Permitly Guide: How to Register a Partnership or Domestic Corporation in the Philippines (2026 Edition)

Congratulations on taking a bold step toward building your company! Incorporating a business in the Philippines allows you to pool resources, limit liability, and operate with more credibility. While the process has multiple steps, recent digital upgrades have made company registration significantly easier and more efficient.

This 2026 edition guides you through each registration step, from preparing requirements to compliance with national and local agencies.

Step 1: Prepare Your Requirements

Before you begin, make sure you have the following ready:

For Partnerships & Domestic Corporations

✔ At least 2 incorporators (natural persons or entities; maximum 15)

✔ Corporate Name - check availability via the SEC eSPARC portal.

✔ Articles of Incorporation / Partnership and By‑Laws (prepped through eSPARC).

✔ Treasurer’s Affidavit (for corporations).✔ Valid IDs of incorporators.

✔ Proof of Office Address (lease contract, land title, or barangay certificate).

Permitly Tip: For proof of office, subscribing to a reliable virtual office provider such as MyOffice Philippines,is cost-effective and saves time compared to renting an entire office.

Step 2: Register with the SEC via eSPARC / SEC ZERO / eSecure

All partnership and corporate registrations are filed online through SEC eSPARC or SEC ZERO, with eSecure handling the secure submission and authentication of documents.

Step 2a: Name Reservation

1. Reserve your corporate/partnership name via eSPARC.

2. Check for uniqueness and compliance with SEC naming rules.

Step 2b: Document Preparation

1. Encode Articles of Incorporation / Partnership and By-Laws in eSPARC.

2. Upload supporting documents:

   • Valid IDs of incorporators

   • Treasurer’s Affidavit

   • Proof of office address

Step 2c: eSecure Authentication

• eSecure digitally signs and timestamps your uploaded documents.

• It ensures your submission is secure, legally recognized, and fully digital.

• For SEC ZERO, hard copies are not required, while eSPARC may still require partial physical submission depending on corporate type.

Step 2d: Payment & Confirmation

1. Pay SEC filing fees online through SEC-approved channels.

2. Receive electronic confirmation and track your application status online.

Outcome

✔ SEC Certificate of Incorporation (for corporations) or Certificate of Partnership - officially registers your company with the SEC.

💡 2026 Highlight: SEC ZERO combined with eSecure makes registration paperless, faster, and secure, enabling entrepreneurs to complete registration remotely.

Step 3: Register with the BIR

Once incorporated, your business must register with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).

Requirements

• SEC Certificate of Incorporation or Partnership

• Articles of Incorporation / Partnership & By‑Laws

• BIR Form 1903 (Application for Registration for Corporations/Partnerships)

• Treasurer’s Affidavit (corporations) or capital proof (partnerships)

• Valid ID of authorized signatory

• Proof of office address

What You’ll Receive

• BIR Certificate of Registration (COR, Form 2303)

• Corporate Tax Identification Number (TIN)

• Authority to Print Receipts/Invoices

Step 4: Register Your Books of Accounts

Corporations & partnerships must maintain books of accounts for tax compliance:

• Manual books (journal, ledger, etc.)

• Loose-leaf books

• Computerized books

Register with the BIR or via ORUS. e‑stamps/QR codes will be provided.

Step 5: Apply for Authority to Print Invoices

File BIR Form 1906 to print official invoices/receipts. Approved receipts must be printed by a BIR-accredited printer.

Permitly Tip: Invoices are now the primary official document for transactions; Official Receipts (O.R.s) are supplementary.

Step 6: Register with Your Local Government Unit (LGU)

Comply with local requirements in your city/municipality:

• Barangay Clearance

• Mayor’s/Business Permit

• SEC Certificate of Incorporation / Partnership

• BIR COR

• Lease contract or proof of office  (a reliable virtual office like MyOffice Philippines will come in handy!)

• Sanitary, Fire, and other permits as required

Note: Business permits must be renewed annually; processing time varies by LGU.

Step 7: Register with SSS, PhilHealth, and Pag‑IBIG

Corporations and partnerships must register as employers:

• SSS – employer registration & contributions

• PhilHealth – employer & employee coverage

• Pag‑IBIG Fund – employer & employee membership

Register before hiring employees or within 30 days of operations.

At Permitly, we specialize in end-to-end corporate registration. From SEC filing to BIR

and LGU compliance, our team ensures your corporation is set up smoothly. Book a free 15-minute consultation with us today and start building your business the right way!