COID status check
We check your Compensation Fund account and confirm what's needed for the letter to issue.
COID good standing
Get your Letter of Good Standing from the Compensation Fund.
Tenders and construction sites won't let you on without one. Smartbook registers or updates your COID account, files your Return of Earnings and gets your Letter of Good Standing issued.
What you get
- Letter of Good Standing from the Compensation Fund
- COID registration set up or brought current
- Return of Earnings filed and assessment sorted
- Valid certificate ready for tenders and sites
From
R1 750
Turnaround
21 days
For
South African employers bidding for tenders or construction work
A Letter of Good Standing is the certificate from the Compensation Fund that proves your COID registration is active and your assessments are paid up. It's valid for 12 months and is non-negotiable for government tenders, JBCC and NEC construction sites, and most main-contractor work — no letter, no site access, no contract.
Getting one means your COID registration has to be in place, your Return of Earnings filed, and your assessment settled. If any of that is behind, the letter won't issue. Smartbook handles the whole chain — registering or updating your COID account, filing the Return of Earnings, and getting the Letter of Good Standing into your hands.
When you need this
You need a Letter of Good Standing when you:
- Bid for a government or corporate tender
- Need site access on a JBCC or NEC construction project
- Are a subcontractor a main contractor requires to be compliant
- Have to prove COID cover to a client or principal
- Are renewing cover that's lapsed or about to expire
What's included
Registration or update
If you're not registered or your details are outdated, we register or update your COID account.
Return of Earnings
We file your Return of Earnings (W.As.8), which the Fund requires before issuing the letter.
Assessment handling
We deal with the annual assessment so your account is in good standing.
CF Online submission
We work through the Compensation Fund's CF Online portal on your behalf.
Letter delivered
We get your Letter of Good Standing issued and email it to you, ready for tenders or sites.
How it works
Send us your details
Share your company and payroll details so we can check your Compensation Fund account.
We get you compliant
We register or update COID, file the Return of Earnings and settle the assessment.
You get your letter
We get the Letter of Good Standing issued and email it to you for your tender or site.
What we need from you
- Registered company (CIPC certificate)
- Company SARS tax number
- COID registration number, if you already have one
- Actual and estimated annual payroll figures
- Director's certified ID and proof of business address
Common questions
What is a Letter of Good Standing?
It's the certificate the Compensation Fund issues to confirm that your COID registration is active and your assessments are paid up. It's the proof that your workers are covered for injuries on duty, and it's valid for 12 months.
How long does it take?
Around 21 working days, depending on the Compensation Fund and whether your COID account is already registered and up to date. Turnaround can stretch around March when Return of Earnings filings surge.
Do I need to be COID-registered first?
Yes. The letter can only issue on an active COID registration with a filed Return of Earnings and a settled assessment. If you're not registered, we handle the registration as part of the service.
Why won't my letter issue?
Usually because the COID registration is missing, the Return of Earnings hasn't been filed, or the assessment is unpaid. We identify and clear whichever of these is holding it up.
How long is the letter valid?
12 months from issue. You renew it each year by filing your Return of Earnings and keeping your assessment paid. We offer a quicker renewal service once you're already registered.
What's the difference between this and COID registration?
COID registration is the once-off employer registration with the Compensation Fund. The Letter of Good Standing is the annual certificate proving that registration is active and paid up. You need the registration before you can get the letter.
Related services
Last reviewed: June 2026. Smartbook keeps this page current with CIPC and SARS rules.
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Get my Letter of Good Standing