CIPC Automates Registration of External Companies (Form CoR20.1)

Posted 02 October 2025 Written by Acts Online
Category CIPC

Brought to you by SA Accounting Academy: The Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) is transitioning the registration process for external companies to a fully automated electronic system.

In terms of the Companies Act, No. 71 of 2008, the CIPC has issued a notice regarding the automation of the Registration of External Company (Form CoR20.1) on the CIPC e-Services platform, effective from 29 September 2025. From this date, all applications to register an external company must be submitted electronically. The dedicated email address previously used for these submissions, [email protected], will no longer accept such documents.

The automated service requires users to capture form information electronically and upload the necessary supporting documentation. Upon submission, the system generates a reference number (formerly a tracking number) to monitor application progress. It is important to note that the act of submission does not constitute formal filing. An application is only considered officially filed once the CIPC back office has reviewed and approved the documentation and payment has been processed.

Procedural Requirements and Fees

  • Address Validation: Proof of address is no longer required as a manual upload, as the CIPC will now validate addresses electronically.
  • Registration Fees: A fee of R400 is payable only after the application has been approved by the back office.
  • Payment Method: Payment must be made via the CIPC card payment facility. The declining balance method is being phased out for this service.

Click here to download the CIPC Notice on Automated External Company Registration.

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 use the e-Services portal for all future external company registrations.
  • For your business: Firms must update internal filing protocols to cease email-based submissions to the CIPC and ensure that staff are registered on the e-Services platform with access to the card payment facility, as declining balance accounts will not be supported for this process.
  • For your clients: Foreign entities seeking to establish a place of business in South Africa will experience a more streamlined registration process, but must be advised that registration is a two-stage process involving back-office approval before the R400 filing fee can be settled.

Originally published at https://accountingacademy.co.za/news/read/cipc-automation-of-registration-of-external-company

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