A Legal Insight for Property Buyers, Sellers, and Investors In real estate transactions, many buyers enter into Contracts to Sell, especially for residential properties and installment purchases. However, disputes often arise when buyers fail to continue payments or when sellers dispose of the property to another party. A recent Philippine Supreme Court ruling clarified important legal principles regarding these situations. The case of Atty. Rogelio B. De Guzman v. Spouses Ba

When starting an organization or business in the Philippines, one of the first decisions you need to make is whether to register a stock corporation or a non-stock corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). While both types of corporations are governed by the Revised Corporation Code of the Philippines, they are designed for different purposes and follow different rules when it comes to ownership, governance structure, reporting requirements, and regulator

Corporate compliance with the Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) remains a critical responsibility for corporations operating in the Philippines. Failure to comply with reportorial requirements may result in penalties, suspension, or revocation of corporate registration. To assist corporations in maintaining good standing with the SEC, we have prepared an overview of the 2026 SEC Compliance Calendar, highlighting the key deadlines for the following reportoria

Filing your General Information Sheet (GIS) with the SEC may seem routine but small mistakes can result in penalties, compliance issues, and unnecessary stress for your company. Here are the most common errors businesses make: 1. Late Filing The GIS must be submitted within 30 calendar days from the date of the annual stockholders’ meeting (ASM) (or as required under SEC guidelines). Missing this deadline can lead to monetary penalties and may affect your company’s good stan

Many corporations mistakenly assume that only registered shareholders must be disclosed in SEC filings. However, under current SEC regulations, a Beneficial Owner refers to the natural person who ultimately owns or exercises control over a corporation — whether directly or indirectly. Understanding this distinction is essential for proper compliance, particularly when submitting the General Information Sheet (GIS) and other reportorial requirements. The 25% Ownership Thresho

What Individuals and Businesses Need to Know Under the New BIR Commissioner As the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) enters 2026 under new leadership, Filipino taxpayers can expect a renewed focus on compliance, digitalization, and what is now being promoted as a more “friendly” tax mapping approach. While tax mapping has traditionally been viewed as intimidating, the BIR’s current direction emphasizes education before enforcement, voluntary compliance, and structured monitori

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) requires corporations to disclose and update their Beneficial Ownership (BO) information through the HARBOR system. This requirement is part of the Philippines’ enhanced transparency framework, which aligns with anti-money laundering regulations and international compliance standards. Failure to report beneficial ownership accurately may lead to penalties, compliance notices, and regulatory scrutiny. This guide explains the registr

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) requires corporations in the Philippines to file their General Information Sheet (GIS) annually. Failure to file on time may result in monetary penalties, compliance notices, and potential complications in future corporate transactions. This guide outlines the step-by-step process for filing your GIS for 2026. What Is the General Information Sheet (GIS)? The GIS contains updated corporate information, including: Directors and offic

What Every OPC Must Know to Avoid Penalties The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has released SEC Memorandum Circular No. 10, Series of 2026 , titled “Guidelines on the Compliances of One Person Corporations (OPCs)” , dated 16 February 2026. This new issuance strengthens monitoring and enforcement mechanisms for OPCs, particularly in relation to officer appointments, financial reporting, and surety bond requirements. If you own or manage a One Person Corporation , her

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has introduced a major reform aimed at addressing long-standing issues in residential land titling across the Philippines. Through DENR Administrative Order (DAO) No. 2025-35 , the agency revised the rules governing residential free patents to make the process faster, fairer, and more accessible. This reform forms part of broader national efforts to strengthen land governance, modernize systems, and reduce titling del

A Compliance Guide for Philippine Corporations By Aureada CPA Law Firm The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has officially released the 2026 filing guidelines for Annual Financial Statements (AFS) and General Information Sheets (GIS) under Memorandum Circular No. 9, Series of 2026. All corporations—domestic and foreign—are reminded to review the updated filing schedule and ensure timely compliance through the SEC’s Electronic Filing and Submission Tool (eFAST). Below

A Regulatory Risk Analysis by Aureada CPA Law Firm The Securities and Exchange Commission’s 2026 Rules of Procedure represent more than a procedural update. They signal a structural shift in how enforcement actions will move — faster, more decisive, and less tolerant of delay. For companies operating in regulated spaces — fintech, online lending, capital markets, real estate pooling, digital asset trading — this change is not theoretical. It directly alters risk exposure. The

What Corporations, Compliance Officers, and Counsel Must Know A Regulatory Impact Analysis by Aureada CPA Law Firm On 11 February 2026 , the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued Memorandum Circular No. 8, Series of 2026 , adopting the 2026 Rules of Procedure of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “2026 SEC Rules”). This issuance replaces the 2016 Rules of Procedure and introduces significant procedural refinements affecting: Corporations and directors Com

The recent arrest of small business owner and food vlogger Deo “Diwata” Balbuena has sparked widespread discussion about government enforcement and business compliance. While the case is not purely an SSS case, it serves as a powerful reminder that non-compliance with mandatory government obligations—especially SSS—can quickly escalate into legal action , even for micro and small enterprises. This article aims to guide employers on SSS compliance , explain what to do at ever

The Social Security System (SSS) plays a critical role in protecting Filipino workers by providing benefits for retirement, sickness, disability, maternity, and death . However, in recent years, SSS has been at the center of multiple issues—from employer non-compliance and enforcement actions to internal audit findings, system failures, and major policy changes . This article breaks down the most recent SSS-related issues, including lessons from high-profile compliance case

A Practical Guide for Philippine Taxpayers Many taxpayers ask a straightforward but important question: “How does the BIR decide who to audit—and how can we avoid being flagged?” Under updated regulations for 2026, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has clarified the audit selection criteria and risk indicators it uses in identifying taxpayers for audit. These are set out under Revenue Memorandum Order (RMO) No. 1-2026 , particularly Annex A , which now serves as the princi

What the New BIR Audit Rules Mean for You If you have a pending Letter of Authority (LOA) from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), 2026 is not a year to wait and see . The BIR has officially lifted the suspension of tax audits and rolled out a reformed audit framework that will directly affect how your audit proceeds, how broad it becomes, and how much risk you may be exposed to. This guide is written for taxpayers with pending LOAs —business owners, executives, profession

January 27, 2026 marks a major turning point for Philippine taxpayers. The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has officially lifted the suspension on tax audits and field operations through Revenue Memorandum Circular (RMC) No. 8-2026 , ending the pause imposed under RMC No. 107-2025 last November. Effective immediately, all audit and enforcement activities are set to resume—but under a reformed, tighter, and more accountable audit framework . This development is highly signi

Published: 24 January 2026 Effective: Immediately upon publication Issued by: Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Philippines The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has issued SEC Memorandum Circular No. 6, Series of 2026 , introducing a significant change that simplifies the process of increasing a corporation’s authorized capital stock (ACS) when the subscription is paid in cash. This development is a welcome move for corporations, startups, and growing busi

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has issued SEC Memorandum Circular No. 7, Series of 2026 , which sets out comprehensive rules on the term limit of Independent Directors (IDs) of publicly-listed companies (PLCs). The issuance aims to strengthen corporate governance, reinforce director independence, and align Philippine regulations with international best practices. Coverage The Circular applies to companies with a class of equities listed for trading on an exchang