What is a Register of Beneficial Owners?
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Discover what a register of beneficial owners is, who must keep one, and why it’s a legal requirement for South African companies. This article breaks down the purpose, content, and compliance obligations of the register in simple terms.
A beneficial owner is someone who owns or controls 5% or more of a company. This can be directly or indirectly, such as through another company or a trust. They may also benefit from the company’s assets or have significant control over its decisions.
A register of beneficial owners is a legally required record of the natural persons who ultimately own or control a company — even if they’re not listed as shareholders.
This requirement stems from the General Laws (Anti-Money Laundering and Combating Terrorism Financing) Amendment Act 22 of 2022, which amended the Companies Act 71 of 2008. The amendments introduced tighter corporate transparency obligations for private and non-state-owned companies in South Africa, including the requirement to identify and track beneficial ownership.
The purpose of the register is to give regulators — such as the CIPC and SARS — visibility into who really controls companies operating in South Africa. This helps prevent financial crimes like money laundering, tax evasion, and fraud by ensuring that companies are not used to conceal ownership.
The register is not just an internal record — its information must also be submitted to the CIPC and kept up to date.
All non-listed and non-state-owned companies are required to maintain a register of their beneficial owners. This includes all private companies and personal liability companies.
The register must list every natural person who holds 5% or more of a beneficial interest in the company — whether directly through shareholding, or indirectly through trusts, holding companies, or other structures. These individuals may not be named on share certificates but must still be disclosed.
Each entry in the register must include the following information:
Full name of the beneficial owner
South African ID number or passport number (for foreign nationals)
Residential address
Nature and extent of their ownership or control
Date they became a beneficial owner
This register must be stored at the company’s registered office and made available to regulatory authorities upon request.
The below register reflects the beneficial owners of the InfoDocs Demo Company where Jane Doe and John Smith are equal beneficial owners.
InfoDocs simplifies the process of maintaining a register of beneficial owners. The platform helps you automatically identify qualifying individuals, generate a compliant register, and submit updates directly to the CIPC — saving time and reducing risk.
Get started with InfoDocs today.
Discover what a register of beneficial owners is, who must keep one, and why it’s a legal requirement for South African companies. This article breaks down the purpose, content, and compliance obligations of the register in simple terms.
What Is Beneficial Ownership?
A beneficial owner is someone who owns or controls 5% or more of a company. This can be directly or indirectly, such as through another company or a trust. They may also benefit from the company’s assets or have significant control over its decisions.
What Is a Register of Beneficial Owners?
A register of beneficial owners is a legally required record of the natural persons who ultimately own or control a company — even if they’re not listed as shareholders.
This requirement stems from the General Laws (Anti-Money Laundering and Combating Terrorism Financing) Amendment Act 22 of 2022, which amended the Companies Act 71 of 2008. The amendments introduced tighter corporate transparency obligations for private and non-state-owned companies in South Africa, including the requirement to identify and track beneficial ownership.
Why Is It Important?
The purpose of the register is to give regulators — such as the CIPC and SARS — visibility into who really controls companies operating in South Africa. This helps prevent financial crimes like money laundering, tax evasion, and fraud by ensuring that companies are not used to conceal ownership.
The register is not just an internal record — its information must also be submitted to the CIPC and kept up to date.
Who Must Keep a Register of Beneficial Owners?
All non-listed and non-state-owned companies are required to maintain a register of their beneficial owners. This includes all private companies and personal liability companies.
The register must list every natural person who holds 5% or more of a beneficial interest in the company — whether directly through shareholding, or indirectly through trusts, holding companies, or other structures. These individuals may not be named on share certificates but must still be disclosed.
What Must the Register Contain?
Each entry in the register must include the following information:
Full name of the beneficial owner
South African ID number or passport number (for foreign nationals)
Residential address
Nature and extent of their ownership or control
Date they became a beneficial owner
This register must be stored at the company’s registered office and made available to regulatory authorities upon request.
Example of a Beneficial Ownership Register:
The below register reflects the beneficial owners of the InfoDocs Demo Company where Jane Doe and John Smith are equal beneficial owners.
How InfoDocs Helps
InfoDocs simplifies the process of maintaining a register of beneficial owners. The platform helps you automatically identify qualifying individuals, generate a compliant register, and submit updates directly to the CIPC — saving time and reducing risk.
Get started with InfoDocs today.
Updated on: 17/05/2025
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