- Certified ID copies of all directors
- Company registration documents (COR14.3)
- Directors’ personal income tax numbers
- Directors’ contact numbers and email addresses
- Shareholding split
- Your CIPC login details
CIPC Beneficial Ownership
File your beneficial ownership and keep your company active
Every company and close corporation in South Africa must tell CIPC who ultimately owns or controls it. Without a current beneficial ownership filing, CIPC won’t accept your annual return, and your company can end up being deregistered. We prepare the documents, file your declaration and keep your records up to date.
3 Business days
What is beneficial ownership?
A beneficial owner is a person who ultimately owns or controls a company, directly or through other entities. Under CIPC’s rules, every person who holds 5% or more of a company or close corporation, or who exercises effective control over it, must be disclosed in a beneficial ownership declaration filed with CIPC.
When must you file?
Filing is required every year, not just once.
Every year, before your annual return
Within 10 business days of registering a new company
Within 10 business days of any ownership change
Even if nothing has changed
What we prepare for you
Everything CIPC needs, compiled and filed.
Share certificates
Issued to each shareholder
Share and beneficial interest registers
The registers your company must keep
Mandate resolution and declaration
Authorising and filing your disclosure with CIPC
Why it matters
Since July 2024, CIPC blocks a company’s annual return until its beneficial ownership declaration is filed. Companies that fall behind on annual returns risk being deregistered, which can freeze bank accounts and stop you from trading, tendering or signing contracts.
How we do it
Three steps. We deal with CIPC.
1. Complete the online application
2. Send us your documents
3. We file with CIPC and send you your records
Documents required
Your CIPC login lets us file on your behalf.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who must file beneficial ownership?
Companies and close corporations, including non-profit companies and dormant companies.
Do we have to file if nothing has changed?
Yes. CIPC requires a beneficial ownership declaration every year before your annual return, even if ownership hasn’t changed.
Who counts as a beneficial owner?
Anyone who holds 5% or more of the company, directly or indirectly, or who exercises effective control over it.
What happens if we don’t file?
CIPC won’t accept your annual return, and companies with outstanding annual returns can be deregistered.
We’re a one-person company. Do we still need to file?
Yes. If you own the company, you are the beneficial owner, and the declaration still needs to be filed.
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