FIC: Draft PCC 5E: Registration of AIs (and their geographic locations)

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FIC: Draft PCC 5E: Registration of AIs (and their geographic locations)

• 26 March 2026
• Miscellaneous
• South African Accounting Academy

Summary:

The Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) has issued draft public compliance communication (PCC) 5E for consultation, to provide practical guidance on how accountable institutions should register on the FIC’s reporting platform to comply with the additional registration information regarding geographic locations of subsidiaries and branches as directed by draft Directive 10 of 2025.

Article:

This public compliance communication (PCC) 5E provides guidance to accountable institutions on how to correctly register with the FIC in terms of section 43B of the Financial Intelligence Centre Act, 2001 (Act 38 of 2001) (FICA). 

In addition, this PCC provides practical guidance on how accountable institutions should register on the FIC’s reporting platform to comply with the additional registration information regarding geographic locations of subsidiaries and branches of their accountable institutions, as directed by Draft Directive 10 of 2025. 

The PCC also provides information on the acquisition of login credentials by any other business with a suspicious and unusual transaction reporting obligation in terms of the FICA. 

It is important to note that section 43B of the FICA requires every accountable institution to register with the FIC. The registration of an accountable institution must be accompanied by the information required by the FIC. This PCC sets out the process of registering with the Centre. In addition, accountable institutions can refer to the registration guide. 

Failure by accountable institutions to register with the Centre or failure to provide or update any information in terms of section 43B of the FICA may lead to administrative sanctions in terms of section 61A of the FICA. 

Draft PCC 5E must be read together with draft Directive 10, which directs accountable institutions to provide further information by registration on the FIC’s online reporting platform, pertaining to the geographic locations of their domestic and foreign based subsidiaries and branches. Refer to our previous Alert dated 9 January 2026

Comments on draft PCC 5E should reach the FIC by no later than close of business on Friday, 27 March 2026.

Click here to download the 67-page Draft PCC:

https://www.fic.gov.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/2026.3-PCC-Draft-PCC05E_.pdf 

Relevance to Auditors, Independent Reviewers & Accountants:

• FICA 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.
• Auditors, Independent Reviewers and Accountants should be aware of the latest publications and guidance issued by regulators, such as the FIC – to enable their assessment of accountable institutions’ compliance with FICA.
• When advising clients or performing this function on their behalf, practitioners should be aware of the finer details and specific guidance on failure to report to FIC.
• As an accountable, you also need to comply with FICA in your workplace.

Relevance to Your clients:

• An entity (company or close corporation) has a duty to comply with the FICA, and accountable institutions should fulfil their reporting obligations, otherwise non-compliance could lead to financial sanctions.
• Relevant Accountable Institutions (companies and CCs) should be aware of the latest publications and guidance issued by regulators, such as the FIC.

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