PH E-commerce Trust Mark Application Extension!
Jayson 29 Sep 2025 12:25ENCopy link & title
Amidst controversy, the Philippines' e-commerce trust mark registration deadline has been extended.
According to the Philippine News Agency, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has extended the registration deadline for the Philippines' e-commerce trust mark from September 30, 2025, to December 31, 2025.
While major e-commerce platforms have yet to implement the extension in their policies, this news undoubtedly provides a respite for sellers struggling with their review processes.
The DTI's decision to postpone the implementation can be seen as a conciliatory measure.
Previously, many Filipino sellers launched a collective protest online, accusing the trust seal of clearly favoring consumers while ignoring the challenges sellers face in their operations. As a result, the DTI and its secretary, Cristina Roque, became the focus of cyberattacks, and some comment sections on her social media accounts were forced to be disabled.
Media reports indicate that sellers' anger is directed at the DTI's "hasty" implementation of the trust seal requirements when its own systems were far from ready. Some sellers even reported that the DTI's official website was often inaccessible due to maintenance, and that the dedicated website for applying for the trust seal was only a "pilot version" with functionality still under development.
However, the fees are the real trigger for seller dissatisfaction.
According to regulations, except for micro and small enterprises (those with total assets of 3 million pesos or less), which are exempt in the first year, all other sellers applying for the Philippine Trust Seal must pay a 1,000 pesos application fee, a 100 pesos website management fee, and a 30 pesos stamp duty, totaling 1,130 pesos. Furthermore, since the certification is only valid for one year, sellers must pay this fee annually for renewal.
Even more unacceptable to sellers is that the Trust Seal fees are another significant burden on top of existing cost pressures. Merchants on e-commerce platforms already bear multiple expenses:
1. New order processing fee: Starting September 3, 2025, Shopee and Lazada will charge sellers an additional 5 pesos order processing fee for each successful order.
2. Shipping and Commission Increase: Effective June 1, 2025, the shipping fee on Shopee's Philippines platform will increase to 5.60% (including tax). Sellers on the Shopee platform will continue to pay the existing rate of 4.48% (including tax).
3. Withholding Tax: In addition to service and transaction fees from e-commerce platforms, sellers also face tax pressures. Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Regulation No. 16-2023 also requires e-commerce sellers with annual revenue exceeding PHP500,000 to pay a withholding tax of 1% of half of their gross sales through the platform.
However, despite growing discontent among sellers, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has backed off and extended the deadline, but its commitment to implementing the e-commerce trustmark remains unwavering.
DTI Secretary Roque explained, "There are always merchants who wait until the last minute, even hoping we'll remove the Trustmark." She clarified, "Our stance is firm: products sold must carry the Trustmark."
Some sellers who contacted platform account managers also reported receiving no notice of an extension. However, even if the platform follows through with an extension policy, certification must be completed as soon as possible. After all, judging by the DTI's aggressive push, the implementation of the Trustmark, a core measure for market regulation, is inevitable.
According to the Philippine News Agency, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has extended the registration deadline for the Philippines' e-commerce trust mark from September 30, 2025, to December 31, 2025.
While major e-commerce platforms have yet to implement the extension in their policies, this news undoubtedly provides a respite for sellers struggling with their review processes.
Filipino sellers blast the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)
The DTI's decision to postpone the implementation can be seen as a conciliatory measure.
Previously, many Filipino sellers launched a collective protest online, accusing the trust seal of clearly favoring consumers while ignoring the challenges sellers face in their operations. As a result, the DTI and its secretary, Cristina Roque, became the focus of cyberattacks, and some comment sections on her social media accounts were forced to be disabled.
Media reports indicate that sellers' anger is directed at the DTI's "hasty" implementation of the trust seal requirements when its own systems were far from ready. Some sellers even reported that the DTI's official website was often inaccessible due to maintenance, and that the dedicated website for applying for the trust seal was only a "pilot version" with functionality still under development.
Philippine E-commerce Sellers Face Heavy Fees
However, the fees are the real trigger for seller dissatisfaction.
According to regulations, except for micro and small enterprises (those with total assets of 3 million pesos or less), which are exempt in the first year, all other sellers applying for the Philippine Trust Seal must pay a 1,000 pesos application fee, a 100 pesos website management fee, and a 30 pesos stamp duty, totaling 1,130 pesos. Furthermore, since the certification is only valid for one year, sellers must pay this fee annually for renewal.
Even more unacceptable to sellers is that the Trust Seal fees are another significant burden on top of existing cost pressures. Merchants on e-commerce platforms already bear multiple expenses:
1. New order processing fee: Starting September 3, 2025, Shopee and Lazada will charge sellers an additional 5 pesos order processing fee for each successful order.
2. Shipping and Commission Increase: Effective June 1, 2025, the shipping fee on Shopee's Philippines platform will increase to 5.60% (including tax). Sellers on the Shopee platform will continue to pay the existing rate of 4.48% (including tax).
3. Withholding Tax: In addition to service and transaction fees from e-commerce platforms, sellers also face tax pressures. Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Regulation No. 16-2023 also requires e-commerce sellers with annual revenue exceeding PHP500,000 to pay a withholding tax of 1% of half of their gross sales through the platform.
Conclusion:
However, despite growing discontent among sellers, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has backed off and extended the deadline, but its commitment to implementing the e-commerce trustmark remains unwavering.
DTI Secretary Roque explained, "There are always merchants who wait until the last minute, even hoping we'll remove the Trustmark." She clarified, "Our stance is firm: products sold must carry the Trustmark."
Some sellers who contacted platform account managers also reported receiving no notice of an extension. However, even if the platform follows through with an extension policy, certification must be completed as soon as possible. After all, judging by the DTI's aggressive push, the implementation of the Trustmark, a core measure for market regulation, is inevitable.
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BigSeller-Blog Senior Writer: Jayson
Sir Jayson has worked in well-known e-commerce companies such as Shopee and TikTok Shop, helping hundreds of sellers to deepen their e-commerce industry, expand their business, and eventually become high-quality sellers.
