SEC extends registration, filing fee discounts for MSMEs

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has extended the discounted rates for certain transactions of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), giving them more time to register and fund the growth of their businesses at a lower cost.

The Commission on January 9 issued SEC Memorandum Circular No. 2, Series of 2026, aimed at Further Supporting the Growth and Expansion of MSMEs by Extending Discounted Rates for Certain Filing Fees.

The memorandum circular extends the effectivity of the 20 percent discount given to MSMEs for their corporate registration until March 31.

Meanwhile, MSMEs may avail of the 50 percent discount for the registration of securities until June 30. This also covers securities being registered through the Commission’s streamlined processes for power generation and distribution utility companies, real estate developers and/or managers in relation to rental pool deals, agri-business firms, and hospitals.

Since the implementation of the lower rates through MC No. 8, Series of 2025 in July, the SEC has given around P34.5 million in registration and filing fees discounts to 15,425 MSMEs as of December 2025.

“The SEC is entering the new year with a renewed commitment to support the expansion of MSMEs, given their crucial role in driving the country’s economic growth,” SEC Chairperson Francis Lim said.

“The discounted corporate registration and filing fees will help ease the cost of compliance and encourage more entrepreneurs to formalize and tap the capital market for the expansion of their businesses,” he added.

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 enterprises refer to companies with asset size of up to P3 million, up to P15 million for small-sized businesses, and up to P100 million for medium-sized enterprises.
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Applicants seeking to avail of the discounted securities registration filing fee are required to submit a Certification of MSME Qualification, executed by the company’s president or treasurer. They should also have a paid-up capital of P25 million, except for those filing through the streamlined registration of securities process for agri-businesses.