How To File Company Annual Returns With CAC Online

Annual returns is a statutory requirement for every registered business name, company or NGO in Nigeria. This article will walk you through how to file annual returns for a company with CAC online and the cost implications.

A lot of business owners confuse paying annual returns with paying tax. While paying annual return and tax is a yearly obligation, there are differences in the bodies that collect these payments and what these payments are used for.

Annual returns is to be paid to CAC yearly as a return on your company turnover and net assets, while tax is to be paid to the relevant tax body, like the FIRS or JTB, as a levy charged on the income of the business having deducting expenses.

This post will not just provide the steps to filing your company’s annual returns but also the cost implications, deadlines and penalty for non-compliance.

What is CAC Annual Returns?

Annual return is a yearly statement that accounts for a business’s financial transactions in the previous year. It is also a means of reporting to CAC that such an entity is still in operation and carrying out its stated objectives as documented under its activities (objective clause).

Filing the annual return helps to simply keep the CAC updated or informed that such a company or business is still active and operating with its stated business activities.

Let’s assume you incorporated a real estate company in 2010, and suddenly, the company decides to shut down in 2025 due to insolvency or any other reason at all. Once a valid way the commission can be informed is through annual returns.

If neglected, it could result in your business losing out on access to grants, loans, contracts, and many others

Below is the evidence of filing AR for two companies, Wiltshire Hathaway Estates Limited and Doris DAV Ventures Limited

The filing was done at our consulting agency (Legacy Benjamin Consult)

Who Should File Annual Returns in Nigeria With CAC?

Annual returns is a statutory requirement. It is supposed to be done by every entity registered by CAC. Such entities include

• Business Name Sole Proprietor
• Business Name Partnership
• Limited Liability Company
• Limited by Guarantee
• Incorporated Trustee (e.g NGO)

When Should Companies File CAC Annual Returns in Nigeria?

According to CAC, the Annual Return must be filed every calendar year.

New Business Names will only file their annual return after the first 18 months of their incorporation. After the first year of filing, the Business Name will file every 12 months.

For Companies, the annual return is due no later than 42 days after their yearly general meeting. This means companies are to file annual returns every year.

NGOs are also required to file their first annual returns after 12 months of Incorporation

It is important to note that the CAC calendar year ends on June 30th. Business Names are expected returns between January and June 30th of every year; anything outside this period is late.

For example, if your business name was registered on the 1st of January 2022, you will file your first annual returns after 18 months, which is from the 1st of July 2023. (Note that this is only applicable for the first 18 months of your business incorporation; subsequent filings will be every year before June 30th)

For companies and incorporated trustees, the period to file the annual return is between January and June 30th every year. Anything outside this period is late

How To File Company Annual Returns With CAC Online

Annual returns is to be filed by CAC accredited agents or anybody who has access to the agent account. Below is a step-by-step guide to filing annual returns online via the CAC portal

• Log in to the CAC post portal post.cac.gov.ng
• Type in the name of the company you want to file annual returns for, and search
• Select the company
• Click the file annual returns from the company’s post dashboard
• Identify and select the year of filing
• Fill in the necessary information on the form
• Select date of AGM to be 31st December 20(the year you are filing. e.g 2023)
• The date of resolution should be the date you are making the filing
• Use ORDINARY SHARES as the class of shares. Unless the company uses Preference Shares
• Fill in the turnover and net asset figures (as provided by the client)
• Save the first page having completing the filing
• On the second page, fill in details for the PSC. Date of Registration and Appointment should be the date the company was registered
• If you can not get enough details of the company, get all relevant documents from the clients or use Ngcheck site and search for the company to obtain other details

Required Documents to File Company Annual Returns With CAC

Below are the documents that will aid you to a successful annual returns filing

Business Names

• Status Report
• Certificate (Optional)

Company

• Certificate
• Status Report
• Memart
• Audited Financial Statements or Evidence of Turnover and Net Asset

NGO

• Certificate
• Constitution
• Status Report
• Audited Accounts

CAC Filing Fees for Annual Returns in Nigeria

The current cost to file Annual Return for Business names as of 2025 is ₦3,000.

