The Philippines’ Department of Finance has issued a department order requiring all importers to be accredited by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) before they can obtain an import permit from the Bureau of Customs (BOC). This measures aims to combat smuggling of goods into the country.
Applicants seeking to register as importers with the Bureau of Customs (BOC) will now have to pass through stringent verification procedures to get the necessary BIR Importer Clearance Certificate (BIR-ICC). That certificate will allow the BIR to use its extensive taxpayer database and information technology system to obtain more complete information in accrediting importer-applicants.
Importers will have 90 days from the issuance of the rules and regulations by the BIR and BOC Commissioners to comply with the new rules, otherwise their accreditation will automatically expire.
