CIPC Automates Re-instatement of Deregistered Companies (Form CoR40.5)

Posted 14 August 2025 Written by Acts Online
Category CIPC

Brought to you by SA Accounting Academy: The Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) has issued a notice regarding the full automation of Form CoR40.5 for the re-instatement of deregistered companies and close corporations.

In terms of the Companies Act, No. 71 of 2008, and specifically Companies Regulation 168, the CIPC will mandate electronic submissions for all applications to re-instate a company or close corporation effective from 11 August 2025. The dedicated email address previously used for these submissions, [email protected], will no longer be operational from this date.

The new automated service allows users to capture required information electronically without uploading supporting documents, except in cases involving a court order. However, the CIPC emphasizes that only entities that were in business or possessed economic value at the time of deregistration are eligible for re-instatement. Under Companies Regulation 168, directors and members must retain evidence of such activity, as the CIPC reserves the right to request this documentation at any time. Failure to produce evidence may result in the withdrawal of the re-instatement and any subsequent Annual Return filings.

Key procedural requirements for the automated process include:

  • Filing Fee: A prescribed fee of R200 must be paid via the CIPC card payment facility to constitute an official filing.
  • Post-Reinstatement Compliance: Once the application is processed, the entity must file all outstanding Annual Returns, the latest Beneficial Ownership Declarations, and Annual Financial Statements (AFS) or Financial Accountability Supplements (FAS) within 30 business days.
  • Consequences of Non-Compliance: Failure to complete the required filings within the 30-day window will result in the entity being returned to its previous deregistered status, necessitating a fresh application process.

The CIPC will continue to process manual applications received before 11 August 2025. However, customers with pending manual applications who choose to use the new electronic platform should note that the manual application will eventually be rejected during status checks. The CIPC has stated it will not refund fees for manual applications that are erroneously processed or billed a second time due to this transition.

Click here to download the CIPC Notice on Automated Re-instatement Process.

What this means for you, your business, or your clients

  • For yourself: No direct individual obligations; impact is channelled through firm-level compliance and the requirement to advise clients on the strict 30-day filing deadline.
  • For your business: Update internal company secretarial workflows to ensure all re-instatement applications are submitted via the CIPC electronic portal and that card payment facilities are available for the R200 fee.
  • For your clients: Clients must be informed of their duty to retain physical or digital evidence that the entity was active at the time of deregistration and must be prepared to file all outstanding Annual Returns and Beneficial Ownership Declarations within 30 business days of re-instatement to avoid immediate re-deregistration.

Originally published at https://accountingacademy.co.za/news/read/cipc-automation-of-application-for-re-instatement-of-deregistered-company

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