MANILA: The Bureau of Customs (BoC) has clarified the registration process for locators registered with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) under a simplified procedure for companies enjoying tax perks.
In a memorandum dated June 30, Customs Deputy Commissioner Agaton Teodoro O. Uvero said locators should register separately, as an importer and exporter.
“Since the BoC maintains separate client profile registrations for each function of an entity/company, the activation fees to be collected from PEZA locators should be on a per profile basis, that is, one activation fee for their profile as an importer and an another activation fee for their profile as an exporter,” the memorandum said.
The Bureau of Customs (BoC) will no longer require locators of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) to submit additional requirements to secure accreditation, as they have already undergone prior evaluation.
The above memorandum refers to Customs Memorandum Order no. 14-2015., which said PEZA-approved locators will be automatically registered in the BoC’s electronic-to-mobile system (e2m) after paying P1,000 in “activation fees”.
Thus, the BoC said it effectively revokes a previous order that sets rules and guidelines for accreditation as importers.
Previously, the Department of Finance said locators in special economic zones need not secure the requisite Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) clearances for importers and customs brokers as part of the government’s thrust to facilitate trade.
“All locators of PEZA (Philippine Economic Zone Authority) special economic zones throughout the Philippines, duly registered with PEZA, are exempted from the requirements of Department Order (DO) 12-2014 as amended by DO 18-2014 and shall be eligible for accreditation as importers with the Bureau of Customs Account Management Office (BoC-AMO),” Mr. Purisima’s DO 107-2014, signed Nov. 28, stated.
The twin orders require importers and brokers to secure an importers clearance certificate (ICC) and a customs broker clearance certificate (BCC) as a new requisite before they can transact with the Bureau of Customs.
