Annual Return is a yearly statement which gives essential information about a firm’s composition, activities, and financial position, and which must be filed by every active incorporated or registered firm with Corporate Affairs Commission of Nigeria.
Annual Returns filling is a compulsory Post-Incorporation registration/ filling. There are other post incorporation fillings that are done with Corporate Affairs Commission of Nigeria.
Read: How and Cost of Registering A Business/ Company in Nigeria
Before filling a company’s annual returns, the company must be a registered company in Nigeria.
Also, filing of company’s annual return goes with fee(s). Below are the official fees/ rates of annual return filing in Nigeria.
When is Annual Return Filed?
An annual return must be filed annually. New companies may not file its return within the first 18 months of its incorporation, while for older companies, the annual return is due no later than 42 days after its Annual General Meeting. Section 374 CAMA.
The procedures for filing returns for enterprises and incorporated companies are almost the same but for the purpose of clarity, the two procedures are separately itemised below:
For Enterprises:
- Download annual returns form
- Fill the form properly
- The annual return shall be signed by the proprietors, and where a company is a proprietor, by a director and secretary of the company
- Submit the completed form for verification and assessment
- Pay the required annual returns fee to the authorised bank
- Keep your receipt/teller as evidence of payment
For Companies:
- Company’s Statement of Affairs or Audited Statement of Accounts prepared by licensed Auditors.
- Download annual returns form
- Fill the form properly and sign
- Attached your Company’s Statement of Affairs or Audited Statement of Accounts duly signed by the Director and Company’s Secretary.
- Submit the completed form for verification and assessment
- Pay the required fee to the authorised bank
- Keep your receipt/teller as evidence of payment.
Read: Business/ Company Registration in Nigeria
Cost of Annual Returns Filling and other statutory document with CAC in Nigeria
| S/N | DESCRIPTION | FEES IN NIARA (₦) |
| 1 | Filing of annual return for a small Company | N2,000.00 |
| 2 | Filing of annual return for Private company other than a small company | N3,000.00 |
| 3 | Filing of annual return for public company | N5,000.00 |
| 4 | Filing of annual return for company Limited by Guarantee | N5,000.00 |
| 5 | Filing of annual report by foreign companies | N5,000.00 |
| 6 | Filing of statement in form of schedule 14 under section 553 | N10,000.00 |
| 7 | Filing of notice of merger/acquisition | N50,000.00 |
| 8 | Filing of special resolution for merger | N20,000.00 |
| 9 | Filing of other documents relating to merger | N10,000.00 |
| 10 | Filing of statutory declaration of solvency | N5,000.00 |
| 11 | Registration of appointment of liquidator | N10,000.00 |
| 12 | Registration of resolution for winding up | N10,000.00 |
| Filing of return of final meeting and account of liquidation | N5,000.00 | |
| 13 | Filing of notice of change of company name | N10,000.00 |
| Filing of notice of alteration of memorandum and articles of association | N5,000.00 | |
| Filing of notice of changes in particulars of directors | N2,000.00 | |
| Filing of return of allotment and or notice of change in shareholding | N2,000.00 | |
| Filing of notice of change in registered address | N2,000.00 | |
| Filing of notice of appointment of receiver | N10,000.00 | |
| Filing of notice of discharge of receiver | N5,000.00 | |
| Filing of notice of change of signature | N2,000.00 | |
| Filing of notice of reduction in share capital by public company | N20,000.00 | |
| Filing of notice of reduction in share capital by private company | N10,000.00 | |
| Filing of deed of release by public company | N10,000.00 | |
| Fiiling of deed of release by private company | N5,000.00 | |
| Application for extension of time for holding of annual general meeting by public company | N10,000.00 | |
| Application for extension of time for holding of annual general meeting by private company | N5,000.00 | |
| Letter of Good Standing | N10,000.00 | |
| Other filings (miscellaneous) | N2,000.00 | |
| Certified true copy of certificate of registration | N10,000.00 | |
| Certified true copies of memorandum and articles of association | N3,000.00 | |
| Electronic Search | N1,000.00per company | |
| Manual Search by customers | N2,000.00 per company file | |
| Manual Search Report prepared by officers of the Commission | N5,000.00 | |
| Certified true copies of other documents | N2,000.00 per document | |
| Consent for Restricted Names | N5,000.00 |