registration. The bank decides; we prepare the file.

Business account support

Compliance

What happens if the General Information Sheet or audited accounts are filed late?

The SEC charges a fine that depends on the company's paid-up capital and how many times it has been late, plus an amount for each month of delay. Repeated failures can lead to the company being declared delinquent and its registration revoked. We track both dates as part of your renewal.

Company renewalSource: SEC MC No. 06, series of 2024: updated fines for late AFS and GIS, Securities and Exchange Commission, Philippines (accessed Sep 2026)

What must my Philippine company set up with the BIR?

A certificate of registration for its tax types, registered books of account, and approved invoices or an e-invoicing system before it issues its first sale. It then files monthly and quarterly returns from the first period, even with no sales. Late or missing returns carry penalties, so appoint an accountant early.

Accounting and tax filingSource: Penalties for late filing of tax returns, Bureau of Internal Revenue, Philippines (accessed Sep 2026)

After incorporation

How do I change directors or officers of my Philippine company?

Directors are elected by the shareholders and officers by the board, and the company reports the election to the SEC within 30 days. The residence and citizenship rules still apply after the change, including a Filipino resident corporate secretary. We prepare the minutes and the updated filing.

Corporate changesSource: Republic Act No. 11232, Revised Corporation Code of the Philippines, Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines (accessed Sep 2026)

What does my Philippine renewal cover, and what is extra?

The renewal of a fixed quote on Starter covers the corporate services in your package for the year and your compliance calendar. The audit, bookkeeping, monthly BIR filings and resident officers are quoted separately, because they depend on your activity and headcount.

Company renewal

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