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CIPC Annual Return Fees 2026: Cost, Penalties and What Happens If You Miss It

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OurPower - Last verified 2026-05-03

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"I get a penalty from SARS every single year. And every single year I show them proof that the company closed in 2016. They just doesn't listen."
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What it is

Every active company and close corporation in South Africa must file an Annual Return (AR) at CIPC every year on the anniversary of its registration. The AR confirms the company is still trading and updates basic details. It is not a tax return - it goes to CIPC, not SARS.

2026 fee table

Companies (Pty / Ltd / NPC):

Turnover under R1m: R100 (on time) / R150 (late)
R1m-R10m: R450 (on time) / R600 (late)
R10m-R25m: R2,000 / R2,500
Above R25m: R3,000 / R4,000

Close Corporations (legacy)

Turnover under R50m: R100 / R250
Above R50m: R4,000 / R4,150

What happens if you miss it

After the due date, the late penalty applies. If you miss the AR for two consecutive years, CIPC starts the deregistration process. After enough missed years, the company status moves from 'AR Deregistration Process' to 'Final Deregistration'.

AR-deregistered companies can be reinstated cheaply (R200 + catch-up ARs). Final-deregistered companies need a high-court reinstatement order, which is significantly more expensive.

Since April 2024, CIPC has hard-stopped AR filing if Beneficial Ownership has not been filed. So you cannot file your AR without first filing BO.

How to file

Annual Returns are filed at https://annualreturns.cipc.co.za. You'll need your customer code, a CIPC eServices login, and the latest financial statements (or a director's certification if you're under R1m turnover).

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to file if my company is dormant?

Yes. Even a R0-turnover dormant company must file an AR every year (at the lowest fee bracket). Missing it triggers deregistration.

What's the worst-case if I ignore it for 5 years?

Final deregistration. You lose the company, its bank account, any contracts, and reinstatement requires a court order plus catch-up ARs. Conservatively budget R10,000+ in legal and CIPC fees.

Is there grace?

You have 30 business days after the anniversary of your registration date to file; after that the late penalty applies. In practice CIPC has not hard-deregistered before 60 days, but don't rely on grace.

Tools to help

Annual Return + Penalty CalculatorReinstatement WizardBeneficial Ownership Wizard

In January 2025 CIPC began deregistering 800,000+ companies for missed Annual Returns and Beneficial Ownership filings.

How to Deregister a Company in South Africa

Closing a Pty Ltd in South Africa is brutal: CIPC takes 4-12 months, SARS keeps billing penalties for years.

Beneficial Ownership at CIPC: Plain-English Guide for Small Companies

Since May 2023, every SA company must file a Beneficial Ownership register with CIPC.

How Long Does CIPC Take? Real 2026 Turnaround Times

Honest breakdown of CIPC turnaround times by transaction: Pty registration, name reservation, AR filing, deregistration, reinstatement, MOI changes.

CIPC Customer Code: What It Is and How to Get One

The CIPC Customer Code is a six-character ID you need to file anything at CIPC.

General guidance for South African company registration. Not legal or tax advice. CIPC fees and SARS rules change - figures verified 2026-05-03. Sources: CIPC, SARS, BizPortal.