SEC offers 20% to 50% discounts on fees for MSMEs
Published Jul 17, 2025 01:43 pm
SEC Chairman Francis Lim
To fulfill its commitment to supporting local small businesses, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is offering micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) discounts of 20 percent to 50 percent on certain transaction fees.
The Commission, on July 16, issued Memorandum Circular No. 8, Series of 2025, aimed at Further Supporting the Growth and Expansion of MSMEs by Providing Discounted Rates for Certain Filing Fees.
“MSMEs are the backbone of our business sector, accounting for more than 99 percent of all businesses in the country and generating millions of jobs for our fellow Filipinos,” SEC Chairman Francis Lim said.
He added that, “This policy represents our strong resolve to help bring down the barriers to entry of small businesses to ensure they can grow, thrive, and continuously contribute to economic growth.”
Under the memorandum circular, MSMEs seeking to register as a corporation will be eligible for a 20 percent discount on registration fees.
MSMEs seeking to increase their capital stock through an amendment of their articles of incorporation will also be given a 25 percent discount on filing fees.
The discounted rates will be effective until the end of the year, or on Dec. 31, 2025.
Meanwhile, consistent with its commitment to further reduce friction costs associated with going public, the SEC is also providing a 50 percent discount for the registration of securities for MSMEs who will tap the capital market. This discount will be effective until June 30, 2026.
The memorandum circular adopts the classification of MSMEs based on asset size provided under Republic Act No. 9501, otherwise known as the Magna Carta for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises.
Under the law, micro-sized businesses have assets of up to ₱3 million, small businesses have assets of up to ₱15 million, and medium-sized enterprises have assets of up to ₱100 million.
For an increase in capital stock and securities registration filings, the president or treasurer of the applicant company shall issue a signed certification of qualification stating that the company’s total assets, exclusive of the land on which the particular business entity’s office, plant, and equipment are situated.
The discounted rates for MSMEs mark another milestone in the commission’s efforts to improve the ease of doing business. Earlier this month, the SEC also reduced the rates for corporate data requests by 50% under Memorandum Circular No. 6, Series of 2025.
It has also committed to strict timelines for processing applications for permits, licenses, registrations, certificates, clearances, and other authorizations, in an effort to eliminate delays and reduce backlogs, through the issuance of Memorandum Circular No. 7, Series of 2025.