How to Reinstate a Deregistered Company or CC
Bank account frozen? Tender rejected because the company is “deregistered”? Most companies can be reinstated online. Here is CIPC’s current automated process and what it costs.
By the Mitrend Accounting Services company secretarial team · Checked against CIPC’s own guidance on · Independent guide, not affiliated with CIPC
A company or close corporation that was finally deregistered can be reinstated on CIPC e-Services (More Services → Company and Close Corporation Reinstatements) if it was in business, or had other economic value, at the time of deregistration. You pay the R200 CoR40.5 fee plus all outstanding annual returns within five working days. Reinstatement is immediate on payment. You must then file the outstanding annual returns, beneficial ownership and AFS/FAS before the status returns to “In Business”.
Why companies get deregistered
Almost always because annual returns were not filed for two successive years. CIPC sends notices to the registered postal and email addresses, often addresses nobody checks any more, and then deregisters the company. A deregistered company loses its legal personality: banks freeze accounts, contracts and tenders fail, and its assets can pass to the state.
Check the status first. If it says AR Deregistration Process, you don’t need to reinstate: filing all the outstanding annual returns stops the process. Reinstatement is only for Final Deregistration.
Who can reinstate a company?
- Online reinstatement (CoR40.5): only if the company or CC was in business, or had other economic value (for example it owned property or other assets) when it was deregistered. You must keep evidence; CIPC can ask for it at any time, and reinstatements without evidence can be withdrawn.
- Never traded and nothing of value? CIPC’s advice is to register a new company instead (R175).
- Creditors and other third parties who want to enforce a claim against the company need a court order. The order must also direct the company to file its outstanding annual returns, BO and AFS/FAS; otherwise it falls straight back into deregistration.
What reinstatement costs
| Item | CIPC fee |
|---|---|
| Reinstatement application (CoR40.5) | R200 |
| Each outstanding annual return | At the late rate for the turnover band: from R150 per year (under R1 million) |
e-Services calculates the total when you enter the turnover for each outstanding year. Estimate it first with our annual return fee calculator. Example: a small company deregistered after four unfiled years with turnover under R1 million each year pays R200 + 4 × R150 = R800 in CIPC fees.
How to reinstate a company on CIPC e-Services
- Log in to e-Services → Home → More Services → Company and Close Corporation Reinstatements (under Business Registration).
- Accept the terms and the electronic mandate.
- Click New Application and select the company from your associated entities, or search for an unlisted one.
- Choose the type: Reinstatement Application (or Court Order; see below).
- The annual return calculator opens. Enter the turnover for each outstanding year and click Calculate to see the total.
- Select the industry and capture the physical address of the business at the time of deregistration.
- On the directors’ dashboard, each director or member who resolved to reinstate clicks Resolve. Details can’t be changed now; amendments come after reinstatement.
- Confirm the application and complete the OTP verification.
- Pay within 5 working days, or the application is cancelled and you start again.
- CIPC processes the reinstatement immediately upon payment and emails a confirmation letter.
After reinstatement: getting back to “In Business”
Reinstatement alone isn’t the end. To complete it and change the status to In Business, file:
- all outstanding annual returns;
- the latest beneficial ownership declaration;
- the AFS or FAS for the outstanding years.
Only then file any amendments, for example a CoR39 if directors have changed. Finally, send the reinstatement letter and a current disclosure to your bank to unfreeze the account.
Reinstatement by court order
Choose Court Order as the reinstatement type, capture the court details and upload the court order itself (not the court papers). CIPC’s back office confirms the order is valid. Make sure the order requires the company to bring its filings up to date; if it doesn’t, the company goes back into annual return deregistration once the order has been implemented.
Frequently asked questions
How do I reinstate a deregistered company?
If it was in business or had economic value when deregistered, apply online on CIPC e-Services under Company and Close Corporation Reinstatements, pay the R200 fee plus outstanding annual returns within five working days, then file all outstanding annual returns, BO and AFS/FAS.
How much does it cost to reinstate a company in South Africa?
R200 for the CoR40.5 application, plus every outstanding annual return at the late rate (from R150 per year for turnover under R1 million).
How long does reinstatement take?
CIPC processes automated reinstatements immediately upon payment. The company returns to “In Business” once the outstanding annual returns, BO and AFS/FAS are filed.
Can a creditor reinstate a company?
Yes, but only by court order. The order should also direct the company to bring its CIPC filings up to date.
What if my company never traded?
If it was not in business and had no economic value when deregistered, it can’t be reinstated through the CoR40.5 process. CIPC suggests registering a new company for R175.
- Deregister or close a company
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