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Representative Office

What is Representative Office?

A Representative Office is a business structure that acts as a local liaison office for a foreign corporation that seeks to establish a corporate presence in the country without engaging in income-generating activities. It is typically in charge of information dissemination, product marketing, quality control, and communication. A representative office is not separate from its head company in terms of legal and liability personality.

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Suitability

Representative Office is suitable for foreign companies who seek to establish a corporate presence in the Philippines to provide service to their business back home or other parts of the world

Common Industries allowed to be operated by a Representative Office

Since a Representative Office is usually 100% owned by a foreign entity, the type of business activities it is allowed to conduct in the Philippines must not be listed in the Negative List.

Limitation

Certain industries are not permitted to be operated by the Representative Office. Please refer to Negative List to find out more.
See Negative List

What is included in our all-inclusive service fee to assist businesses to set up Representative Office in the Philippines

  • Consultation with the Legal Team
  • Company Name Reservation
  • Drafting of the Articles of Incorporation
  • Drafting of the By-Laws
  • Drafting of Affidavit of Undertaking
  • Notarization
  • Filling and registering with the Securities and Exchange Commissions (SEC)
  • Registration of your Company with the BIR of the corresponding city
    This includes printing of your Official Receipts
  • Registration of your Company with the Local Government Units of the corresponding city.

    Includes registration with:

    1. Barangay's Permit
    2. Mayor's Permit
    3. Sanitary Permit
    4. Fire and Safety Permit
  • Free 45 mins Accounting Consultation on compliance upon turnover of the registration documents

Key Facts to know before choosing to set up a Representative Office

Remittance

You must remit at least USD300,000 during the initial stage of incorporation process and at least USD30,000 every subsequent year

Proof

Proof of remittance is required by SEC before approval.

Resident Agent

The Representative Office must appoint a Resident Agent. A Resident Agent is an individual/corporation appointed by a foreign corporation to receive summons and other legal proceedings served to or against the foreign corporation’s local entity in the Philippines, on behalf of the corporation.

The resident agent can be an individual residing in the Philippines or a domestic corporation lawfully doing business in the country.

No revenue

The Representative Office cannot generate revenue by selling goods and services to the domestic market.


Tax Rates

The Representative Office is not allowed to offer its services to third parties. It is not subject to income tax since it is not allowed to generate any income from the services that it offers in the Philippines.

Fees

At vOffice, we are business owners too and one thing that we hated when we started our business in the Philippines in 2012 is to discover there are so many hidden fees and surprises on top of any published price and we are determined to provide our clients a clear, straight-forward, all inclusive service and price.

Only PHP90,000

Total fee to setup a Representative Office in the Philippines

Inclusive of gov't fee, legal fee, professional fee, notary fee, transport, Original Receipt Printing Fee and other incidental fee.


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Nominee Agent

If you require a Nominee Agent to be your local Corporate Secretary or Corporate Treasurer, please speak with us.

+632 3224 2000
+63 915 573 1713
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Registered Office Address

Though not required during the registration process with the SEC, the Representative Office must have a registered office address in the Philippines to complete the entire registration process. Registration with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and local government unit (LGU) requires the Branch Office to present the Contract of Lease (if rented) or Certificate of Land Title (if owned) of their business address.

The most effective way to address this requirement is to rent a Virtual Office to serve as your official business address. You can transfer to a physical office and update your incorporation documents thereafter.

You can rent a 1 year Virtual Office in BGC for only PHP20,000

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1 year

Virtual Office Service

BGC

The Location

PHP20,000

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Need Some Help?

Speak to Our Company Incorporation Team

If you would like to have a free consultation with one of our Company Incorporation expert, please complete the contact form below. We are happy to meet you in our office or talk to you on the phone.

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