SEC Registration Number Verification for Philippine Companies—Everything You Need to Know (2025 Update)
1 | What Is an SEC Registration Number?
Every stock or non-stock corporation, partnership, or foreign entity licensed to do business in the Philippines receives a unique SEC Registration Number when the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issues its Certificate of Incorporation or License to Do Business.
- Format: Since 2013 most domestic corporations use the pattern “CS20YY-#####” (five-digit sequential code), while older entities follow “CN” or “A” prefixes.
- Legal effect: The number appears on all official SEC issuances and must be printed on the entity’s contracts, invoices, and securities under §19, Revised Corporation Code (RCC, R.A. 11232). An invalid or fabricated number voids the presumption of corporate personality.
2 | Why Verification Matters
| Compliance Use-Case | Consequence of Non-Verification | | — | — | | KYC / AML checks for banks, fintechs, crypto exchanges | Administrative fines under BSP AML regulations | | Public procurement due diligence | Disqualification, blacklisting | | Supplier / customer onboarding | Contract rescission, fraud exposure | | Litigation & enforcement | Improper service, dismissal of action |
3 | Statutory & Regulatory Bases
- §§16–18, R.A. 11232 (RCC): Corporation acquires juridical personality only upon issuance of the certificate bearing the registration number.
- §174, RCC penal clause: Knowingly falsifying or misrepresenting an SEC number is punishable by ₱200 k–₱2 M fine and/or 2–6 years’ imprisonment.
- SEC Memorandum Circular No. 3-2021 & 6-2023: Mandate end-to-end digital certificates (eSPARC/OneSEC) with embedded QR codes for rapid online validation.
- Anti-Money Laundering Act (A.M.L.A.) & BSP Circular 1122-2021: Covered institutions must confirm corporate existence through “an independent, reliable source”—the SEC online database qualifies.
4 | How to Verify Online (Free & Paid Options)
| Route | Best For | Data Shown | Cost | Turn-around | | — | — | — | — | — | | 1. SEC eFAST Public Search (https://efast.sec.gov.ph) | Current status of corporations filing reports electronically | Registration number, exact corporate name, status (active, suspended, revoked, dissolved), latest report dates | Free | Instant | | 2. CRS Quick Search (https://crs.sec.gov.ph) | Newly-registered firms (eSPARC / OneSEC) | Same as above; covers entries within the last ~5 years | Free | Instant | | 3. QR-Code Scan on Digital Certificate | Entities registered Jan 2021 → present | Autofills verification page displaying the same PDF that SEC issued | Free | Instant | | 4. SEC Express System – Document Retrieval (https://secexpress.ph) | Authenticating historical Articles of Incorporation, By-laws, GIS, Audited FS | Full certified PDFs bearing the SEC electronic signature | ₱160 + service fees per document | Same day (e-copy) | | 5. Walk-In or Courier Request (SEC Main & Extension Offices) | Pre-2000 records not yet digitized; apostille copies | Certified hard copies | Variable | 1–3 days |
Tip: No single platform yet covers all 900 k+ entities. When in doubt, check both eFAST and CRS, or order a certified document through SEC Express.
5 | Step-by-Step Guide (eFAST Public Search)
- Navigate to eFAST and click “Search Entity Information.”
- Enter either the exact corporate name or the registration number (omit hyphens/spaces).
- Review the returned record:
- Registration Number (must match the certificate).
- Company Type (stock, non-stock, foreign, partnership).
- Status
- Active/Registered – good standing (but still check latest GIS/AFS dates).
- Suspended – cannot issue securities; usually for report delinquency.
- Revoked – corporate personality stripped; contracts beyond revocation date may be void.
- Dissolved – winding up only.
- Download public filings if needed (most PDFs newer than 2019 are free).
6 | Reading the SEC Registration Number
| Prefix | Entity Type | Typical Years Used | | — | — | — | | “A” | Stock corporations pre-1980s | 1946–1985 | | “CS” | Stock & non-stock (Unified) | 2013–present | | “CN” | Non-stock pre-2013 | 1986–2012 | | “FS” | Foreign stock branch | 2000–present | | “FN” | Foreign non-stock | 2000–present |
Example: CS2019-12345
- “CS” = Domestic corp.
