Letter of good standing

Q: What happens if I file my return of earnings late?

A return of earnings filed late attracts a 10 percent penalty on the assessment, and an unpaid assessment attracts interest after 30 days. Your letter of good standing also lapses in the meantime, which is usually what stops work on site.

Already registered with the Compensation Fund? We file your annual return of earnings and obtain your fresh letter, so the site does not turn your people away. Estimate the assessment behind it below.

R690fixed · we file within 3 business days, Fund processing 2–6 weeks

Which one do you need?

The letter is only ever issued off the back of an up to date registration and a paid assessment. Where you start depends on whether the Fund already has you on its books.

Already registered, and your letter has lapsed or is due. This page. We file the return of earnings and obtain the letter for R690.
Never registered, or you have no Compensation Fund number. You need COIDA registration at R1 290, which covers the first registration, the first return of earnings and your first letter.

Not sure which one describes you? Ask us first and you get a written answer within one business day. We would rather point you at the cheaper service than sell you the wrong one.

What is included

Your annual return of earnings (the ROE, or W.As.8) prepared and submitted on CompEasy
Actual earnings for the past year and your estimate for the year ahead, declared correctly
Your assessment checked against your industry subclass so you are not over-assessed
Your letter of good standing requested and sent to you once the assessment is paid
A renewal reminder before next season, so the letter does not lapse again
Claims guide: what to do in the first 24 hours after a workplace injury

How ordering works

Order online with the button below and pay securely by card or instant EFT (PayFast), or wait for the EFT invoice.
Complete the short online form waiting in your client portal. It asks for everything we need - no calls, no meetings, everything on record.
We file your return of earnings on CompEasy. Once the Fund issues your assessment and you pay it, we request the letter and send it to you. Fund processing commonly takes two to six weeks.
The price you see is the price you pay (your annual assessment is owed to the Compensation Fund directly, per the estimate above) - and if we cannot deliver what this page promises, you get your money back.

Start secure order

If it turns out you were never actually registered, we tell you before we file anything and move you onto the right service.

What we will need from you

The Compensation Fund charges nothing for the letter itself. What we need is what shapes the assessment behind it.

Your Compensation Fund registration number. It appears on any previous letter or assessment notice.
Your company or close corporation registration number, or identity number if you trade in your own name.
Actual earnings paid over the past assessment year, and your estimate for the year ahead. The year runs 1 March to the end of February.
How many people you employ, including casual and part-time staff and any directors drawing a salary.
Your CompEasy login if you have one. If you do not, we tell you how to reset it.
Any assessment notice or penalty letter you have received, so we know what is outstanding before we file.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get a letter of good standing?

You must be registered with the Compensation Fund, your return of earnings must be filed for the current season, and the assessment that follows must be paid. Once the Fund has the payment, the letter is issued on CompEasy, usually within days.

How much does a letter of good standing cost?

The Compensation Fund does not charge for the letter itself. What you pay is your annual assessment, with a minimum of R1 621 a year for commercial employers. Our fee to file the return of earnings and obtain the letter for you is a fixed R690.

How long is a letter of good standing valid?

The letter carries its own expiry date, tied to your assessment year. It lapses when the next return of earnings falls due and is not filed, so the letter has to be renewed every year to stay valid.

What happens if I file my return of earnings late?

A return of earnings filed late attracts a 10% penalty on the assessment, and an unpaid assessment attracts interest after 30 days. Your letter of good standing also lapses in the meantime, which is usually what stops work on site.

When is the return of earnings season?

The Compensation Fund announces the filing season each year. It typically opens around April, with the closing date published for that season, so diarise it annually. The letter dies with the deadline.

I have never registered for COIDA. Is this the right service?

No. This service is for employers already registered with the Compensation Fund. If you have never registered, start with COIDA registration, which covers the first registration, the first return of earnings and your first letter.

The assessment estimate uses representative class tariffs compiled from the gazetted Tariffs of Assessment and the 2026/27 earnings ceiling and minimum assessment; your exact subclass rate is assigned by the Compensation Fund and will differ. Fund processing times are outside our control.