The Philippine Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) granted clearance certificates to 2,654 importers and customs brokers in the first half of 2017, 66.3% more than the 1,596 clearance certificates released in the same period last year.
Data from BIR showed that from January to June 2017, it handed out 2,305 importer’s clearance certificates (ICC) and 349 broker’s clearance certificates (BCC). These are higher than the 1,396 ICCs and 200 BCCs issued in the same period in 2016.
In 2016, BIR issued 3,672 clearance certificates, of which 3,329 were ICCs and 343 were BCCs.
Based on a Department of Finance (DOF) ruling issued in February 2014, all importers and customs brokers wanting to transact with the Bureau of Customs (BOC) 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 BOC. DOF is the mother agency of BIR and BOC.
Last July 3, BIR started the new schedule for receiving applications for ICCs and BCCs and their release, which is from 8:00 a.m. to 2 p.m.
On the release of ICCs and BCCs by the different BIR offices, Revenue Memorandum Order No. 01-2015 prescribes the new timelines to be observed 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.
Meanwhile, DOF and BOC last May released a draft customs administrative order on the process to be followed by importers when registering with the customs bureau, pursuant to the new Customs Modernization and Tariff Act. Under the draft, all importers are still required to secure an accreditation with BIR.
Image courtesy of Sujin Jetkasettakorn at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
