CIPC: Automation of company and CC voluntary deregistration

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CIPC: Automation of company and CC voluntary deregistration

• 12 December 2025
• CIPC
• South African Accounting Academy

Summary:

CIPC has announced the automation of the Company and Close Corporation Voluntary Deregistration service on various CIPC electronic platforms, effective 8 December 2025.

Article:

From this date forward, all voluntary deregistrations applications must be submitted electronically via any of the authorised platforms. The dedicated email address previously used for such submissions ([email protected]) will no longer accept such documents from the indicated date.

Applications submitted prior to 8 December 2025 will continue to be processed through the existing legacy system. Customers are advised not to submit a new application via the available online platforms if a previous voluntary deregistration application is still pending, as this may result duplication of applications and data. The application will be blocked on the online platforms if the company or close corporation has an in deregistration or final deregistration status.

There will be no migration or transitioning of the voluntary deregistration application and the process under the existing system to the online version. Therefore, companies and close corporation already in voluntary deregistration prior to the release of the new system will be finalised under the existing system – not the new automated version.

Before applying the following must be confirmed by the person who will be submitting the application:

• All liabilities and assets have been resolved especially with example SARS, relevant banks, Central Supplier Database,
• Director/member details are up to date and if not update via CoR39 or CK2,
• Ensure that 50% of active directors or members resolved to commence the voluntary deregistration, and
• Enterprise status on BizPortal.

Voluntary deregistration is a two-step process, namely:

• Commencement of the voluntary deregistration process and placing the company or close corporation into in deregistration; and
• If no successful objection is received, then final deregistration.

The deregistration notifications or letters will be available for download by the customer who submitted the application and/or the active directors or members free of charge for a period of 6 months after the final deregistration, thereafter it will be charged at R30. Third parties must request such information from Paper-Based Disclosure.

Refer to the Notice for more detail on:

• Automated Voluntary Deregistration service 
• Legal provisions and conditions 

The service will be available on the following online platforms:

• BizPortal;
• E-Services; and
• Self Service Terminal

To support this transition, a step-by-step user guide and a list of frequently asked questions will be made available. Guidance notes (right side of screen) have been incorporated on the service for guidance as to what is required.

Click here to download the 4-page Notice 57 of 2025:

https://www.cipc.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Notice-Auto-Deregistration-Release-LH-2.pdf

Relevance to Auditors, Independent Reviewers & Accountants:

• The Companies Act is yet another piece of legislation that your clients must comply with, and which you must assess compliance with.  If they don’t comply with the relevant laws and regulations, you have certain reporting obligations in terms of NOCLAR (NOn-Compliance with Laws And Regulations) – this could include reporting to management, qualifying your audit opinion, reporting a Reportable Irregularity, etc.
• As an auditor, independent reviewer and accountant, you also need to monitor your client’s compliance with the Companies Act and all relevant notices/enforcements/practice notes/customer letters issued by CIPC as the regulator.
• Where you perform these compliance tasks on behalf of your client, you need to ensure that you comply with all relevant notices/enforcements/practice notes/customer letters issued by CIPC as the regulator.

Relevance to Your clients:

• An entity (company or close corporation) has a duty to comply with the Companies Act, and all relevant notices/enforcements/practice notes/customer letters issued by CIPC as the regulator.

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