Verify Company SEC Registration Number Online


Verifying a Company’s SEC Registration Number Online in the Philippines

(Comprehensive legal guide updated to July 2025)


1. Why this matters

An SEC registration number is the birth certificate of a Philippine corporation, partnership, foundation, or association. It:

  • Confers juridical personality (Revised Corporation Code § 18).
  • Appears on every official document, contract, website, invoice, or advertisement a company issues (RCC § 13 (j)).
  • Is required by banks, BIR, LGUs, and foreign counterparties for KYC and AML checks.
  • Lets the public detect shell companies, suspended entities, or outright scams early.

Verifying the number is thus essential for investors, suppliers, lenders, journalists, and ordinary consumers.


2. Legal framework

Instrument Key provisions relevant to online verification
Revised Corporation Code (R.A. 11232, 2019) SEC must maintain a “registry of names and registration numbers” (§§ 13, 18, 180) and make it “reasonably accessible to the public.”
Ease of Doing Business & Efficient Gov’t Service Delivery Act (R.A. 11032, 2018) Imposes 3–7-day deadlines and mandates digitisation of frontline services, compelling SEC to put search and document-ordering facilities online.
E-Commerce Act (R.A. 8792, 2000) Recognises legal validity of electronic records/certifications issued by SEC portals.
Data Privacy Act (R.A. 10173, 2012) Registration data (name, reg. no., status) are public under “journalistic/legitimate interests,” but personal data of incorporators are partially redacted online.
SEC Memorandum Circulars MC No. 28-2020 (mandatory email addresses), MC No. 21-2021 (eSPARC & OneSEC roll-out), MC No. 1-2023 (revamp of CRS public search).

3. Anatomy of a Philippine SEC registration number

Prefix Entity type Example Notes
CS Corporation, Stock CS2023-00001 Post-2013 format: CS YYYY-nnnnn
CN Corporation, Non-stock CN2022-00015 NGOs, homeowners’ assns., etc.
FDN Foundation FDN-2005-00072 Older foundations may still carry CN
PG Foreign corporation (branch/rep. office) PG2021-00123 Sometimes shown as F +
number on old certificates.
A Partnership A2020-00089 Two-letter variants (ASA, AAR) for specific partnership classes.

Numbers issued before 2013 often appear as plain six- or seven-digit strings (e.g., 123456). Those remain valid and searchable.


4. Online verification channels (2025 edition)

Channel What you can check Cost Access path
SEC Company Registration System (CRS) – “Search” tab Name, reg. no., company status (active, revoked, dissolved), principal office address, incorporation date. Free crs.sec.gov.phSearch
SEC eSPARC Public Search Same as CRS but updated every midnight; integrates OneSEC entities. Free espsec.sec.gov.ph/public/search
SEC View (a/k/a i-View) View or download filed Articles, GIS, AFS. ₱12/pg + ₱100 service fee, payable via eGovPay, GCash, Maya, debit/credit. secview.sec.gov.ph
SEC Express System Order certified true copies (CTCs) of docs, delivered via courier or pick-up in 3–5 days. ₱1 per page + ₱350 handling + courier. express.sec.gov.ph
SEC CheckApp (Android/iOS) Scan a printed reg. no. or QR on a certificate to confirm authenticity. Free App stores; QR code auto-launches.
Email & Hotline Verification Complex names, homonyms, very old numbers not in digital database. Free corpinfo@sec.gov.ph / 02-5317-9341

Tip: The CRS and eSPARC databases mirror each other nightly; if one is offline, use the other.


5. Step-by-step guide (CRS version)

  1. Go to https://crs.sec.gov.ph/ and click “Proceed to CRS”.

  2. In the top menu choose “Search” → “Search Registered Name”.

  3. Input either

    • the exact registration number (e.g., CS2023-00001 without spaces), or
    • the company name (use “Starts with” for partial names).
  4. Solve the CAPTCHA and press Search.

  5. The system returns a card showing:

    • Registered name, reg. number, company type
    • Date of incorporation / licence issuance
    • Company status (Active, Suspended, Revoked, Expired, Dissolved)
    • Link to “View Docs (i-View)” if available.
  6. Click the company name to open a sidebar with the latest General Information Sheet (GIS) and Articles of Incorporation links (if the entity has filed them electronically).

