Compliance Guides
Plain-language guides on everything South African businesses need to know about COIDA, CIPC, labour and regulatory compliance.
Showing 26 guides on CIPC & company records. Show everything
CIPC & company records 26
Annual returns, beneficial ownership, deregistration and reinstatement, directors and company details.
SA Non-Compliance Penalty Calculator 2026
Enter your turnover and see the statutory maximum exposure across CIPC, COIDA, SARS and POPIA, updating as you type. Plus what actually happens first — a blocked tender, a frozen account, personal liability for directors — which arrives long before any maximum fine does.
Read articleBeneficial Ownership Non-Compliance: The Penalties South African Companies Are Facing in 2026
CIPC’s September 2026 non-compliance list holds 1,408,003 entities. The R1 million or 10%-of-turnover fine is real but it is a ceiling reached through a compliance notice, not an automatic invoice — the consequence almost everyone meets first is a hard stop on the annual return, and two years of that starts deregistration. Where directors and trustees carry personal exposure, and what filing now does and does not fix.
Read articleHow Much Does Beneficial Ownership Filing Cost in South Africa? (2026)
CIPC charges R0 to file a Beneficial Ownership declaration — every rand you might spend buys help, not the filing. DIY, guided, and done-for-you compared side by side with real prices, plus what not filing actually costs: a blocked annual return and a deregistration that is far dearer to reverse.
Read articleMore South African Businesses Are Choosing to Close — CIPC’s Own Gazettes Show It
ClearComply analysed every voluntary deregistration list CIPC gazetted since June 2023 — 29,458 companies, each counted once. Closures per gazette list doubled from ~1,700 in 2023 to ~3,500 in 2024 and 2025, and the median company choosing to close was registered in 2018 — businesses that survived lockdown and load-shedding, winding up anyway. The full trend, who is closing, and how it compares to being struck off for unfiled annual returns.
Read articleThe CIPC Compliance Checklist Explained: All 24 Questions in Plain English
Mandatory since 5 March 2020, the CIPC Compliance Checklist makes companies with audited or independently reviewed financials declare their compliance with 24 sections of the Companies Act each year — but CIPC never explains what the sections mean. Here is what all 24 questions actually require, in plain language, who must complete it, the anniversary-based deadline, and the criminal liability for answering falsely. Includes a free plain-English self-assessment.
Read articleWhat Happens When South African Businesses Ignore Compliance: Real Consequences, Real Numbers
From CIPC deregistering 500,000 companies in a single month to R5 million POPIA fines — here is what actually happened to businesses that missed their compliance obligations, and what it cost them.
Read articleDirector Duties and Personal Liability Under the Companies Act
The Companies Act creates personal liability for directors who trade recklessly or breach their fiduciary duties. What the law says, how liability is triggered, and how to protect yourself.
Read articleHow to Wind Up or Deregister a Company in South Africa
Voluntary deregistration vs voluntary liquidation vs court-ordered winding up. Step-by-step processes, costs, timelines, and which route fits your situation.
Read articleWhat Is a Public Interest Score — and Does Your Company Need an Audit?
Every SA company must calculate a Public Interest Score annually. Your score determines whether you need an audit, independent review, or compilation. Here is how to calculate yours.
Read articleHow to Reinstate a Deregistered Company in South Africa — Step-by-Step CIPC Guide
Your company has been deregistered by CIPC. Whether reinstatement is possible, the documents you need, the R200 fee, the 30-day filing window, and how long it takes.
Read articleHow to Register a Company in South Africa — Complete CIPC Guide 2026
Which structure to choose, how to reserve a name, how to register on BizPortal or CIPC eServices, what it costs (R175), and what you must do after registration.
Read articleHow to Change Company Directors at CIPC — CoR39 Step-by-Step Guide
Appointing, resigning, or removing a director must be filed within 10 business days. The OTP process, what happens to the departing director, and common mistakes.
Read articleHow to Change Your Company Name at CIPC — Step-by-Step Guide
Name reservation (R50), special resolution, CoR15.2 application (R250), and everything you must update after CIPC approves the change.
Read articleWhat Is a Close Corporation — and Can You Still Register One?
No new CCs since May 2011, but existing ones are still legal. CC vs (Pty) Ltd differences, whether to convert, and compliance obligations for CC owners.
Read articleWhat Is a Company Anniversary Date — and Why It Determines Your CIPC Deadline
Your CIPC annual return deadline is tied to your incorporation date, not the financial year-end. How to find yours and why this confusion causes most missed filings.
Read articleCIPC Annual Returns South Africa: Everything You Need to Know in 2026
Deadlines based on your anniversary date, filing fees by turnover, the BO block, step-by-step filing guide, and the real cost of missing your return.
Read articleWhat is CIPC Deregistration? What It Means for Your South African Business
Over 650,000 companies were deregistered in 2024 alone. What triggers it, what happens to directors personally, and how to stop it before it’s too late.
Read articleHow to Check Your CIPC Compliance Status
Two ways to check: the official CIPC method across three separate portals, or the 30-second ClearComply method. Here’s how both work.
Read articleHow to File Your Beneficial Ownership Declaration with CIPC — 2026 Guide
Over 2.2 million companies are on the non-compliance list. Who must file, what documents you need, the Optimised pathway, and step-by-step instructions.
Read articleAnnual Returns in South Africa: Everything You Need to Know
Deadlines based on your anniversary date, filing fees by turnover bracket, the BO block, and the real cost of missing your filing.
Read articleWhat is a CIPC Gazette Notice? What It Means and What to Do Right Now
If your company appeared in a CIPC Government Gazette notice, you have a limited window to act before final deregistration. Here’s exactly what it means and what to do today.
Read articleCIPC Notice 44 of 2026: Beneficial Ownership Declarations Can Get Your Company Deregistered
CIPC Notice 44 of 2026 puts SA companies at risk of deregistration for failing to file Beneficial Ownership declarations. Find out if your company is at risk.
Read articleCIPC Beneficial Ownership Compliance Inspections Are Live: What Every SA Business Owner Must Do in 2025
CIPC is actively conducting BO filing compliance inspections. SA business owners face deregistration risk. Find out what's required and check your status now.
Read articleSARS Urges Schools to Apply for VAT Deregistration in 2026 — What This Means for Your Institution
SARS is calling on South African Schools Act schools registered as VAT vendors to deregister. Find out if your school is affected and what to do now.
Read articleCIPC Is Conducting Beneficial Ownership Compliance Inspections in 2026 — Is Your Company Ready?
CIPC inspectors are visiting companies right now to verify Beneficial Ownership filings. Here's what non-compliance costs you and what to do today.
Read articleCIPC Changes How It Confirms Business Rescue Proceedings: What South African Companies Must Know in 2025
CIPC no longer stamps COR123.1, COR125.2 and COR125.3 applications. Find out what the new confirmation process means for your business rescue compliance.
Read articleClearComply
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