For owners of inactive companies

Your company may still have value. Find out what its records support.

Not trading, dormant or deregistered? Request a confidential CIPC and SARS status assessment. If the company is eligible, resolve the outstanding steps and consider a VATConnect sale listing.

Request a status assessment See the four pathways

Initial enquiry is free. Remediation, authority fees and any sale listing are quoted separately after assessment.

Which situation applies?

One enquiry. Four different pathways.

“Dormant,” “AR deregistration” and “VAT registered” describe different things. Your route depends on actual CIPC and SARS records, the company’s history and whether restoration is legally available.

01 / Active but non-trading

Still registered, no current trading

Review annual returns, beneficial ownership, VAT obligations and historical activity. A non-trading company may still have returns or liabilities to address.

02 / Dormant

Held inactive for a period

Substantiate the inactivity period with records. Check whether VAT is active and whether the company has assets, liabilities or previous transactions.

03 / AR process or final

Annual-return deregistration

If still in the AR deregistration process, outstanding filings may avert final deregistration. If finally deregistered, CIPC reinstatement has an evidence threshold.

04 / Voluntary

Voluntarily deregistered

Confirm exactly what was deregistered, when, why and whether CIPC reinstatement is available. A cancelled VAT registration requires separate SARS assessment.

Important eligibility limit: CIPC’s 2026 reinstatement guidance requires evidence that a finally deregistered company was trading or held economic value at deregistration, or a court order. An inactive entity with neither may not qualify. We will not promise reinstatement or a sale listing before checking the facts.

How it works

From an uncertain status to a documented decision

Step 1

Tell us what you know

Provide contact details, the company registration number if known, and the status shown by CIPC. No identity documents are needed for the initial enquiry.

Step 2

Receive a scope and quote

We identify the checks and information needed. Any professional work, CIPC/SARS fees and timing assumptions are disclosed before engagement.

Step 3

Resolve and verify

Appointed parties address eligible CIPC and SARS steps, returns and ownership records. Authority decisions and timelines remain outside VATConnect’s control.

Step 4

Consider a listing

Only an eligible, saleable company with verified status, seller authority and material disclosures proceeds to marketplace review.

Start with a status assessment

Find out whether your company has a viable route to sale.

Tell us the minimum needed to triage your enquiry. We will contact you about the assessment and any next steps. Do not upload IDs, tax returns or other sensitive documents here.

VATConnect provides the marketplace. CIPC and SARS filings, tax advice and legal work are performed by the parties or separately appointed professionals under an agreed scope.

Your enquiry is stored privately and reviewed by the VATConnect team.

Request my assessment

Fields marked * are required. Submission does not create a listing or incur a fee.

Your full name *

Email address *

Phone number *

Company name *

CIPC registration number

Current CIPC status *

VAT registration status *

If finally deregistered, did it trade or hold economic value at that date?

Select a CIPC status to see the likely assessment route.

Brief context (optional)

Do not include identity documents, tax returns, or other sensitive records.

I authorise VATConnect to use these details to respond to this assessment enquiry. I have read the Privacy Policy. *

No guarantee of reinstatement, VAT registration, listing, sale or buyer price.

Check the primary guidance

Why the status check comes first

Content owner: VATConnect Content & Compliance. Published 28 September 2026. Review due 28 December 2026, or sooner if authority guidance changes.