CIPC Warns: Submit Your Compliance Checklist or Face Penalties

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CIPC has issued a formal warning to companies that are failing to submit their annual Compliance Checklist. In Customer Notice 28 of 2026, the Commission confirms it has observed a growing number of companies missing the annual submission deadline, and says enforcement action is on the table.

The Compliance Checklist has been mandatory since March 2020, and applies to all Incorporated companies (Inc.), Proprietary Limited companies (Pty Ltd), Limited companies (Ltd), State Owned Companies (SOC), and Non-Profit Companies (NPC).

Failing to submit is non-compliance with the Companies Act. CIPC can issue a Compliance Notice requiring remedial action, and further failure can result in administrative penalties.

As covered in our earlier article on false declarations on the CIPC checklist, the checklist is a legal declaration. Getting it wrong, or not submitting at all, carries real consequences for directors and the companies that file on their behalf.

What to do next

The checklist is free and available through CIPC eServices. Log in, select "Other/More Services," then "Business Maintenance," and click the Compliance Checklist link. Submissions must be accurate, complete, and submitted on time.

If you manage CIPC filings for clients, check now whether their checklists are up to date.