The CoR14.3 is the registration certificate CIPC issues when a company is incorporated. It shows the registered name, registration number, date of incorporation, company type and registered address, and it is the document banks, SARS, tender portals and customers ask for as proof the company legally exists. It does not show current directors or current shareholders — that is a different document.
Most of the confusion around it comes from people asking for "the CoR14.3" when what they actually need is a disclosure certificate showing who the directors are today.
What the certificate shows
| On the certificate | Not on the certificate |
|---|---|
| Registered company name | Current directors |
| Registration number | Shareholders |
| Date of incorporation | Financial information |
| Company type — (Pty) Ltd, NPC, Inc | Whether annual returns are up to date |
| Registered address at incorporation | Whether the company is still in business |
This is the key limitation. A CoR14.3 proves the company was incorporated. It says nothing about the state of the company now. A company that was deregistered three years ago still has a CoR14.3.
The CIPC document family
Because these get mixed up constantly:
| Document | What it is |
|---|---|
| CoR9.4 | Confirmation of name reservation |
| CoR14.1 | Application to register a company |
| CoR14.1A | Initial director details |
| CoR14.3 | The registration certificate |
| CoR15.1A / CoR15.1B | Memorandum of Incorporation — standard or customised |
| CoR21.1 | Notice of change of registered address |
| CoR39 | Notice of change of directors |
When someone asks for "company registration documents", they usually want the CoR14.3 plus the MOI, and often the CoR14.1A for the founding directors.
Where you actually need it
Opening a business bank account. Every bank requires it, usually alongside the MOI, proof of address, and FICA documents for directors and beneficial owners.
Registering for tax. The company's income tax registration follows automatically from CIPC in most cases, but VAT, PAYE and any manual registration will require it. See how to register a company for tax.
Tenders and supplier onboarding. Standard in every tender pack, alongside CSD registration, a tax compliance status PIN and B-BBEE documentation.
Contracts and leases. Landlords and large customers verify the entity they are contracting with actually exists and that the name on the agreement is the registered name.
Trade credit applications with suppliers.
Professional and industry registrations — CIDB, the liquor board, health authorities, and most licensing bodies.
When a CoR14.3 is not what you need
If someone wants to know who the current directors are, they need a disclosure certificate. The CoR14.3 shows the position at incorporation. Directors change; the certificate does not.
If someone wants proof the company is in good standing, they need confirmation that annual returns and beneficial ownership are up to date. That is a compliance question, not a certificate question. See how to check if your company is CIPC compliant.
If someone wants proof of tax compliance, they need a tax compliance status PIN from SARS, which lets them verify your status directly. Nothing from CIPC establishes tax compliance.
Asking which of the three they actually need saves a week of back-and-forth.
How to get a copy
You cannot lose it permanently — CIPC holds the record.
Through BizPortal or CIPC e-Services, using your customer profile. There is a small fee for certificate re-issue.
Through your accountant, if they registered the company or act as your company secretary. Most firms keep the full incorporation pack on file and can send it the same day.
A practical habit: keep a folder — physical or digital — with the CoR14.3, MOI, CoR14.1A, tax registration confirmations and your latest annual financial statements. Roughly half of the delays in tender submissions and bank applications are documents nobody can find.
What if the details on it are out of date?
The certificate reflects the position at incorporation. If your registered address or company name has since changed, the certificate is not wrong — it is historic.
Where a counterparty needs current information, give them the certificate plus the relevant change notice, or a disclosure certificate showing the current position.
Where the registered address on file is genuinely stale — you moved and never filed a CoR21.1 — fix it. CIPC correspondence, including deregistration warnings, goes to the registered address on record.
Frequently asked questions
What is a CoR14.3? The registration certificate CIPC issues when a company is incorporated. It shows the registered name, registration number, date of incorporation, company type and registered address at incorporation, and serves as proof the company legally exists.
Does a CoR14.3 show the current directors? No. It reflects the position at incorporation only. To show current directors you need a CIPC disclosure certificate, since directors can change without the registration certificate changing.
What is the difference between a CoR14.3 and an MOI? The CoR14.3 is the certificate proving the company exists. The Memorandum of Incorporation is the company's constitution, setting out how it is governed — director powers, share classes, meeting requirements and decision-making rules. Banks and tender portals usually want both.
How do I get a copy of my company registration certificate? Through BizPortal or CIPC e-Services using your customer profile, for a small re-issue fee, or from the accountant or company secretary who holds your incorporation pack.
Does a CoR14.3 prove my company is compliant? No. It only proves the company was incorporated. A deregistered company still has one. Compliance is a separate check — outstanding annual returns and beneficial ownership at CIPC, and a tax compliance status PIN at SARS.
Do I need a CoR14.3 to open a business bank account? Yes. Every South African bank requires it, generally alongside the MOI, proof of business address, and FICA documents for directors and beneficial owners.
Keep the pack together
The certificate itself is simple. The friction is always the same — a bank, a landlord or a tender needs it on Tuesday and nobody can find it.
Smartbook registers companies and keeps the full incorporation pack on file for clients, so a request for "company documents" takes an email rather than a week.
Last reviewed: 27 July 2026. Written by the Smartbook team — SAIPA and SAICA accredited, SARS registered tax practitioners. CIPC form numbers and processes change from time to time — confirm current requirements at cipc.co.za. General guidance, not advice on your circumstances.
Primary sources: CIPC · BizPortal · Companies Act 71 of 2008