Beneficial ownership filing
Keep your company’s ownership record up to date with CIPC. We prepare the record, help you gather the right details, and file it once you approve the information.
What we prepare before it is filed
You do not have to work out the ownership trail alone. We tell you what is needed and keep the work in one place.
Ownership record
Record the natural persons with ownership or control that needs to be disclosed.
Document checklist
Get a clear list of the IDs and company documents required for your structure.
Structure mapped
Separate direct owners from companies or trusts that sit in the ownership chain.
Filing prepared
Prepare the beneficial ownership information for submission on CIPC eServices.
Confirmation saved
Keep your filing confirmation with the order record in your client portal.
Changes explained
Know what information to send when the ownership or control of the company changes.
From ownership details to a clear filing record
Complete the form
Tell us who owns or controls the company, using the short form in your portal.
We prepare the record
We review the structure, request what is missing, and prepare the ownership information.
Review and file
You confirm the key details. We file the record and save the confirmation in your portal.
When ownership changes: send us the updated details promptly. We confirm the next steps and scope in writing before we proceed.
Start my filingFrequently asked questions
What is beneficial ownership filing at CIPC?
A register of the natural persons who ultimately own or control 5% or more of your company, filed with CIPC under the 2023 anti money laundering amendments. It looks through companies and trusts to the humans behind them.
Is beneficial ownership filing mandatory for all companies?
Yes, for every company and close corporation, including dormant ones. CIPC hard-blocks your annual return until the filing is up to date, which is how most owners discover the requirement.
How much does beneficial ownership filing cost?
CIPC charges nothing for the filing itself; our R490 covers building the register correctly, the eServices filing, the document handling and the confirmation. Complex structures with trusts stay the same fixed price.
What documents are needed for beneficial ownership filing?
Certified ID or passport copies of each beneficial owner, the shareholding percentages, and for entity or trust shareholders the documents tracing to the natural persons: share registers, trust deeds and letters of authority.
What happens if beneficial ownership changes later?
You must update the register and refile with CIPC within 10 business days of the change. Our change protocol sheet tells you exactly what to send us and what it costs (the same fixed fee, only when a change actually happens).
The requirement applies under the Companies Act as amended by the General Laws (Anti-Money Laundering) Amendment Act 22 of 2022; CIPC charges no fee for the filing (confirmed August 2026).