Annual Returns for Limited Liability Companies and Incorporated Trustees cost about ₦5,000

For a Limited Partnership, the yearly payment is ₦5,000

Public Companies will pay ₦10,000 yearly

NGO will also pay ₦10,000 yearly

These fees are excluded from agent service charges.

Penalties for Late Filing

For Business Names, the penalty for filing late is ₦5,000. This makes it a total of ₦8,000 per year (if you file late)

Companies are to pay a penalty fee of ₦5,000, making a total of ₦10,000 per year (if filed late)

For a Limited Partnership, the penalty for late filing is ₦10,000 (Making it a total of ₦15,000 yearly)

Non-Filing of Annual Returns

If your company fails to file annual returns for a consecutive period of 10 years. The commission has every right and jurisdiction to delist such a company from its records. Research has it that CAC has delisted over 300,000 companies in the last 3 years for non compliance with annual returns.

Once a company is delisted for failure to file Annual Returns, anybody aggrieved by the striking off of the name of the company may apply to the court.

This court application must be done at any time before the expiration of 20 years from the publication of the notice of the removal.

The person will make a petition to the court and order for the restoration of the company to register and if the court is satisfied that the company was still running business activities at the time of the strike-off, the court may order the name of that company to be restored to the CAC register.

How to Check If Your Company is Due for Annual Returns

To check if your company is due for filing

• Log in to the CAC search portal
• Input the name of the Business/company
• Click on search

If the company status reads INACTIVE. Then it means the company has not filed annual returns and has already accrued penalties.

If a company has filed annual returns, its status will read ACTIVE on the CAC search portal

Alternatively, You can also check the number of years a company has filed its annual returns and the years it is defaulting under the CAC post portal by checking the company’s letter of good standing

• Log in to the CAC post portal post.cac.gov.ng
• Type in the name of the company you want checto k annual returns for, and search
• Select the company
• Click check letter of good standing

Here, you can easily see the number of years the business has filed its annual returns successfully and the number of years it has defaulted.

Difference Between Annual Returns and Tax Returns

Annual returns are statutory filings required by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) to show that your company is still active and compliant with company law. It includes basic company information such as:

• Company name

• Registered address

• Shareholding structure

• Directors and shareholders

• Nature of business (objectives)

Due date: Usually every year after incorporation (except the first year for limited liability companies).

Filed with: CAC

Regulatory body: CAMA 2020 (Companies and Allied Matters Act)

Tax Returns are paid to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and relevant state tax authorities. These returns are done for the purpose of computing the relevant tax liability after deducting expenses. Taxes include

• Company Income Tax (CIT)

• Value Added Tax (VAT)

• Withholding Tax (WHT)

• Personal Income Tax (for sole proprietors or directors)

Due date: Tax returns varies based on the type of tax (e.g., CIT is due six months after the financial year-end).

Filed with: FIRS or State IRS

Regulatory body: CITA, VAT Act

Can a CAC-Accredited Agent File Annual Returns on Your Behalf?

Yes,

It is always advised to seek professional and experienced experts for corporate compliance issues like this.

Annual Returns are to be filed by CAC Agents who have reasonable experience with the Corporate Commission. Others eligible to file could be Lawyers, Chattered accountants and legal practitioners

The role of consultant is to help you navigate the process of staying compliant while at the save time saving cost and delivering exceptional results.

Legacy Benjamin Consult has proven to be one of the fastest rising consulting firms in Nigeria. You can employ their corporate services for your annual returns filing

Below is the evidence of filing AR for two companies Billow Properties & Construction LTD, Conault Limited and Azach Creative Company.

The filing was done at our consulting agency (Legacy Benjamin Consult)

Tips to Stay Compliant with CAC Annual Filing Requirements

These tips will help you navigate the smooth part of filing your yearly returns

• Understand that filing is a statutory requirement
• Get your audited statements of accounts on time
• Know when to file and always file on time
• Employ the services of CAC accredited agents like Legacy Benjamin Consult

FAQs About Filing Annual Returns with CAC in Nigeria

Who should file annual returns?

Every Business Name, Company or NGO MUST Pay annual returns