How To File Your CIPC Beneficial Ownership in less than 5 Minutes → Directly in Fintura
Applies to: South African private companies and close corporations
This guide walks you step‑by‑step through Fintura’s in‑platform flow so you can submit your Beneficial Ownership (BO) declaration quickly and keep clients compliant. Video walkthrough included at the end.
What You’ll Need Before You Start
- Client set up in Fintura (legal name & registration number)
- Directors/members up to date at CIPC
- Share/Securities Register (for director interest capture)
- If beneficial owners exist:
- Personal or juristic entity details (names, IDs/Reg numbers, contact details)
- Nature of control / interest type and %
- Physical & postal addresses
- Supporting documents requested in‑app (e.g., director IDs, share register).
Tip: If the beneficial owner is already a company/client in Fintura, you can select it to pre‑populate fields.
The Flow At A Glance
- Dashboard → Manage (on the client)
- CIPC Tracking
- File Beneficial Ownership → Create Task
- Complete the guided questions in the pop‑up modal
- Upload any supporting documents
- Select directors to sign the mandate
- Review and Submit
Step‑By‑Step Guide
1) Open the BO Task
- From the client’s page, go to CIPC Tracking and click File Beneficial Ownership.
- Choose Create Task to open the BO pop‑up.
2) Answer the Ownership Screening Questions
You will be asked four concise questions to determine routing:
- Does one person hold securities for the beneficial interest of another natural person?
Meaning: Is anyone holding shares on behalf of someone else?
Example: A director or trustee listed as shareholder, but the true benefit/control belongs to another person. - Is there a person who exercises any influence or has control over the company/CC (excluding members/directors)?
Example: A founder, major investor, or shadow director making key decisions without official appointment. - Is there a person with the right to appoint and remove directors (excluding directors/shareholders)?
Example: A trust deed or shareholder agreement granting appointment rights to a third party. - Is there a person(s) that can materially influence management of the company/CC (excluding directors/members)?
Example: A parent company, advisory board, or investor who influences policies/strategy.
- If none of these apply, you're asked: “Is the number of directors/members of the declaring entity 10 or less?”
3) Route A — No External Control (Optimised)
If the ownership questions indicate no external control/BO, and the entity has ≤ 10 directors/members:
- You’ll capture Directors’ Interest inline (date of shares issued, number of shares issued for each listed director).
- No additional BO parties are added.
- Proceed to Select 2 Directors to sign (or as required), then Submit (super easy).
Result: Fast, minimal data capture when there’s nothing to declare beyond director interest.
4) Route B — Beneficial Owners Exist (Standard)
If any ownership question is Yes, Fintura switches to the Standard path and prompts you to add beneficial owners:
- Choose Beneficial Ownership Type
- Natural Person — capture full name, ID/passport, non‑SA resident toggle, addresses, contact details, race, gender, date of share issue, interest type, income tax number, number of shares issued. Click + Complete all fields when done.
- Juristic Person — pick an existing company from your Fintura client base or enter details (registered name, reg number, registration date, income tax number, country, addresses, email, contact number). Then choose Enterprise Type as applicable.
- Supporting Documents
- Directors’ identity documents (select the number of directors and upload per director)
- Share Register upload
- Mandate & Signatories
- Use the “Select Directors to sign the mandate” dropdown and choose the directors who will sign.
- Review & Submit
- Check your entries, then submit the filing for processing.
After Submission
- You will be sent documents for signature to send back to app@fintura.io.
- Once you have sent the documents back you can track the progress of your submission in "Services".
- If CIPC requests anything further (e.g., mandate copies), our Compliance Team will reach out to get supporting documents.
- Once completed you will be notified via email by the team.
Troubleshooting
- Routed out of Optimised unexpectedly
One or more answers indicated external control. Continue in Standard and capture the BO party. - Can’t find a juristic owner quickly
Use Search Client Base; if it’s not in Fintura yet, add details manually. - Directors/members out of date at CIPC
Update directors first, then return to BO so the Directors’ Interest grid matches reality. - Share register mismatch
Ensure dates and number of shares issued per director/member align with your register. - Files won’t upload
Check file size/type, then try again. Keep IDs and registers as clear, single‑file PDFs where possible.
FAQs
What is Beneficial Ownership?
A record of the natural persons (or controlling juristic entities) who ultimately own or control the company, even if they’re not listed as directors or shareholders.
When must BO be filed?
At incorporation/changes, and alongside Annual Returns (per current CIPC requirements). Always keep BO data current.
What’s the difference between Optimised and Standard?
Optimised is a lightweight route when no external control exists; you capture directors’ interest only. Standard applies when beneficial owners (natural or juristic) exist — you’ll add their details and upload supporting docs.
Do I need to upload a mandate?
You’ll select directors to sign the mandate within the flow; keep signed mandates on file. Uploads are requested only where indicated by the platform.
Where do I find the records after filing?
In the client’s dashboard area and file storage. You have an audit trail of submissions in your "Services" tab..
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