Standard Notarial Fees in the Philippines
A practical explainer built on the 2004 Rules on Notarial Practice and related regulations
1. What a “notarial fee” actually covers
A notarial fee is payment for the single, limited act of notarization—verifying identity, witnessing the signature, completing the notarial certificate, signing, stamping, and recording the act in the Notarial Register. It does not cover:
| Excluded charge | Typical payer | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Drafting or reviewing the instrument | Client | A lawyer-notary may quote a separate “professional fee.” |
| Photocopying/printing | Client | Cost-recovery only; must be disclosed. |
| Documentary Stamp Tax (DST) | Client | ₱30 per document under NIRC §193, unless exempt. |
| Travel/field notarization | Client | A separate “travel fee” (see §4). |
2. Core legal basis
| Legal authority | Key provisions on fees |
|---|---|
| A.M. No. 02-8-13-SC, “2004 Rules on Notarial Practice” (Rule VIII) | Sets maximum amounts a notary public may charge and requires a printed schedule “in a conspicuous place” in the notarial office. |
| Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability (2023) | Treats over-charging or opaque billing as unethical. |
| Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Chapter Circulars | Some chapters issue recommended rates (never higher than the Supreme Court caps). |
| National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC), Chap. V | Imposes DST on documents “acknowledged before a notary.” |
| RA 6033 (Free Legal Assistance Act) & PAO Charter | Indigents may have notarization fees waived. |
3. The Supreme Court Schedule of Maximum Notarial Fees
(still in force as of 26 June 2025; figures are per document unless indicated)
| Notarial act | Maximum fee (₱) | Practical remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Acknowledgment (deeds, SPAs, real-estate docs, contracts) | 200 for the first principal signatory 50 each additional principal |
“Principal” means each natural person or juridical representative who signs. |
| Jurat (affidavits, sworn statements) | 100 | Same cap for each copy bearing original signatures. |
| Oath or Affirmation (e.g., Verifications) | 100 | Simple oaths without document: usually charged at this rate or waived. |
| Signature witnessing (rare in PH practice) | 100 | Used when a doc does not need acknowledgment or jurat but the client wants an attested signature. |
| Copy certification (certified true copy) | 100 for the certificate, plus 5 per page reproduced if the notary does the photocopying. | |
| Other notarial acts (e.g., protest of negotiable instruments) | 100 | Relatively uncommon. |
Waiver or discount: The notary may always charge below these ceilings or waive the fee altogether (Rule VIII §1).
4. Travel / outside-office notarization fees
Rule VIII §2 allows additional compensation when the notary travels at the client’s request:
| Location of signing | Maximum travel fee (₱) | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Within the same city/municipality of commission | 300 | Plus actual transportation fare if any. |
| Outside but within the same province | 500 | Plus actual fare, and only if the act cannot be reasonably done in the notarial office. |
| Outside the province (rare; must still be within the notary’s territorial jurisdiction—province and adjoining cities under B.M. No. 1994, 2020 Amendment) | 1 000 | Plus actual fare; prior written agreement is prudent. |
The travel fee is per trip, not per document, and must be stated separately on the official receipt.
5. Steps every lawful notarization must follow
- Personal appearance of each principal with at least one competent, current ID.
- Verification of identity and authority (for corporate reps, attorneys-in-fact, guardians, etc.).
- Signatures affixed in the notary’s presence (except for already-signed acknowledgments).
- Completion of the notarial certificate (acknowledgment, jurat, etc.) and imprint of the notarial seal.
- Entry in the Notarial Register—date, time, doc title, parties, fee received, I.D. details, page count, etc.
- Issuance of an official receipt (under BIR rules) reflecting: notarial fee, travel fee (if any), copying charges, DST.
6. Tax treatment for the notary
| Tax | Basis | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Income Tax | Total notarial fees + any legal-service fee | Lawyers may opt for 8 % GRT regime if sole proprietor/professional. |
| Percentage Tax or VAT | Gross receipts if not VAT-exempt | At present: 12 % VAT if annual receipts > ₱3 million; 3 % percentage tax otherwise (TRAIN Act). |
| DST | ₱30 per notarized principal original | Paid by affixing BIR Documentary Stamps before notarization. |
7. Common fee scenarios (illustrative)
| Instrument | Parties | Notarial fee | DST | Total due at signing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deed of Absolute Sale of land | Buyer & Seller (2 principals) | 200 (first) + 50 (second) = ₱250 | 30 | ₱280 |
| Sworn Statement (jurat) | Single affiant | 100 | 30 | ₱130 |
| Special Power of Attorney signed at client’s home 5 km away | 1 principal | 200 (acknowl.) + 300 travel = ₱500 | 30 | ₱530 |
(Photocopy charges, if any, are extra and should be disclosed.)
8. Penalties for non-compliance
| Violation | Possible sanction |
|---|---|
| Over-charging beyond the SC cap | Suspension or revocation of notarial commission; disciplinary action under CPRA; refund of excess. |
| Failure to issue OR / record in Notarial Register | Same as above; BIR penalties for unissued receipts. |
| Notarizing without personal appearance | Severe—often leads to disbarment. |
| Charging travel fee without actual travel | Treated as over-charging. |
9. Frequently asked practical questions
Can my barangay captain notarize for free? Only lawyers who hold a valid notarial commission may notarize most private documents. Barangay captains may administer oaths but cannot do acknowledgments.
Is there a “standard” fee for a real-estate deed? The maximum is ₱200 + ₱50 per extra principal, regardless of the value of the land. Any larger amount you pay is either a separate drafting/legal fee or an over-charge.
Our office sees ₱500–₱800 charges for affidavits—legal? If that amount includes drafting and advice, it is permissible. The part attributable to the notarial act itself must not exceed ₱100, clearly broken out on the receipt.
Does the fee change with page-count? Only the photocopy/certified-true-copy component scales by pages. The notarial act fee is flat per document.
Are indigent parties entitled to free notarization? Yes. Under RA 6033 and PAO rules, indigents (net income ≤ minimum wage and no real property worth > ₱300 000) are entitled to free legal services, including notarization.
10. Pending and proposed reforms (as of mid-2025)
- IBP proposals to raise the ₱200/₱100 caps to more realistic figures (₱500/₱250) to reflect inflation.
- House Bill No. 9396 (17th Congress, re-filed 19th & 20th Congresses) seeks automatic CPI-indexing of notarial fees.
- E-Notarization Rules (Interim, 2020 COVID Response) retain the same fee caps; electronic offices must likewise post the schedule online.
Key takeaways
- The Supreme Court-mandated schedule sets maximum, not fixed, fees.
- Anything beyond those caps must be a clearly separated professional or convenience charge—and voluntary.
- A legitimate notarization always comes with an official receipt, registry entry, and DST impression.
- Over-charging, ghost-signing, and loose record-keeping expose the notary to suspension or even disbarment.
Armed with these figures and rules, you can confidently budget for, bill, or challenge notarial expenses in the Philippines.