The Corporate Affairs Commission has announced that annual return filing is currently available for business names registered before July 2025. The Commission has also indicated that it is upgrading the business name system and intends to introduce a broader automated process for older and newer registrations.
What the announcement means
This is an important operational update, but it does not remove the proprietor’s responsibility to maintain accurate records and keep the registration current. Businesses should first confirm whether the relevant entity and filing year are available on the portal. They should also verify that the proprietor or partner details, registered address and business activities remain correct.
What to review before filing
- Portal access: Confirm that the account linked to the business can access the current CAC registration portal. The portal has also introduced changes to its authentication process.
- Outstanding years: Establish the last annual return filed and identify every outstanding period.
- Registration particulars: Compare the information on the portal with the business’s current address, ownership and activities.
- Supporting records: Retain evidence of filing, payment receipts and the updated status report.
- Related compliance: A current CAC record does not replace tax, data protection, sector licensing or other regulatory obligations.
A practical caution
Businesses should not treat portal availability as confirmation that every historical record has been migrated correctly. Where the portal information is incomplete or inconsistent, the safer approach is to resolve the record issue before relying on the filing as complete.
Recommended action
Prepare a short compliance schedule showing the entity name, registration number, outstanding years, filing status, evidence retained and the person responsible for follow up. This converts annual returns from an occasional portal exercise into a controlled compliance process.
Source: Corporate Affairs Commission registration portal public notice.
This article provides general information and should not be treated as legal or regulatory advice for a particular entity.