NOTARIAL FEE HACK

Here’s a practical tip I picked up from a fellow broker on how to minimize notarial costs when closing a sale — without cutting corners.

The situation

When you submit a Deed of Absolute Sale (DOAS) to the BIR, many RDOs require a separate document called an Acknowledgment Receipt (AR) stating that the seller has received the full consideration indicated in the DOAS.

Technically, most DOAS templates already contain a clause like:

“Receipt of which is hereby acknowledged by the SELLER from the BUYER.”

So you might ask: Why require a separate AR?

In practice, some BIR offices want a standalone document clearly stating that the seller received the full purchase price. The likely reason is evidentiary — they want a clearer paper trail, especially since the amount declared affects capital gains tax, documentary stamp tax, and possibly VAT. A separately notarized AR becomes a public document and carries evidentiary weight.

The small problem

If you prepare a separate AR and have it notarized independently, that’s an additional notarial act — which means additional notarial fees.

It’s not huge. But it’s still an unnecessary extra expense if it can be structured more efficiently.

The workaround

Instead of notarizing the AR as a completely separate document, attach it as an annex to the DOAS — for example:

Annex “A” – Acknowledgment Receipt

Then have the entire set notarized as one integrated document.

This way:

1. The BIR gets a separately titled AR.

2. The AR is covered by the same notarial acknowledgment. You avoid paying for two separate notarizations.

3. Fewer documents to route, since the AR is attached to (and forms part of) the DOAS.

Clean. Efficient. Compliant.