Filings™CIPC annual returns, beneficial ownership and SARS filings, handled
We monitor your company's filing status and flag filings and deadlines before they're due. Govchain handles the CIPC, SARS, and beneficial ownership filings, so you don't get caught out by a late penalty.
Every registered company in South Africa files with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) and the South African Revenue Service (SARS): annual returns, beneficial ownership filings, provisional and income tax returns, and payroll submissions. Each filing has its own deadline, and each carries a penalty when it is late. Govchain Filings tracks every filing your company owes and submits the ones on your plan.
Stress-free company filings.
Filing has a lot of moving parts: CIPC annual returns, beneficial ownership, and SARS submissions. Govchain Filings™ tracks them all and files what’s due.
All-In-One Filings
Effortless Online Filing
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- CIPC annual returns filed
- 59 000+
- Turnover filed with CIPC
- R13bn+
- SARS tax returns filed
- 3 000+
Start a business with filings
Register a new company and get filings set up from the start.
How Govchain Filings™ works
Ongoing filings are easy to lose track of when you’re running a business. That’s what we built Govchain Filings for.
Get Alerts
Get alerts and notifications for all company filings.
File Online
Quickly and easily complete filings online.
Stay in Good Standing
Relax knowing your business is compliant and penalty-free.
The South African company filing calendar
Every CIPC and SARS filing a private company has to deal with, when it’s due, and what happens if you miss it. Govchain Filings tracks each of these for your company and files the ones on your plan.
Every month
If you have employees or are VAT-registered, these run on a monthly cycle.
| Filing | Deadline | Applies to | If you miss it |
|---|---|---|---|
EMP201 (PAYE, UIF, SDL)Monthly employer declaration covering PAYE withheld, UIF contributions, and SDL. Deadline: By the 7th of the following month Applies to: Companies with at least one employee on the payroll | By the 7th of the following month | Companies with at least one employee on the payroll | 10% of the amount due, plus interest from the day after the due date. |
VAT201VAT return reporting input and output VAT for the period (Category A, B, C, or D). Deadline: By the 25th of the month after the period (or last business day on SARS eFiling) Applies to: VAT-registered companies | By the 25th of the month after the period (or last business day on SARS eFiling) | VAT-registered companies | 10% late-payment penalty plus monthly interest. Repeat offences attract criminal sanctions. |
Every six months
Provisional tax keeps SARS topped up before the annual return is filed.
| Filing | Deadline | Applies to | If you miss it |
|---|---|---|---|
IRP6 (first provisional tax)Estimated taxable income for the first half of the company financial year. Deadline: Six months into the financial year Applies to: Every active company that is registered for income tax | Six months into the financial year | Every active company that is registered for income tax | 20% under-estimation penalty plus interest if the estimate is materially low. |
IRP6 (second provisional tax)Final estimate of taxable income for the full financial year. Deadline: On the last day of the financial year Applies to: Every active company that is registered for income tax | On the last day of the financial year | Every active company that is registered for income tax | 20% under-estimation penalty plus interest. A late return is a 10% admin penalty. |
Every year
Annual filings are the ones that get companies deregistered or fined when missed.
| Filing | Deadline | Applies to | If you miss it |
|---|---|---|---|
CIPC Annual ReturnConfirms the company is still active and updates CIPC on directors, address, and turnover. Deadline: 30 business days after the incorporation anniversary Applies to: Every company registered with CIPC, including dormant ones | 30 business days after the incorporation anniversary | Every company registered with CIPC, including dormant ones | R150 to R4 000 in late fees. Two missed returns and CIPC starts deregistration. |
Beneficial Ownership filingRegister of every person who directly or indirectly owns or controls 5% or more of the company. Deadline: Filed with the Annual Return; resubmit within 10 business days of any change Applies to: Every CIPC-registered company | Filed with the Annual Return; resubmit within 10 business days of any change | Every CIPC-registered company | Administrative fines up to 10% of turnover or R1 million, plus possible deregistration. |
ITR14 (Company Income Tax Return)Annual income tax return for the company, reconciling against the two IRP6 payments. Deadline: Within 12 months of the financial year-end Applies to: Every active company that is registered for income tax | Within 12 months of the financial year-end | Every active company that is registered for income tax | R250 to R16 000 per month per outstanding return, plus interest until filed. |
EMP501 annual reconciliationReconciles 12 months of EMP201 filings against employee IRP5 and IT3(a) certificates. Deadline: 31 May each year Applies to: Companies with at least one employee on the payroll | 31 May each year | Companies with at least one employee on the payroll | 1% of total PAYE withheld for the year, charged for every month late, up to 10%. |
Once-off and triggered events
These do not have a fixed date but they have a deadline tied to a trigger.
| Filing | Deadline | Applies to | If you miss it |
|---|---|---|---|
SARS Registered RepresentativeAppoints a director as the company representative on SARS eFiling. Deadline: Within 30 days of CIPC registration Applies to: Every newly registered company | Within 30 days of CIPC registration | Every newly registered company | SARS correspondence and eFiling access are blocked until appointed. |
VAT registrationOnce turnover reaches the VAT threshold, registration with SARS is required. Deadline: Compulsory within 21 days of crossing R2.3 million turnover in any 12-month period (voluntary from R50 000) Applies to: Companies hitting the turnover threshold | Compulsory within 21 days of crossing R2.3 million turnover in any 12-month period (voluntary from R50 000) | Companies hitting the turnover threshold | Up to 200% of VAT that should have been collected, plus interest and possible prosecution. |
UIF, PAYE, and COIDA registrationEmployer registrations with the Department of Labour and SARS. Deadline: Before the first employee is paid Applies to: Companies hiring their first employee | Before the first employee is paid | Companies hiring their first employee | COIDA fines of up to R10 000 and personal liability for unpaid worker compensation claims. |
CIPC amendmentsChanges to directors, registered address, MOI, share structure, or company name. Deadline: Within 30 business days of the change Applies to: Any company that changes its registered details | Within 30 business days of the change | Any company that changes its registered details | Filings rejected on stale data, plus the same annual return penalties as above. |
Dates and penalties on this page are based on current CIPC and SARS rules and may change. Govchain Filings keeps the calendar updated for your company so you don’t have to track it yourself.
Pick the plan that fits
Bookkeeping, tax filing, and invoicing on one monthly bill.
- Monitor compliance across government departments.
- Get notifications to stay compliant and on top of filings.
- Track compliance for free, pay only when you file.
- Send professional invoices and track payments.
- Bookkeeping with Govchain Books™.
- SARS tax return submissions handled for you.
- All standard compliance filings kept up to date.
- Direct access to a tax expert.
Why staying on top of filings matters
Missing a tax return can cost you more than just time. SARS charges an admin penalty from R250 to R16,000 per month per overdue return, depending on your company’s taxable income, plus monthly interest. Worse yet, failing to file your annual returns could lead to your company being deregistered. Staying on top of your filings helps you avoid these penalties and keeps your business in good standing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about our pricing, plans and services.
Start a business with filings
Register a new company and get filings set up from the start.
Last reviewed: . Govchain reviews this page against current CIPC and SARS rules every quarter.