Brunei Darussalam operates a unique fiscal environment where there is no personal income tax, and the corporate tax regime is strictly managed by the Revenue Division of the Ministry of Finance and Economy (MOFE). Unlike many countries with separate tax numbers, Brunei utilizes the Business Registration Number issued by the ROCBN (Registry of Companies and Business Names) as the primary fiscal identifier.
For international investors and contractors, compliance relies on verifying this specific ROCBN Number. Since Brunei does not have a broad VAT system (only specific sector levies), the validity of this ID is the sole proof of a business’s legal existence.
Introduction
The backbone of Brunei’s commercial infrastructure is the Registry of Companies and Business Names (ROCBN). The system is streamlined under the “One Common Portal” (OCP).
For global enterprises, the challenge is verifying the Entity Number (e.g., RC/00000000) to ensure the partner is not a dormant or struck-off entity. Missteps here can lead to legal complications, especially given the strict local ownership laws for certain sectors.