- “2019” = Year approved.
- “12345” = Sequence.
Mismatch (e.g., a 2024-dated certificate bearing an “A” prefix) is a red flag.
7 | Common Pitfalls & How to Avoid Them
- Using DTI BN Numbers. A business-name registration from the Department of Trade & Industry (DTI), formatted BN-YYYY-#######, is not an SEC number.
- Expired Partnerships. Under the Civil Code, partnerships have fixed terms; an SEC number does not guarantee ongoing existence beyond the term. Always check status.
- Mistaking BIR TIN for SEC Number. The Bureau of Internal Revenue issues a 12-digit TIN—separate identifier.
- Ghost Corporations on Social Media. A Facebook page may display “SEC-Registered” with a photo of an old certificate; always cross-check via eFAST or order a certified copy.
- Human-readable PDFs only. Screenshots are easy to Photoshop. Rely on QR-code-authenticated PDFs carrying the SEC’s digital signature block.
8 | Data Privacy & Limitations
- The SEC releases only non-personal data under Data Privacy Act of 2012.
- Certain fields—e.g., residential addresses of directors—are redacted in public copies.
- Bulk extraction or web-scraping is prohibited without a data-sharing agreement (SEC Memorandum Circular 28-2020).
9 | Penalties for Misuse or Misrepresentation
| Offense | Statutory Basis | Sanction | | — | — | — | | Falsifying an SEC number on a public document | Art. 172, Revised Penal Code | 6 months – 6 years & fine | | Operating a business without proper SEC registration | §159, RCC | Suspension/Revocation + ₱10 k–₱1 M/day fine | | Aiding AML evasion by skipping verification | §9-B, AMLA | Up to ₱5 M per transaction & possible closure |
Banks and covered institutions must file a Suspicious Transaction Report (STR) if the customer’s claimed SEC number cannot be verified.
10 | Future Developments (2025–2027 Roadmap)
- Unified Corporate Information Portal. The SEC announced beta testing of an API-based Corporate Registry Database slated for public launch in Q4 2025, enabling automated real-time checks via JSON.
- Blockchain Certificates. Pilot issuance of tamper-evident certificates on a private blockchain (SEC Press Release, Nov 2024) aims to retire PDF copies by 2027.
- Single-Window Government Verification. Through the “eGovPH Super App,” SEC data will integrate with BIR, PhilGEPS, and OCDS by mid-2026.
11 | Frequently Asked Questions
| Question | Quick Answer | | — | — | | Is a paid Certificate of Good Standing required? | Only when demanded by courts, creditors, or property registries; for routine KYC, eFAST status + latest GIS is enough. | | How long is an SEC certified PDF valid? | Indefinitely, unless superseded; however, most parties require one issued within 6 months for due diligence. | | Can I verify an SEC registration number by SMS? | Not yet. Draft MC released Dec 2024 proposes an SMS short code, but it is still in consultation phase. | | Do cooperatives use SEC numbers? | No, cooperatives register with the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA). | | What about foundations? | Foundations are non-stock corporations; they therefore possess SEC registration numbers beginning “CN” (pre-2013) or “CS” (2013+). |
Key Takeaways
- Always cross-check the claimed SEC number through at least one official online source (eFAST, CRS, or QR code).
- Look for status flags—“suspended,” “revoked,” or “dissolved” nullify corporate capacity.
- Complement verification with up-to-date corporate filings (GIS + AFS) to confirm that the entity is in good standing.
- Document your search (screenshots, hash of the downloaded PDF) to demonstrate compliance with AML/KYC audit trails.
- Stay current: SEC digital certificate formats and portals evolve; subscribe to SEC Memo Circular alerts to avoid outdated procedures.
By following the processes outlined above, lawyers, compliance officers, and entrepreneurs can confidently authenticate any Philippine corporation’s SEC registration number—fully online, within minutes, and free of charge for most checks.