The Philippine Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has issued a new schedule for receiving applications for and releasing the importer’s clearance certificate (ICC) and customs broker’s clearance certificate (BCC) as well as the tax clearance certificate (TCC).
In an announcement, BIR said the new schedule starts in July.
Under the new schedule—which takes effect July 3—receiving of applications for ICCs, BCCs, and TCCs is from 8:00 a.m. to 2 p.m. Releasing of TCCs is from 2:00 p.m. to 5 p.m.
As for the release of ICCs and BCCs, under Revenue Memorandum Order No. 01-2015, BIR prescribes the new timelines to be observed by the following offices when issuing the certifications:
The Revenue District Office, Large Taxpayers Division, and Head Revenue Executive Assistance-Large Taxpayers Service are given 10 working days from receipt of the application to release the certificates; while the Regional Legal Division has to do so within three working days of getting the application.
The Regional Collection Division must issue the ICCs and BCCs within three working days of receipt of application; and the Accounts Receivables Management Division, within three working days of receiving the application for Tax Delinquency Verification.
The Audit Information, Tax Exemption and Incentives Division and the Miscellaneous Operations Monitoring Division both have up to five working days to release the clearances following receipt of the application.
BIR, meanwhile, has posted the schedules on its website for the renewal of ICCs and BCCs that are about to expire.
Based on a Department of Finance ruling issued in February 2014, all importers and customs brokers wanting to transact with the Bureau of Customs must undergo a two-tier accreditation process. This requires them to first secure either an ICC or BCC from BIR before securing accreditation with the customs agency. – Roumina Pablo
Image courtesy of Poulsen Photo at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
