How to File CIPC Annual Returns (and Avoid Deregistration)

Every company and close corporation registered in South Africa must file an annual return with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) — every year, whether or not the business traded, made a profit, or has a bank account. Missing it is the single most common reason otherwise healthy small businesses end up deregistered.

What an annual return actually is

An annual return is a short confirmation to CIPC that your entity is still active, plus payment of a small fee based on turnover. It is not a tax return. Filing with CIPC does not replace your SARS obligations, and filing with SARS does not satisfy CIPC.

When it is due

  • Companies (Pty) Ltd, NPC, Inc: within 30 business days after the anniversary of the date of incorporation.
  • Close corporations (CC): during the anniversary month of registration and the following month.

Late filing attracts a penalty on top of the standard fee, and the amount grows the longer you leave it.

What you need before you start

  • Your registration number (for example 2019/123456/07)
  • Customer code and password for the CIPC eServices portal
  • Enough funds in your CIPC customer account (deposit first — filing cannot complete without it)
  • Annual turnover figure for the year being filed
  • Up-to-date director/member details and registered address
  • Financial year end date
  • For most companies, either annual financial statements (AFS) or a Financial Accountability Supplement (FAS)

Step by step

  1. Register a CIPC customer code at eservices.cipc.co.za if you don't have one. Verification uses your ID number and cellphone.

  2. Deposit funds into your CIPC customer account using the bank details and reference shown in the portal. Allow a day or two for the deposit to reflect.

  3. Log in and select Annual Returns. Enter your enterprise number to pull up outstanding years.

  4. Confirm the entity details. Check directors or members, registered office address, and financial year end. Correct anything out of date before filing — filing with wrong details is a common cause of later disputes.

  5. Enter turnover for each outstanding year. The fee is calculated from this figure.

  6. Pay the calculated fee from your customer account balance and submit.

  7. File your AFS or FAS. Companies required to be audited or independently reviewed must submit annual financial statements in iXBRL format. Others file the Financial Accountability Supplement (Form CoR 30.2). This is a separate step from the annual return itself, and skipping it leaves the return incomplete.

  8. Download the confirmation certificate and keep it with your company records.

What happens if you don't file

CIPC places non-compliant entities in deregistration after two or more years of outstanding returns. Deregistration means:

  • The company legally ceases to exist
  • Bank accounts can be frozen
  • Contracts, tenders, and BEE certificates fall away
  • Directors lose the protection of the corporate structure for new activity
  • Property registered in the company's name becomes bona vacantia

How to fix a deregistered company

You can apply for re-instatement using Form CoR 40.5, supported by:

  • A certified ID copy of the applicant
  • A mandate letter from the company
  • Advertisement of the intention to re-instate in a local newspaper
  • A letter from the Department of Public Works confirming no interest in any immovable property, if applicable
  • Proof that the company was in business or had assets at deregistration

Once re-instatement is approved, you must still file every outstanding annual return, with penalties, before the entity is fully compliant.

Practical tips

  • Diarise the anniversary month — CIPC does not reliably send reminders
  • Keep the customer account topped up so filing is never blocked by a pending deposit
  • File even for a dormant company; a zero-turnover return still costs the minimum fee
  • Update director changes (Form CoR 39) promptly rather than at filing time
  • Beware of third parties charging large "compliance" fees for a filing you can do yourself in under 30 minutes

Frequently asked questions

Do I still file if my company never traded? Yes. Dormant entities must file annual returns, declaring zero turnover, at the minimum fee.

Is the annual return the same as my SARS tax return? No. They are separate obligations to separate institutions with separate deadlines.

How much does it cost? The fee is scaled to annual turnover, with the lowest band applying to small and dormant entities, plus a penalty if filed late. Confirm the current fee schedule on cipc.co.za.

Can I file for several outstanding years at once? Yes. The portal lists all outstanding years and you can settle them in one session, provided your customer account has enough funds.

What is the Financial Accountability Supplement? A short financial disclosure filed by entities not required to submit audited or independently reviewed annual financial statements.

How long does re-instatement take? It varies with CIPC's workload and how complete your supporting documents are. Advertising and the supporting letters are usually the slowest parts.

Who can file on my behalf? Any director, member, or an authorised representative with a mandate letter. You do not need an accountant, though one is useful if AFS are required.

Sources

  • CIPC — Annual Returns (cipc.co.za)
  • Companies Act 71 of 2008 and Companies Regulations, 2011
  • Close Corporations Act 69 of 1984
  • CIPC eServices portal (eservices.cipc.co.za)

This guide is general information, not legal or accounting advice. Confirm current fees, forms, and deadlines with CIPC before filing.