How to Change a Company Address at CIPC
Quick Answer
How to Change a Company Address at CIPC
File a Notice of Change of Registered Office within 10 business days of moving. You need a physical (SARS-compliant) address, proof of occupation, and the filing is cheap – but an outdated address means missed SARS and CIPC notices, which count as delivered even if you never see them.
Why the registered address matters
Your registered address is where SARS, CIPC and the courts send official notices. By law a notice delivered there counts as received – ‘I never saw the letter’ is not a defence. An address that no longer reaches you can also block bank account openings and tender verification.
How to change it step by step
- Confirm the new premises allow business use (check your lease and municipal zoning).
- Prepare proof of the new address: lease, utility bill or municipal account in the company’s name.
- Log in to CIPC eServices, open the company’s disclosure filings and submit the address change.
- Pay the small filing fee and keep the confirmation.
- Update SARS (address details on eFiling), your business bank, the CSD, COIDA/UIF records and any licences.
Home address as registered address?
Allowed if the title/lease permits business use, but weigh privacy: the address is public on the CIPC register, and banks may ask for proof linking you to the property.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Missing the 10-business-day window after moving
- Using a PO Box – a physical street address is required
- Updating CIPC but not SARS – the two records drift and compliance notices go astray
- Leaving an old premises where mail is no longer collected
A South African example
Kagiso’s agency moves from Sandton to Centurion. Within a week she files the CIPC notice with the new lease, updates SARS registered details, and changes the address on her CSD profile. When SARS mails a VAT query two months later, it reaches her – and she answers within the deadline.
Related questions
- How to Change, Add or Remove a Company Director at CIPC
- How to Change a Company Name at CIPC
- Registered Address (glossary)
- What Is a CIPC Annual Return?
Always verify this information with official South African government sources. Rules, fees and thresholds change. Check CIPC SARS before you act.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to change a company address?
The CIPC filing fee is small (under R100 at current tariffs) – the real cost is the time to update every other record.
Can I use a residential address?
Yes, provided the property rules allow it and you can prove occupation.
Do I have to tell SARS separately?
Yes – update your address under SARS Registered Details on eFiling as well; CIPC and SARS systems do not sync automatically.
