SEC Registration Service in the Philippines

Our SEC Registration Services

At FilePino, we specialize in guiding businesses like yours through the SEC registration process. Our expert team ensures that all documents are drafted, gathered, and filed carefully and promptly. We simplify the process further with our comprehensive knowledge of SEC requirements and transactions, saving you time and effort.

Corporate Legal Consultation

We provide tailored legal and business advice on critical aspects of company incorporation, such as business structure, capital structure, foreign equity, etc., and SEC registration requirements. 

Nominee Directors and Corporate Secretarial Services

We also offer nominee directors and corporate secretarial services, especially to foreign corporations that need legal representatives in the Philippines to fulfill statutory and regulatory obligations and to assist in navigating through the complex corporate laws and regulations.  

Company Name Verification and Reservation

Once we settle everything, we start the SEC registration with a company name verification and reservation through the SEC eSPARC. This is required to ensure that the preferred corporate name is not in conflict with those existing in the SEC database.  

eSPARC Registration (SEC Online Registration)

While waiting for the results of the name verification, company details, such as its purpose, principal office address, contact details, capital structure, company officers, stock subscriptions, etc., may already be encoded on eSPARC. We then proceed to the generation, review, and initial submission of the application documents.  

Document Signing and Notarization

We closely monitor the progress of the registration, and once the documents are approved, we download them for printing, signing, and notarization. We must upload the signed and notarized documents within thirty (30) days to avoid cancellation of the transaction. 

Payment of Fees

We usually wait for a few days for the SEC to give us the final approval and send us the Payment Assessment Form (PAF), which indicates the fees to settle. After payment and uploading the receipt, we may already receive the digital Certificate of Incorporation. 

Submission of Document Hard Copies

We also submit the physical or hard copies of the documents to the SEC Processing Office (SEC Main Office) within thirty (30) days from payment. We then receive the SEC Certificate of Incorporation or Partnership (in physical form). 

SEC Registration FAQs

What Is Company Incorporation?

Company incorporation is the legal process of forming a company or corporate entity. In its basic sense, a corporation is the resulting juridical entity with income, assets, and liabilities independent or separate from its owners and investors.

What Is SEC Registration?

In the Philippines, company incorporation starts with registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). SEC registration is a compulsory business registration process to legitimize the juridical unit and permit it to participate legally in business, issue receipts, trade with financial assets, and be entitled to rights under the nation’s corporate and investment laws.

What Is the Mandate of the SEC? 

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), with its main office at 7907 Makati Avenue, Bel-Air, Makati City, is the registrar and overseer of the Philippine corporate sector. It supervises the capital market participants, the securities and investment instruments market, and the protection of the investing public.

What Business Structures or Entities Require SEC Registration? 

Business entities under the mandate of the commission and thus, require registrations include domestic and foreign stock corporations (i.e., including one person corporations), non-stock corporations, and partnerships. Sole proprietorships and cooperatives do not require registrations with the commission, rather with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), respectively.

Can the SEC Registration Be Processed Online?

Yes, the SEC allows online registration via the SEC Electronic Simplified Processing of Application for Registration (eSPARC); however, the signed and notarized documentary requirements still require in-person submission.

What Are the SEC Registration Requirements?

Documentary requirements, such as the Application Summary Form, Cover Sheet, Articles of Incorporation (AOI), Certificate of Authentication, and By-Laws are system-generated based on the encoded company details upon online registration. The uploading of supporting documents is optional, but it is important to examine the business structure and anticipate whether documents, such as incorporation files of a juridical entity or appeal letters for company or trade names, shall be required.

Clearances or endorsements from appropriate government agencies may also be required, depending on the industry in which the business belongs. For example, schools need clearances from the Department of Education (DepEd), banks from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), hospitals from the Department of Health (DOH), and so on.

How Long Does the SEC Registration Take?

The SEC registration usually takes about two (2) to four (4) weeks, depending on the completeness of documentary requirements and operational efficiency in the SEC Office. 

What Are the SEC Registration Fees?

Normally, the SEC assesses the registration fees based on the authorized capital stock and business structure. Aside from the registration or filing fees, other fees include name verification, legal research, documentary stamp tax, and Foreign Investments Act (FIA) fees, if applicable. 

What Documents Are Received After Registration?

After successful SEC registration, the registrant receives a Certificate of Incorporation or Partnership and other incorporation documents, such as the Articles of Incorporation (AOI) and Bylaws. With these documents, the company may already be registered or licensed with other government regulatory agencies (i.e., BIR, BPLO, statutory agencies, etc.) 

Why Do You Need Expert Assistance in SEC Registration?

SEC registration may be convenient and straightforward given the existence and utilization of SEC eSPARC, but in reality, it is complex and complicated. Before starting off with the registration, it is crucial to deal with and decide on many legal, technical, and financial aspects of the company, such as business structure, corporate term, capital requirements, and other incorporation details. Thus, it is strongly recommended to consult a business expert or corporate lawyer.