  7. For official use (visa, due diligence, court filing), press “Request CTC” to jump to SEC Express.


6. Reading the results

Status flag Meaning Usual causes / next steps
Active Good standing; latest GIS & AFS filed. Normal transactions OK.
Suspended Temporary halt of authority to do business. Late GIS/AFS, pending investigation; entity may cure by paying penalties.
Revoked Juridical personality lost. 5 years non-filing, fraudulent acts, SEC order; contracts after revocation void.
Dissolved Voluntary or involuntary dissolution; winding-up period. Check Liquidation Team and claims procedure.
Expired (foreign) Licence for branch/rep. office lapsed. Renewal must be filed; cannot sign new contracts.

7. Getting certified true copies online

Document Typical uses How to order online
Articles of Incorporation Bank account opening, BOI, PEZA, court evidence i-View → Add to Cart → Pay → Download (electronic) or Express → CTC courier
Latest GIS Ultimate beneficial ownership (UBO) checks Same as above
Audited FS Credit appraisal, bidding i-View / Express

The SEC digital CTC bears a QR code and e-signature of the Director, valid nationwide under the E-Commerce Act.


8. Troubleshooting & edge cases

Scenario Fix
“No records found” but you have a printed certificate Remove spaces/dashes; try old numeric format; search by name; email corpinfo@sec.gov.ph.
“Database maintenance” banner Use the mirror database (espsec.sec.gov.ph), usually up even during CRS downtime 00:00-02:00 PH T.
Very old partnership (pre-1990) Not yet digitised; request manual verification via SEC Records Division (Main Office) or regional satellite.
Multiple companies with nearly identical names Cross-check the incorporation date, principal office, or tax ID.
Certificate looks genuine but number returns another entity Possible counterfeit; report to Enforcement and Investor Protection Dept. (eipd@sec.gov.ph).

9. Penalties for false or misleading SEC numbers

  • Use of an unregistered or revoked corporation name/number – Fine up to ₱2 million + dissolution (RCC § 158).
  • Issuing documents with fake reg. numbers – Criminal liability for estafa or falsification (Revised Penal Code Arts. 171-172), and administrative sanctions.
  • Failure to display the reg. number on official docs – ₱10 000 per violation + ₱1 000/day of continuing breach (SEC MC 28-2020).

10. Linking with other registries

Registry Covered entities When to check
DTI Business Name Search Sole proprietors (no SEC reg. number) Market stalls, small e-commerce sellers
Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB) Construction firms (must also be SEC/DTI-registered) Government infrastructure bids
BSP Financial Institutions Portal Banks, EMI, MSBs (have separate BSP cert no.) Fin-tech & lending transactions

11. Best-practice checklist for due diligence

☑ Verify SEC reg. number online via CRS/eSPARC. ☑ Confirm status is Active (or licence current for foreign branch). ☑ Pull latest GIS to identify ultimate beneficial owners. ☑ Match principal office address with trade documents. ☑ Order CTCs for high-value contracts or court submission. ☑ For NGOs/foundations, cross-check with DSWD accreditation. ☑ Keep timestamped screenshots/PDFs as audit trail.


12. Future developments (announced 2024-2025)

  • Integration with eGov PH Super App – one-tap entity search and CTC ordering (pilot Q4 2025).
  • Blockchain-anchored digital certificates with instant public verification via Merkle hash (proof-of-concept with DICT).
  • Real-time API for banks and fintechs under SEC MC 07-2025 to automate KYC.

13. Conclusion

Online verification of an SEC registration number has evolved from a Manila-only manual process to a nationwide, near-real-time service. By using the CRS/eSPARC search and, where necessary, the i-View and Express channels, anyone can confirm a firm’s legal existence in minutes, obtain certified copies without lining up at the SEC, and avoid fraudulent dealings. The law now requires public bodies and private businesses alike to recognise these electronic certifications, making online verification not just convenient but legally conclusive.

Always consult a Philippine lawyer for deal-specific advice. This article is for general guidance as of 8 July 2025.


Disclaimer: This content is not legal advice and may involve AI assistance. Information may be inaccurate.