Annual returns are used to determine whether the business is still doing business or will be doing business in the future. If annual returns are not filed, CIPC assumes that the business is dormant and starts the process to remove the business from the register of active businesses. Also, annual returns may be used to gauge the level of compliance with the Companies Act especially financial reporting.
How will I know when to file?
CIPC does provide e-mail / sms reminders to directors (for companies) and members (for close corporations) PROVIDED that correct contact details have been provided to the CIPC when registering the business or updating its detail. If CIPC does not have the correct information, reminders cannot be issued. To confirm the status with annual return filings an AR Fee Calculation can be done via annualreturns.cipc.co.za or by utilising the CIPC USSD functionality.
How must the annual return be filed?What fee should be paid when filing annual returns?
In determining the appropriate fee for the filing of an annual return, a distinction must be made between a company and close corporation filing, and the date on which the annual return became due, since different fee structures are used for companies and close corporations. Further, in order to determine the year from which the company or close corporation became liable to file annual returns, the roll out date for the specific category of entity must be used together with its registration date.
| Examples (Companies) | Examples (Close Corporations) |
| The company was registered on 26 June 1995. If it is a public or external company, its first annual return became due in June 2003. Therefore, annual returns should have been filed on an annual basis as from June 2004 until June 2011, and should then continue to be filed annually every year thereafter. If the company is a private company, its first annual return became due June 2005. Therefore, annual returns should have been filed on an annual basis as for June 2005 to June 2011, and every year thereafter. If the company was registered 26 June 2009 and it is any other type of company, the first annual return became due in June 2010. Therefore, annual returns should have been filed on an annual basis for June 2010 and June 2011, and every year thereafter. | If the close corporation was registered on 26 June 1995, its first annual return became due in June 2009. Therefore, annual returns should have been filed on an annual basis for June 2009 to June 2011, and every year thereafter. If the close corporation was registered on 26 June 2009, its first annual return became due in June 2010. Therefore, annual returns should have been filed on an annual basis for June 2010 and June 2011, and every year thereafter. |
If the annual return became due 1 May 2011 or thereafter, the fee structure under the Companies Act, 2008 must be used. If it became due before 1 May 2011 the Companies Act, 1973 fee structure must be used.
Companies Act, 1973 fee table:
| Annual Turnover | Private and Incorporated Companies | Public Companies | External Companies |
| Less than R10 million | R450 | R4000 | R4000 |
| More than R10 million but less than R50 million | R2500 | R4000 | R4000 |
| R50 million or more | R4000 | R4000 | R4000 |
| Penalty fee for each late lodgment | R150 | R150 | R150 |
| Re-instatement Application (Form CoR40.5) | R200 |
Companies Act, 2008 fee table:
| Annual Turnover | Filing within 30 business days after anniversary date | Filing more than 30 business days after anniversary date |
| Less than R1 million | R100 | R150 |
| R1 million but less than R10 million | R450 | R600 |
| R10 million but less than R25 million | R2000 | R2500 |
| R25 million or more | R3000 | R4000 |
| Re-instatement Application (Form CoR40.5) | R200 |
Close Corporations Act, 1984 fee table:
| Annual Turnover | Filing within 2 months from beginning of anniversary month | Penalty for each late lodgment |
| Between 0 to R50 million | R100 | R150 |
| R50 million and above | R4000 | R150 |
| Re-instatement Application | R200 |
The fees payable for annual returns can also be determined by consulting the CIPC Annual Return website annualreturns.cipc.co.za / AR Calculator. For assistance on how to conduct a fee calculation refer to the published step by step guide annualreturns.cipc.co.za / how to guide.
Did You Know : Top 15 Free Online Learning Platforms
-
Free Online Education Degrees : Coursera:
Coursera partners with universities and organizations worldwide to offer a wide range of courses. While many courses are free, a fee is often required for certification.
-
Free Online Education Degrees: edX:
Founded by MIT and Harvard, edX offers high-quality courses from top universities and institutions around the world. Certificates are available for a fee.
-
Free Online Education Degrees : Khan Academy:
Khan Academy provides free educational content in various subjects, especially mathematics and science, using instructional videos and practice exercises.
-
Free Online Education Degrees : Udacity:
Udacity focuses on tech-related courses and nanodegree programs, offering free content as well as more in-depth paid programs.
-
Free Online Education Degrees : MIT OpenCourseWare (OCW):
MIT OCW provides a vast array of MIT's course content for free, covering a wide range of disciplines.
-
Free Online Education Degrees : Harvard Extension School:
Harvard Extension School offers a selection of free online courses. While some courses are free, others may require payment for a certificate.
-
Free Online Education Degrees: Stanford Online:
Stanford Online offers a variety of free courses in different disciplines, including computer science, engineering, and business.
-
Best Free Online Courses : Carnegie Mellon Open Learning Initiative (OLI):
OLI offers free online courses and resources designed to improve learning outcomes through research-based methodologies.
-
Best Free Online Courses : FutureLearn:
FutureLearn partners with universities and institutions to offer a diverse range of free online courses. Certificates are available for a fee.
-
Best Free Online Courses: Alison:
Alison offers a wide range of free online courses, including diploma and certificate programs, covering various subjects.
-
Best Free Online Courses: Open Yale Courses:
Yale University provides free access to a selection of introductory courses through Open Yale Courses.
-
Best Free Online Courses : UC Berkeley Online:
UC Berkeley offers free online courses on a variety of subjects, ranging from computer science to humanities.
-
Best Free Online Courses : Google Digital Garage:
Google Digital Garage provides free courses on digital skills, including online marketing, data analysis, and more.
-
Best Free Online Courses : Codecademy:
Codecademy offers free coding courses, interactive exercises, and coding projects to help individuals learn programming languages.
-
Best Free Online Courses : LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda.com):
LinkedIn Learning provides a variety of video courses on professional development, technology, and creative skills. It offers a free trial period.