A complete and practical guide for entrepreneurs who want to stay compliant and avoid deregistration.

Running a business comes with many responsibilities — but one task that many South African entrepreneurs overlook is the CIPC Annual Return. And unfortunately, forgetting this simple requirement is one of the fastest ways to lose your company, your bank account, and access to funding.

In this blog post, we’re breaking down:

What annual returns are
Why they matter
When you must file
How to file correctly
What happens if you don’t
And how to stay compliant as a busy entrepreneur

Let’s get right into it.

1. What Are CIPC Annual Returns?

A CIPC Annual Return is a yearly report that every registered company must submit to confirm:

The company is still operating
The company is still in good financial standing
Your business information (directors, address, etc.) is still correct

Think of it like renewing your car licence disk — you don’t renew it because you bought the car again, you renew it because the government needs to confirm the car is still on the road.

That’s exactly how annual returns work for companies.

Many entrepreneurs confuse Annual Returns with Annual Financial Statements. They are NOT the same:

Annual Returns = confirming your company still exists

Annual Financial Statements = your business’s financial performance

Both are important, but Annual Returns are a legal requirement under the Companies Act.

2. Why Annual Returns Matter (More Than You Think)

Ignoring your CIPC annual returns can destroy your business — literally.

Here’s what happens if you fail to file:

❌ 1. Your company gets deregistered.

CIPC will change your company status to:

“AR overdue”
“In deregistration”
“Deregistered”

Once deregistered, your company no longer legally exists.

❌ 2. Your business bank account gets frozen.

Banks work with CIPC records.
If CIPC says your company “does not exist,” the bank freezes your account.

No withdrawals.
No deposits.
No payments.

Your business stops instantly.

❌ 3. You lose contracts, tenders, and funding opportunities.

No annual return = no compliance.
No compliance = no:

Tenders
Funding
Loans
Supplier deals
Government contracts

A single missed filing can close doors.

❌ 4. You remain personally liable.

In some cases, if your company is deregistered, you (as the director) may be held personally responsible for:

Debts
Contracts
Legal matters

Annual returns protect you as much as they protect the business.

3. When Must You File Your CIPC Annual Return?

Your annual return is due every year on the anniversary of your company’s registration date.

Example:

If you registered your business on 10 April 2022
Your annual return is due every year on 10 April

⏳ CIPC gives you 30 business days to file after the anniversary date.

If you don’t file within 30 days, penalties begin to accumulate.

4. What Documents Do You Need to File?

The process is simple — you only need:

Your company registration number
Your annual financial turnover amount (estimate if small)
Your latest financial statements (if applicable)
Your beneficial ownership (BO) info — CIPC now requires it
Payment method (card or EFT)

You do not need to upload the full AFS unless you’re a larger company.

5. How to File Your CIPC Annual Return (Step-by-Step)

Here is the exact process you can follow:

Step 1: Visit the CIPC e-services website

Go to:

👉 https://eservices.cipc.co.za

Step 2: Go to “Annual Returns”

Select:

“File Annual Returns” under the “On-line Transacting” menu.

Step 3: Enter your company registration number

CIPC will show:

Your company status
Outstanding years
The amount you owe

Step 4: Confirm your turnover

You must enter your company’s total annual turnover.

Turnover affects the fee you pay.

Step 5: Pay the fee

Fees depend on turnover.
Small companies normally pay between R100 – R450.

You can pay via:

Card
EFT
Wallet balance

Step 6: Submit your Beneficial Ownership (BO)

As of 2023/2024, you must submit your BO details or your annual return will fail.

Step 7: Submit the return

Once payment clears, your status updates to:

“AR Filed”

You can now download your CoR30.1 certificate — proof of compliance.

6. What Happens If You Didn’t File for 2 Years or More?

If your company has missed annual returns for:

❌ 2 years → company enters the deregistration process

❌ 3 years → company becomes deregistered

But the good news?

✔️ You CAN reinstate your company.

To reinstate, you must:

File ALL outstanding returns
Pay all penalties
File BO
Upload supporting documents if required

Most reinstatements take 24–72 hours if everything is correct (despite people saying “6 weeks”).

7. How Much Are Penalties for Late Filing?

CIPC charges penalties per year.

If you ignore your returns for 3–4 years, the penalties can exceed R1,000 – R5,000 depending on turnover and duration.

This is why consistent filing is easier — and cheaper.

8. Do You Need an Accountant to File?

Not always, but it helps if:

You’re unsure about turnover
You want to avoid penalties
You want a full compliance check
You’re handling multiple companies
You want BO submitted correctly

If you’re running a business, outsourcing compliance is often the smartest choice.

9. How to Stay Compliant Every Year (The Organized Way)

Here’s how The Organized Entrepreneur recommends keeping things simple:

✔️ Add your CIPC anniversary date to your calendar

Put reminders:

30 days before
14 days before
7 days before

✔️ Keep proper bookkeeping

If your books are accurate, calculating turnover becomes easy.

✔️ File BO whenever directors or shareholders change

CIPC checks for updates.

✔️ Keep your company active

Even if you’re not trading, file your return.
Dormant companies still need to file.

✔️ Don’t let compliance pile up

One missed year becomes two, then three — then deregistration.

10. Final Word: Compliance Is Cheaper Than Recovery

Most businesses only take compliance seriously after something goes wrong:

Bank account frozen
Tender rejected
SARS issues
Funding declined
Company disappearing from the system

Annual returns are not just a legal requirement — they are a business protection tool.

If you want to remain fundable, credible, and future-ready:

👉 File your annual returns on time
👉 Keep your BO updated
👉 Stay on top of CIPC deadlines

A compliant business is an organized business — and organized businesses grow.

The Organized Entrepreneur

Welcome to The Organized Entrepreneur — where hustle meets structure.

Annual Returns – When & How to File Your CIPC Annual Return (South Africa)