BOC extends importer accreditation validity to three years

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has extended the validity of importer accreditation to three years and has reduced the lower overall accreditation fees, in a bid to boost the continuous entry of goods into the Philippines.

Under a Customs Administrative Order (CAO), importer accreditation validity has been extended to three years from just one year previously. It also reduced the accreditation fee to P5,000 for a three-year period, from P2,000 yearly or P6,000 for three years previously.

“By extending the validity of importer accreditation, we are reducing red tape and enabling a more efficient trade system that can meet growing consumer demand and support local industries,” Finance Secretary Frederick Go said in a statement.

“This reform allows businesses to focus more on operations and growth rather than administrative requirements,” he added.

Importers are still mandated to submit an annual reportorial compliance (ARC) within 30 days of their accreditation anniversary. Those with six straight years of uninterrupted and compliant accreditation may qualify for automatic renewal.

The BOC, an attached agency of the Department of Finance (DOF), collected P239.054 billion in the first three months of the year, exceeding its target by 1.3%. The agency targets to collect P1.013 trillion for 2026. — Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas/RSJ, GMA News