CIPC Customer Code and e-Services: Register, Log In and Fix Problems

What is a CIPC customer code?

Your customer code (for example ABCDE1) identifies you, the person transacting, not your company. You use it to:

• register companies and reserve names;
• file annual returns and beneficial ownership;
• change directors, addresses, names and financial year ends;
• download certificates and disclosures;
• hold prepaid credit for e-Services transactions.

One person, one code. CIPC allows only one customer code per ID number. Directors should each have their own: since 2025, a director can only update their own contact details through a customer code registered to their own ID.

How to register a CIPC customer code

1. Go to cipc.co.za → Register your Business → Register as a Customer → Customer Registration.
2. Say whether you have a South African green barcoded ID or smart ID card.
3. Enter your ID number and surname (or passport number if you have no SA ID) and continue.
4. Complete the form: cell number, email (typed twice), telephone, physical and postal address, and province. Fields with an asterisk are compulsory.
5. Click Register. CIPC shows “Customer code registered” and sends the code to your cell phone and email.
6. Set a password and a security question, then click Update. You land on the e-Services home page, ready to transact.

Use an email address and cell number you will keep. Every OTP, certificate and notice goes there.

Logging in to e-Services (and the security code trap)

1. Go to eservices.cipc.co.za → Customer Login.
2. Enter your customer code and password (case-sensitive).
3. Type the security code exactly as shown: it is case-sensitive, so match capitals, and don’t add spaces.
4. Tick to accept the Terms and Conditions and click Login. Accepting creates a binding agreement about payments and transactions.

Browsers: use Chrome, Edge, Firefox or Safari. Internet Explorer is not supported.

Forgot your CIPC password?

If your email and cell number are still correct

Click Forgot Password on the login page and follow the prompts. The reset goes to the email and cell number on your profile.

If your email or cell number has changed

Self-service won’t work, because the reset goes to details you no longer have. Instead:

1. Download CIPC’s Request for updating customer contact detail form.
2. Complete it: customer code, full names, ID number, the ID issue date, the old and new email addresses, cell number and address. Then sign it.
3. Email it, with a certified ID copy not older than three months, to resetpassword@cipc.co.za, and send it from the new email address. CIPC links that address to your code.
4. Once CIPC confirms the update, reset your password online.

Loading funds and paying CIPC

Most e-Services transactions are paid either by card at checkout (name reservations, annual returns and many newer services) or from prepaid credit on your customer code. To load credit, pay by EFT into CIPC’s bank account using your customer code as the reference; the official banking details are on cipc.co.za under Banking details. Always copy them from CIPC’s own site, never from an email or a third-party website.

Some services (such as reinstatements) must be paid within a set period (five working days for reinstatements), or the application is cancelled.

Updating a director’s contact details (OTP problems)

If OTPs go to an old number or email, every director-related transaction stalls. Since 2025, contact details are updated through e-Services under director amendments:

• the director needs their own customer code, and the ID on that code must match the ID recorded for them as a director;
• CIPC emails both the old and new addresses; the director must approve within 24 hours or the request expires;
• once approved, the new details take effect within 24 hours.

Remember: directors may not share an email address or cell number.

Common customer code problems and fixes

Problem	Fix
“ID number already registered”	You already have a code (one per ID). Use Forgot Password, or the contact-update form if your details changed.
Security code keeps failing	It’s case-sensitive. Match capitals exactly with no spaces, and refresh for a clearer code.
OTPs not arriving	The director contact details are outdated. Update them (above) before retrying.
Company not showing on my list	Search it by registration number (year/sequence/type, e.g. 2019/123456/07).
Transaction deleted overnight	Name reservations must be paid by midnight on the day of submission.
Your agent registered your company under their code	That is allowed, but make sure the directors’ own contact details are on the company record.

Still stuck? Find the right CIPC email address for your issue in our CIPC contact directory.

Frequently asked questions