Deregistration
Quick Answer
What is Deregistration?
Deregistration is CIPC removing a company from the register – the company stops existing as a legal entity.
Deregistration explained
It happens after ignored annual returns, or voluntarily when closing a clean company. A deregistered company cannot trade, and its assets can vest in the state.
Who it applies to: Companies that stop filing or are formally closed.
Cost: Voluntary deregistration is cheap; the consequences of default deregistration are not.
Related terms and guides
- What Happens If My Company Is Deregistered by CIPC?
- Reinstatement
- How to Close a Company in South Africa (Deregistration)
Official source: CIPC (Companies and Intellectual Property Commission)
Always verify this information with official South African government sources. Rules, fees and thresholds change. Check SARS, CIPC, the Department of Employment and Labour or gov.za before you act.
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Last reviewed: September 2026 by the BizAnswers editorial team. How we write and check our guides.