Customs waives BIR clearance for brokers

MANILA, Philippines — In a bid to streamline its processes, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) will no longer require importers and brokers an Importer Clearance Certificate (ICC) and Broker Clearance Certificate (BCC) from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) for their accreditation.

This is pursuant to Customs Memorandum Order (CMO) 5-2018 signed by Commissioner Isidro Lapeña, which lists the documentary requirements for the accreditation of custom brokers and importers.

Under the new policy, new importers should submit an application form to the BOC’s Accounts Management Office (AMO), an affidavit designating authorized signatories in import entries, two valid IDs, a clearance from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), its registration with the BIR, mayor’s permit, and latest income tax return for the past three years.

Applicants should also provide their company’s latest information sheet, company profile, personal profile of applicant or responsible officers, address of warehouse, proof of lawful occupancy, list of importables, printed Client Profile Registration System (CPRS) notification, and endorsement from the collector.

For importers who will renew their accreditation, the BOC said they should secure an updated general information sheet, company profile, address of warehouse, proof of lawful occupancy, updated letter of intent, CPRS notification, income tax return and mayor’s permit.

On the other hand, licensed brokers who are applying for accreditation should submit their application form, valid card from the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), list of clients and representatives, CPRS notification, BIR registration, income tax return, NBI clearance, and certificate of good standing issued by a PRC-accredited organization for brokers.

Those seeking for renewal as accredited customs brokers should also submit their updated requirements.

Earlier, Lapeña ordered the BOC’s AMO to facilitate the accreditation of stakeholders and to cut the processing time from a period of one to two months to five days.

The Department of Finance (DOF) also issued Department Order 11-2018, which reverts the authority to accredit and register brokers and importers solely to the BOC for “purposes of simplification of process.”

The agency then required the BOC to transmit to the BIR on a quarterly basis the list of approved and accredited customs brokers and importers for post-accreditation validation of tax compliance.

In a separate issuance, the BOC said the commissioner of the BOC has now the sole authority to approve and disapprove the application, suspension, revocation, cancellation, and reactivation of importers’ and customs brokers’ accreditation.

The agency earlier said the new policy is seen to eradicate consignees-for-hire and fly-by-night importers and brokers.

The new policy also limits the number of authorized representatives of customs brokers who can transact with the bureau.