Calendar page marking a CIPC annual return deadline in South Africa
Quick answer: Your CIPC annual return is due every year in the anniversary month of your registration date. Enter that date below to see your filing month, your next deadline, and whether you are already in penalty territory – free and instant.

The most common reason companies land in trouble with CIPC is simple: nobody remembered the month. This free calculator turns your registration date into a clear deadline – no CIPC login needed. It runs entirely in your browser; nothing is stored or sent anywhere.



Why the deadline matters more than the fee

The annual return fee itself starts at just R100 – the real cost is what happens when you miss it: penalties from R150, blocked beneficial-ownership-linked filings, and eventually deregistration. Banks freeze the accounts of deregistered companies, and re-instatement costs several times more than a decade of returns. Our annual returns guide covers the full fee and penalty table, and the Business Compliance Checker flags anything else outstanding.

Business owner completing a CIPC annual return form for a South African company

Know your month. File in your month. That is the whole game. Photo: Bystro BA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

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Frequently asked questions

How is my CIPC annual return deadline calculated?

Your annual return is due every year during the anniversary month of your registration date. If your company was registered on 14 March 2023, your filing window is March of every year – this calculator works that out instantly.

Where do I find my company registration date?

Your registration date is printed on your CIPC registration certificate (the CoR14.3 document you received when the company was registered). If you have lost it, Admin Boss can retrieve a copy for R75.

What if my deadline has already passed?

You can still file – CIPC adds a late penalty from R150 per missed deadline. File as soon as possible, because continued non-filing leads to deregistration. Admin Boss can file outstanding returns and get you current again.

Is this deadline calculator free?

Yes, completely free and instant – no sign-up. It runs in your browser and nothing you enter is stored or sent anywhere.

Can Admin Boss remind me before my next deadline?

Yes. When Admin Boss files your annual return, we track your anniversary month and remind you before the next one – so penalties never enter the picture.

Keep reading

CIPC annual returns guide
Fees, penalties and the step-by-step filing process.
Beneficial ownership filing
No BO filing means a blocked annual return – sort both.
Free company name checker
Another free tool from Private Company SA.
Admin Boss annual returns service
Full pricing for annual returns and reinstatements.

Last reviewed: August 2026. Sources: Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC). This calculator gives general guidance based on the anniversary-month rule.