CIPC

“What is the CIPC?”

CIPC stands for the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission. It’s the official South African government body responsible for:

  • Registering new companies
  • Keeping a public record of all registered businesses
  • Managing updates to company information (like directors, addresses, or shareholders)
  • Handling intellectual property registrations like trademarks and patents

If you're starting a business, CIPC is the first place you'll deal with to make your company official.

“What does the CIPC do for businesses?”

Once your business is registered, you’ll continue using CIPC to:

  • File your annual returns
  • Update your company details
  • Submit your Beneficial Ownership Register
  • Deregister or restore your company, if needed
  • Request copies of registration documents

The CIPC acts like your company’s official ‘home base’ in the eyes of the law.

“Who needs to register with the CIPC?”

If you're starting a:

  • Private Company (Pty Ltd)
  • Non-Profit Company (NPC)
  • Public Company
  • Close Corporation (older business structure, no longer available for new registrations)

...you’ll need to go through CIPC to register and stay compliant.

“What happens if I don’t comply with the CIPC?”

If you don’t keep your company info up to date or fail to file returns:

  • Your company could be deregistered
  • You might face penalties
  • You could struggle to open a business bank account, apply for tenders, or stay legally compliant

You can register a business with the CIPC quickly and easily online with Govchain.

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