CorporateCode.ph

How to Register a Domestic Corporation in the Philippines

A domestic corporation is registered with the SEC by reserving or validating the name, completing the required company information, submitting incorporation documents, paying the assessed fees and obtaining the electronic Certificate of Incorporation. Registration is only the first layer; BIR, LGU and sector-specific requirements follow.

Before applying

  • Define the primary and secondary purposes.
  • Confirm incorporators, stockholders, citizenship and subscription amounts.
  • Check foreign-equity and capitalization restrictions.
  • Select directors and required officers.
  • Choose a Philippine principal-office address.
  • Prepare Articles, bylaws when used, and supporting declarations.

Controlling authority

The Revised Corporation Code governs formation and corporate powers. The SEC controls the current filing route, documentary formats and assessment through its official registration systems.

Registration procedure

  1. Create the application through the current SEC registration portal.
  2. Validate the proposed name and complete company, capital and beneficial-ownership data.
  3. Generate or upload the required incorporation documents.
  4. Review names, citizenship, subscriptions, addresses and purposes before signing.
  5. Pay the official assessment through an authorized channel.
  6. Submit any original or notarized documents required by the current process.
  7. Download and preserve the Certificate of Incorporation and accepted documents.

After SEC registration

  • Hold the organizational meeting and document initial approvals.
  • Elect or appoint officers and define signing authority.
  • Register books and complete BIR requirements.
  • Obtain mayor’s permit, barangay clearance and sector licenses as applicable.
  • Open corporate bank accounts and establish accounting controls.
  • Create the GIS, AFS and governance calendar.

Common failure points

Applications are delayed when the purpose is unclear, ownership violates a restriction, capitalization is inconsistent, names differ across documents, addresses are incomplete or signatories lack authority.

Sources and review

Verified 22 September 2026. Check the portal for current forms, fees and submission instructions.