CIPC: New FAQs on External Companies

CIPC: New FAQs on External Companies

• 02 October 2025
• CIPC
• South African Accounting Academy

Summary:
The Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) has published Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on External companies.

Article:

This has been provided to assist users with the new online automation of the Registration of External Company (Form CoR20.1) on the CIPC e-Services platform, which became effective from 29 September 2025.

The following 12 FAQs are discussed:

1. What is a foreign company?
2. Do I need to register an external company with the CIPC?
3. On what platform is the service available?
4. What documents are required for registration?
5. Once my submission is rejected, can I only submit the outstanding information?
6. How must I pay for the external company registration?
7. What are the fees for registering an external company?
8. Do I need to do a name reservation before submitting the external company registration?
9. Can I change the registration information after submission?
10. What happens if I don't register my external company?
11. Where can I find more information?
12. Who to contact when experiencing technical problems/system error?

CIPC has also indicated that a step-by-step user guide will be published in due course.

Click here to access the FAQs:

https://www.cipc.co.za/?page_id=4160#external-company-%20FAQ-link 

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.
• As an auditor, independent reviewer and accountant you need to consider the impact of the Companies Act Regulations on your service offerings, as well as on your client’s registration of external company processes.

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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