CIPC Annual Returns, Filed On Time, Every Year

Your CIPC annual return is due within 30 business days of your company's incorporation anniversary — miss it for too long and your company can be deregistered. Balamina tracks that date and files for you, so it simply never becomes a problem.

Why It Matters

A Missed Annual Return Can Cost You the Company

An annual return is how CIPC confirms your company is still active and its registered details are current. It is a legal obligation for every registered company and close corporation in South Africa, separate from anything you file with SARS.

The risk of getting it wrong is not theoretical. Late filing attracts escalating penalties. If a company fails to file for two years, CIPC places it into the deregistration process — at which point it can lose its legal status, banks may freeze its accounts, and directors can be held personally liable for the company's debts. Recovering a deregistered company is far more expensive and stressful than simply filing on time.

The deadline moves with your own incorporation date, not a fixed calendar date — which is exactly why it is so easy to miss.

How We Handle It

Your Annual Return, Fully Managed

  1. We record your anniversary date

    We capture your company's incorporation date and set your annual return cycle up correctly, so the deadline is tracked for you from day one.

  2. We confirm beneficial ownership is current

    Since 1 July 2024 CIPC will not accept an annual return until beneficial ownership is filed. We check and update this first so nothing blocks your submission.

  3. We prepare and submit the return

    We complete the annual return with CIPC accurately and file it well within the 30-business-day window.

  4. We confirm and keep the record

    You receive confirmation that your company is filed and in good standing, and we hold the record for next year's cycle.

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if I don't file my CIPC annual return?
Annual returns are due within 30 business days of your company's incorporation anniversary. Late filing attracts escalating penalties, and after two years of non-filing CIPC places the company in deregistration — it can lose its legal status, banks may freeze its accounts, and directors can be held personally liable for debts. Balamina tracks your anniversary date and handles the entire process for you.
Is a CIPC annual return the same as a SARS tax return?
No — they are two separate legal obligations with two different bodies. The CIPC annual return keeps your company legally registered; the SARS tax return declares taxable income. Filing one does not satisfy the other, and many business owners are caught out by this.
When is my CIPC annual return due?
Your annual return is due each year within 30 business days of the anniversary of your company's incorporation date. Because the deadline moves with your own incorporation date rather than a fixed calendar date, it is easy to miss — which is why we track it for you and file well ahead of time.
Can you file annual returns I've already missed?
Yes. We can bring overdue annual returns up to date and settle the outstanding filing history with CIPC, then keep your company compliant going forward so it does not slip into deregistration.
Partner With Us

Never Miss a Deadline Again

Send us your company details and we'll take your annual returns off your hands — tracked, filed and confirmed, year after year.