Company Reinstatement

If CIPC deregistered your company, reinstatement puts it back on the register with its original registration number, tax history and contracts intact, instead of starting a new company from scratch. Govchain prepares the CoR40.5 application, submits it to CIPC, and files the outstanding returns that the process requires.

To reinstate a deregistered company in South Africa, you file an Application for Re-instatement (Form CoR40.5) with CIPC, pay the R200 CIPC fee, and prove the company was active or owned property when it was deregistered. Once CIPC restores it, you bring every outstanding annual return up to date to move the status back to “in business”. Govchain handles the application and the back-filing for R540 plus the statutory fees.

CostR540

Timeframe3 weeks+

ForOwners of a deregistered company they need back

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When you can reinstate a company

Reinstatement only works if there is something to bring back. CIPC will reinstate a company that was active or owned property when it was deregistered, or that still has assets or liabilities to settle. A company that was genuinely dormant and empty usually can’t be reinstated, and starting fresh is cheaper anyway.

Your company was deregistered for unfiled annual returns and you want to keep trading under the same entity
The company holds a bank account, property, contracts or a CSD/tender registration you can’t afford to lose
A client, the bank or SARS has flagged that the company’s status is “in deregistration” or “final deregistration” and you need it active again
You need to keep the original registration number and trading history rather than rebuild from a new company

Not sure it’s worth it? If the company was dormant with nothing in it, registering a new company is faster and cheaper. We weigh both up in reinstate or start fresh.

What’s included

A managed reinstatement that takes the CoR40.5 application through CIPC and clears the returns that hold the process up.

Confirmation that your company qualifies for reinstatement before you pay anything
Preparation of the CoR40.5 re-instatement application and the supporting affidavit, ready for signature
A check of what CIPC needs as proof the company was active or owned property, such as bank statements or a deed
Submission to CIPC’s re-instatements office and follow-up until the status changes
Filing of the outstanding annual returns, beneficial ownership and financial statements that CIPC requires to finish reinstatement (statutory fees billed separately)

What reinstatement costs

Govchain reinstatement fee

Once-off, for preparing and lodging the CoR40.5 and following it through CIPC.

R540

CIPC re-instatement fee

The statutory fee CIPC charges to process the CoR40.5 application.

R200

Outstanding annual returns

Every missed year has to be filed at the late rate before the company goes back to “in business”. The amount depends on how many years are outstanding and the company’s turnover.

Beneficial ownership and annual financial statements are filed alongside the returns
We quote this once we know how many years are outstanding

Varies

A company deregistered for several years carries more back-filing than one caught early, so the returns are usually the largest part of the bill.

How to Reinstate Your Company

Apply online. We handle CIPC from there.

Step 1

Tell us the company details so we can confirm it qualifies and start the CoR40.5

Step 2

Pay using a credit card, EFT or a cash deposit at any ATM

Step 3

We collect your certified IDs and proof, then lodge the application with CIPC

Step 4

Once CIPC reinstates the company, we file the outstanding returns to move it back to “in business”

What Do I Need to Reinstate a Company?

Certified copies of the applicant’s and all directors’ ID documents.
A signed mandate authorising the application (we provide this).
Proof the company was active or owned property when it was deregistered, such as bank statements, a lease, or a title deed.
A CoR40.5 re-instatement application (we prepare this).
All outstanding CIPC annual returns, filed at the late rate to complete the process.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to the most common questions about Company Reinstatement

What does it mean to reinstate a company?

Reinstatement restores a company that CIPC removed from the register so it legally exists again, with the same registration number, tax reference and history. It’s the route to take when a company was deregistered but still holds something worth keeping, rather than registering a brand-new entity.

Can any deregistered company be reinstated?

No. CIPC will reinstate a company that was active or owned property when it was deregistered, or that still has assets or liabilities outstanding. If the company was genuinely dormant and empty, it usually can’t be reinstated, and registering a new company is the cleaner option. We confirm whether yours qualifies before you pay.

How do I reinstate a deregistered company?

You file an Application for Re-instatement (Form CoR40.5) with CIPC, with at least R200 in your CIPC account. It needs certified ID copies of the applicant and all directors, a mandate to act, and proof the company was active or owned property when it was deregistered, such as bank statements or a title deed. Once CIPC approves it, you file every outstanding annual return to move the status back to “in business”. Govchain does all of this for you.

How long does reinstatement take?

Allow from about three weeks for CIPC to process the CoR40.5, and longer where the paperwork is involved or the company was deregistered some years ago. Filing the outstanding returns afterwards adds time on top. In some older cases CIPC requires a court order before it will reinstate, which is a separate legal process.

How much does it cost to reinstate a company?

Govchain charges R540 to prepare and lodge the reinstatement, on top of the R200 CIPC fee. The outstanding annual returns are billed separately because the total depends on how many years are missing and the company’s turnover. The longer a company has been deregistered, the more back-filing it carries.

Why was my company deregistered in the first place?

Almost always because of unfiled annual returns. Once two or more are outstanding CIPC starts the automatic deregistration process, and the company is finally deregistered if the returns stay unfiled. Reinstatement reverses that, but only by clearing those same returns, so the back-filing is unavoidable.

Can I trade while my company is deregistered?

No. A deregistered company has no legal standing, so it can’t enter contracts, invoice, or operate its bank account, and banks or SARS may freeze dealings with it. That’s the usual reason owners reinstate rather than wait: the company has to be active again before it can do business.

Do I still have to file the old annual returns?

Yes. Reinstatement isn’t complete until every outstanding annual return is filed, at the late rate, along with the beneficial ownership declaration and financial statements. We file these as part of the service so the status moves all the way to “in business” rather than getting stuck in “re-instatement process”.

Should I reinstate or just start a new company?

Reinstate if the old company held something worth keeping: property, a bank account, contracts, a CSD or tender registration, or a trading history. Start fresh if it was dormant with no assets, since a new registration is faster and cheaper than reinstatement plus all the back-filing. We walk through both in reinstate or start fresh.

When does reinstatement need a court order?

CIPC can require a court order where a company has been deregistered for a long time, where third parties have an interest, or where the administrative route doesn’t fit the facts. It’s the exception rather than the rule. If yours turns out to need one, we’ll tell you up front rather than after you’ve paid.

Related terms and definitions

Plain-language definitions of the forms, numbers, and acronyms that come up when registering and running a company reinstatement.

Bring your company back

Restore a deregistered company to the CIPC register, with its registration number and history intact.

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Last reviewed: 23 June 2026. Govchain reviews this page against current CIPC and SARS rules every quarter.