The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has streamlined the application process for Philippine importers and customs brokers seeking government accreditation by reducing the processing time and minimizing documentary requirements.
Under Revenue Memorandum Order (RMO) No. 56-2016, which took effect on September 2, the Importer’s Clearance Certificate (ICC) and Broker’s Clearance Certificate (BCC) should be processed and released by the BIR’s Accounts Receivable Monitoring Division (ARMD) within five working days from submission of complete documents by applicants. This improves on the 15 working days prescribed under RMO No. 10-2014, which initially spelled out the rules and procedures for ICC and BCC application.
BIR issued RMO No. 10-2014 after mother agency Department of Finance changed the rules on importer and customs broker accreditation to ensure only legitimate importers and customs brokers deal with the BIR and the Bureau of Customs (BOC). Securing the ICC and/or BCC from the BIR is a requirement in the accreditation of an importer or customs broker who seeks to transact with the BOC.
RMO No. 56-2016 also now allows the applicant to submit the application form and its attachments either personally or via courier, addressing the form to the ARMD Tax Clearance Section, and including a prepaid envelope for the agency’s reply. Previously, applicants had to personally file their applications or send an authorized representative in their place.
In addition to shortening the processing period, RMO No. 56-2016 trimmed the documentary requirements to be submitted by the applicant seeking the release of his/her BIR ICC or BIR BCC.
The documentary requirement for importers, both individual and non-individual/corporation, was cut to six, and for customs brokers to seven. This is an improvement from nine documentary requirements for individual applicants and 10 for non-individual applicants, plus six additional documents for customs brokers, under RMO 10-2014, as revised by RMO 01-2015.
At the same time, the criteria for approving the ICC and BCC application was whittled down to five under RMO No. 56-2016, from 10 under RMO No. 10-2014.
Importers and brokers whose ICC or BCC was revoked may also reapply “provided that the circumstances which led to the revocation are no longer existing.”
Importers and customs brokers have long complained of the cumbersome steps and hefty documentary requirements imposed on them when they try to secure their BIR-ICC or BIR-BCC.
Since June the BIR, along with other government agencies, has been simplifying the application process to heed President Rodrigo Duterte’s call to fast-track transactions at government offices. – Roumina Pablo
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