« | BC Philippine Lawyer | »

Philippine Representative Office

Posted by Dave on Thursday, February 19th, 2009

The procedure for obtaining a license from the SEC to operate a Foreign Company Representative Office in the Philippines is similar to that of the Foreign Company Branch Office.

The required minimal inward remittance of funds for a Foreign Representative Office as working capital is US$ 30,000.00 as opposed to the minimum paid up capital of US$200,000.00 of a Foreign Branch Office as mandated by the SEC regulations. Every year the parent company must remit at least US$ 30,000.00 to cover operating expenses.

A Representative Office of a foreign corporation is not allowed to derive income from its operations in the Philippines. All of its expenses must be covered by remittances from the parent company.  Usual activities allowed are dissemination of information, promotion of company products and quality control of products for export. It is not allowed to offer services to 3rd parties.

A Representative Office is not subject to income taxes as none of its income is derived from the Philippines and is not qualified to register with the BOI or PEZA authorities.

BC Philippines Lawyers will assist you with the procedure and registration of your business with the pertinent government agencies for a quick opening of a representative office in Philippines.

Comments

By Randy on September 7th, 2009 at 7:03 pm

My wife left me two days after her frist check in canada,she is from ubay,she only stayed 2 months with me,we married in ubay at the church,she says she never loved me and don’t need me,she will not even talk to me,i want a wife and children,what can i do,
thank you

Randy, a person can remarry once they obtain a decree of annulment.

By Kris on March 8th, 2010 at 3:53 am

If i start a rep office in Philippines. How will I earn my income and pay income tax if a rep office cannot be registered at the BOI
How does this exactly work?

Thanks in advance.

Kris, you can open a domestic corporation or a branch office.

By Emma on January 19th, 2011 at 3:35 am

Representative office of a foreign corp is not subject to income tax as no income is derived in the Philippines..but how about municipal permits and licenses, will they be taxed on their remittances for their operating expenses in lieu of gross receipts?

Emma, The remittances will be considered as the gross receipts.

By Norina on January 26th, 2011 at 3:07 am

Can a representative office hire filipino employees? how will their tax be treated then? any specific BIR ruling for this set-up?

Norina, yes a representative office may hire Filipino employees. Their salaries are taxed like any other employee working in the Philippines.

By Erwin on June 17th, 2011 at 6:24 am

As a foreign representative office in Philippines, can we promote products to philippine market but they pay the services or products to the oversea HQ?

Erwin, Yes you can.

By Mark on July 14th, 2011 at 4:48 am

I have a Singaporean friend who has an existing Manning Agency in Singapore, He’s looking into setting up a Satellite office here in Manila to hire Filipino Seafarers and wants me to manage it. Do i still have to register with the POEA as a new Recruitment Agency and submit all the documents just like a newly established filipino owned recruitment agency? Thanks.

Mark, overseas recruitment agencies may only be 25% foreign owned. Yes, you will have to register with the POEA and comply with their rules.

 

Leave a Comment