Eligibility check
We confirm the company qualifies for voluntary deregistration and has no blocking issues.
CIPC deregistration
Deregister your company properly — and walk away clean.
Done with a company you no longer use? Smartbook handles the voluntary deregistration with CIPC the right way, so it's closed on the record and you're not left carrying returns, penalties or compliance risk.
What you get
- Voluntary deregistration filed with CIPC
- Deregistration request letter drafted for you
- Guidance on tax and outstanding obligations
- A clean, documented close-out
From
R790
Turnaround
Approx. 6 months
For
South African companies and CCs closing down voluntarily
If you've stopped trading and won't use a company again, leaving it dormant is a mistake. It keeps racking up annual return obligations and penalties, and an ignored company gets force-deregistered in a messy way that can follow the directors. Voluntary deregistration closes it down cleanly on the CIPC record.
Smartbook manages the voluntary deregistration for you: we confirm the company qualifies, prepare the deregistration request, and file it with CIPC. We also flag your tax position so SARS obligations are handled, not left hanging. The result is a proper, documented close-out.
When you need this
Deregister a company when it:
- Has stopped trading and won't be used again
- Is dormant and just accumulating annual return obligations
- Was set up for a project or venture that's now finished
- Is a duplicate or unused entity you want to close
- Has no assets, no liabilities and no reason to keep running
What's included
Request letter
We draft the formal deregistration request letter CIPC requires from the company.
CIPC filing
We submit the deregistration request to CIPC on your behalf and track its progress.
Tax guidance
We flag your SARS position so tax obligations are dealt with, not left behind.
Status tracking
We follow the application through the CIPC process to final deregistration.
Confirmation
We confirm once the company is deregistered so you have a clear paper trail.
How it works
Tell us about the company
Give us the company details and confirm it's no longer trading and has no assets or debts.
We prepare and file
We check eligibility, draft the request and submit the deregistration to CIPC.
Company closed
We track it through to deregistration and confirm when it's finalised.
What we need from you
- Company registration number
- Confirmation the company has stopped trading
- Confirmation there are no assets or outstanding liabilities
- Director confirmation authorising the deregistration
Common questions
How long does deregistration take?
Voluntary deregistration with CIPC generally takes around six months from filing to final removal, depending on CIPC's processing and whether any obligations need clearing first.
Why not just leave the company dormant?
A dormant company still owes annual returns and racks up penalties. Ignored long enough, CIPC force-deregisters it in a way that can leave directors exposed. Voluntary deregistration closes it cleanly on your terms.
Do I need to sort out tax first?
Yes. SARS obligations don't disappear with CIPC deregistration. We flag your tax position and help make sure returns and any liabilities are dealt with so nothing follows you afterwards.
Can I deregister a company that owes money?
Voluntary deregistration is for companies with no assets and no outstanding liabilities. If there are debts or assets, that needs to be resolved first — we'll advise on the right route for your situation.
Can a deregistered company be brought back?
Yes, a deregistered company can usually be reinstated at CIPC if needed later. But it's slower and more expensive than keeping it, so only deregister if you're sure.
What do you need from me?
Your company registration number, confirmation it's no longer trading with no assets or debts, and a director's authorisation. We handle the request letter and filing.
Last reviewed: June 2026. Smartbook keeps this page current with CIPC and SARS rules.
Ready to get this sorted?
Tell us about your company and we'll send a free compliance check.
Deregister my company