CIPC company reinstatement is the legal process of restoring a deregistered company or close corporation back to active status on the national register. When you miss your annual filings, the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) removes your business from the system. Reinstating it reverses that removal so you can trade, bank, and apply for tenders legally again.
Why CIPC deregisters companies
CIPC deregisters companies to keep the national register accurate. If you fail to file your annual returns, CIPC assumes the business is no longer operating. They start a process called deregistration for non-compliance. They will eventually remove the entity completely. When a company is deregistered, it loses its legal standing. You cannot open a bank account, sign contracts, or sue in the company name. Any assets the company held might become a problem to deal with.
How to check your company status
Before you start a reinstatement, you must confirm the company is actually deregistered. You can do this on the CIPC website. Search the public register using your company registration number. If the status shows "Deregistered", you need to apply for reinstatement. If the status shows something else, like a final notice, you might just need to file your outstanding annual returns quickly to stop the deregistration.
The CIPC reinstatement process
The reinstatement process follows a strict sequence. You cannot skip steps or CIPC will reject your application.
- Appoint a registered customer. You must have a CIPC account or use a service provider who has one. You need this profile to generate the necessary forms.
- Lodge the reinstatement application. You submit the application on the CIPC online portal. This tells the registrar you want the company back.
- Pay the CIPC fees. You must pay the application fee to CIPC. The fee depends on the type of entity.
- Settle outstanding annual returns. CIPC will not finalise the reinstatement if you owe them annual returns. You must calculate how many years you missed, file the returns, and pay the CIPC fees for each year.
- Wait for the registrar. The Registrar of Companies must review the application. Once approved, they update the system. Your status changes back to "In Business".
Dealing with blocked directors
Sometimes, you try to log into CIPC and find you cannot transact. CIPC blocks directors or members who have outstanding personal tax returns with the South African Revenue Service (SARS). This is a joint effort between CIPC and SARS to force compliance. You must go to SARS, sort out your personal income tax, and get your account cleared. Once SARS clears the flag, CIPC will unblock your profile. Only then can you proceed with the company reinstatement.
Reinstatement and your SARS tax number
A deregistered company often has a deactivated tax number. When CIPC deregisters a company, they inform SARS, and SARS often deactivates the company tax number. After you reinstate the company with CIPC, you must go back to SARS. You need to ask SARS to reactivate the company tax number. You cannot trade properly without an active income tax reference number.
What happens to company assets
When a company is deregistered, it cannot hold assets legally. If the company owned property or vehicles, the title deeds are frozen. You cannot sell or transfer the property while the company is deregistered. Reinstatement unlocks these assets. You must reinstate the company to transfer the property out of the company name or to sell it.
The cost of reinstatement
You will pay fees to CIPC directly for the reinstatement application. You will also pay CIPC for every outstanding annual return. Older returns carry higher penalties. If you miss many years, the CIPC fees add up quickly. If you choose to use a professional service to handle the CIPC portal for you, you will pay their professional fee on top of the CIPC fees. Keeping your company active from the start saves you money.
Using KAGO for your compliance
You can handle the CIPC portal yourself, but it takes time and patience. If you prefer to focus on running your business, you can get help. KAGO offers a Compliance Kit for R2,495 to help you organise your statutory paperwork. We help you understand what CIPC needs so you can keep your business active.
Getting funding after reinstatement
Once your company is back in business, you might want to apply for funding. Funders and government institutions like the NYDA or SEFA want to see an active company. They check the CIPC register to confirm your status. A reinstated company is eligible, but you must have all your paperwork in order. KAGO makes your business funding ready, but the funder always decides. You must also have a clear business plan.
Keeping your company active
Do not let your company deregister again. File your annual returns within the first month of the anniversary of your registration. Update your director details with CIPC if anything changes. Treat your company registration as an ongoing programme. If you want to register a fresh company because the old one is too far gone, our Registration Basic is R995.
Questions people also ask
Can I reinstate a company that was deregistered years ago?
Yes, you can reinstate a company that was deregistered years ago, provided the deregistration was for non-compliance. You must file all the outstanding annual returns and pay the CIPC fees for those years.
How long does the CIPC reinstatement process take?
The time it takes depends on how busy the Registrar is and how clean your application is. If you have no blocked directors and pay all fees upfront, it can take a few weeks to a few months.
Do I need a lawyer to reinstate my company?
You do not need a lawyer to reinstate your company because the process is administrative. You can use your own CIPC account or hire a service provider to do it on your behalf.
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Let KAGO build it for you.
Business plans, financial plans, company registration, logos and tender packs, at a menu price, in days. We make your business funding-ready. The funder always decides.