Company Registration & Tax Guide
A clear five-step process, handled through the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC).
Company registration is governed by CIPC under the Companies Act, and follows this clear sequence.
Search and reserve your preferred name using the official CIPC e-Services Portal or BizPortal. You can also register directly using your automatically generated enterprise number.
Submit your Memorandum of Incorporation (MOI) — which governs internal operations and share capital — plus certified IDs/passports of all directors and incorporators. Registration fees typically range R125–R175, and CIPC issues your Certificate of Incorporation (Form CoR 14.3) on approval.
Once your CoR 14.3 is issued, your company is automatically assigned an Income Tax reference number. Corporate Income Tax (CIT) needs annual and provisional filings twice a year. VAT is mandatory once taxable turnover exceeds R1,000,000 in any 12 months (voluntary from R50,000).
Every enterprise must appoint a designated Public Officer registered on SARS eFiling within one month of commencement. PAYE, UIF and SDL registrations are mandatory once you hire employees.
Open a corporate bank account using your CoR 14.3 certificate and FICA documents so the business can transact, receive payments and pay staff and suppliers.
Obtain the relevant sector-specific licences and municipal permits for your industry so your operations are fully legal and audit-ready.
Are you looking to register a specific business entity right now, or would you like assistance drafting SARS tax compliance checklists for your startup?