South Africa · Company Registration
Entity types, registration process, required documents, costs, and official registries.
AI-drafted, editorially reviewed. Confirm specifics with the official authority.
Setting up from abroad
- Usual entity for foreign founders
- (Pty) Ltd
Official registry: cipc.co.za
CIPC runs a dedicated flow for appointing a foreign director, taking a passport as proof of identity for non-residents; a private company needs a minimum of one director. The passport is verified before the appointment registers.
You register a private company (Pty Ltd) with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC), which issues a registration number. Income-tax registration with SARS is automatic on incorporation; you register for VAT if turnover exceeds R1 million, plus UIF and workplace-injury cover.
South African companies are registered with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC). The BizPortal and CIPC eServices channels cover private-company and non-profit-company registration plus related tax and labour registrations.
- CIPC is the statutory company registry and also administers company names, annual returns and related filings.
- BizPortal integrates several startup steps, including SARS tax registration and optional UIF or Compensation Fund registration where relevant.
- InvestSA One Stop Shops can coordinate government interfaces for larger investment projects, but they do not replace legal or tax advice.
- 1
Reserve a company name
Reserve a company name with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC), or register with an enterprise number only.
- 2
Prepare the Memorandum of Incorporation
Prepare the Memorandum of Incorporation (MOI) — the standard short-form MOI is accepted for most companies.
- 3
Register with the CIPC
Register the company with the CIPC; you receive a registration number and the company is incorporated.
- 4
Complete SARS tax registration
Income-tax registration with SARS is automatic on incorporation; confirm the tax number.
- 5
Register for VAT and payroll taxes
Register for VAT if turnover will exceed R1 million, and for PAYE/UIF if you employ staff.
- 6
Register for UIF/COIDA and open banking
Register for the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) and workplace-injury cover (COIDA), and open a business bank account.
- Company name reserved (or number-only) with CIPC
- Memorandum of Incorporation (MOI)
- CIPC registration → registration number
- SARS income-tax number (automatic) confirmed
- VAT registration if turnover > R1 million
- PAYE/UIF if employing staff
- COIDA (workplace-injury) cover
- Business bank account
Frequently asked questions
Who registers companies in South Africa?
The Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) registers companies and issues the registration number.
Is SARS registration automatic?
Yes — a new company is automatically registered for income tax with SARS on incorporation; other taxes (VAT, PAYE) are registered separately.
When must I register for VAT?
VAT registration is compulsory once taxable turnover exceeds R1 million in a 12-month period; voluntary registration is possible above a lower threshold.
Government portals
- South African Government — Central portal for departments, services and official documents.
- SARS — South African Revenue Service — Tax number registration, income tax filing season and customs.
- Department of Home Affairs — Visas, critical-skills and work permits, permanent residence and civil records.
- CIPC — Companies and Intellectual Property Commission — Company and co-operative registration, annual returns, trademarks and patents.