CIPC Deregistration Explained: Why It Happens and How to Get Your Company Back (2026)
OurPower - Last verified 2026-05-03
"It took me months of effort just to get the CIPC to tell me that my company is being deregistered, and then they told me it's going to take another 4 months minimum before I could get official confirmation."
The 2025 mass deregistration event
In January 2025 CIPC began the largest deregistration push in years. More than 800,000 entities were flagged for non-compliance with Annual Returns and Beneficial Ownership requirements. Many small business owners only found out when their bank account was frozen, a tender was rejected, or a customer ran a CIPC company search.
If you registered a Pty pre-2024 and let it go quiet, you should check your status now.
How to check your CIPC status
Search for your company at https://www.bizportal.gov.za (the public BizProfile search). You'll see a 'Status' field. The relevant statuses are:
- In Business: you're fine.
- AR Deregistration Process / Final AR Deregistration: missed Annual Returns triggered deregistration. Reinstatable cheaply if you act quickly.
- Final Deregistration: company is dead. Reinstatement requires a court order or CIPC-discretion reinstatement.
- In Liquidation / In Business Rescue: separate processes; not the deregistration path.
Reinstatement: AR-deregistered (cheaper)
If your status is 'AR Deregistration Process' or 'Final AR Deregistration' and you act before final cancellation, you can reinstate by:
- Filing all outstanding Annual Returns (catch-up at the late-penalty rate).
- Filing all outstanding Beneficial Ownership records.
- Paying the R200 reinstatement fee (CoR40.5).
- Submitting proof the company was actively trading at deregistration (bank statement, lease, supplier invoice).
Total cost is usually R500-R3,000 depending on years missed and turnover.
Reinstatement: final-deregistered (harder)
If CIPC has finalised deregistration and removed the company from the register, you need either: a CIPC discretionary reinstatement (rare, requires strong evidence of trading at the time), or a high-court reinstatement application. Court applications cost R5,000-R30,000+ in legal fees and take 3-9 months.
Frequently asked questions
How many years of missed ARs trigger deregistration?
Two consecutive years moves you to the 'AR Deregistration Process' status. After that there is a window before final deregistration.
Can I just register a new Pty instead of reinstating?
Often yes, if you don't care about the old company's history, contracts, or VAT registration. New Pty is R175. Reinstatement makes sense if you have ongoing contracts, a tax history, or VAT registered to the old reg number.
Is BO needed even for a dormant company?
Yes. CIPC requires BO filing alongside every AR since 1 July 2024.
Tools to help
Related guides
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.