How to File CAC Annual Returns Online in 2026 as a Business Owner

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As a business owner, you’ve probably heard the acronym CAC one time too many! Once you talk about starting a business or even mention you’re a business owner, someone is already asking you if you’ve registered your business with CAC. And you should because it comes with a lot of perks. And now, you can register your business name online with CAC, with no hassle.

But real quick, if you were to attend a quiz show for business owners and someone asked you what CAC means, would you know? No? Let’s sort that out real quick.

The Corporate Affairs Commission - CAC - is the body of the Nigerian Government responsible for the regulation and management of companies in Nigeria. They are in charge of registering business names and entities.

One of the most important things as a registered business in Nigeria is to file annual returns, and you can do that online with CAC. This article will cover what it means, and how to file your CAC annual returns online in 2024 as a business owner. It’s easy peasy!

What is CAC Annual Returns Filing?

The CAC annual returns filing is a mandatory process that every Nigerian business name must meet to inform the CAC that your company remains active and operational.

One important thing to note is that this filing is not to disclose the profits your business has earned in the year in review, and it is not a financial document. What it is, is a yearly report from your registered business to provide the CAC with updated information about your company’s activities, structure and financial status.

What Happens If You Don’t File CAC Annual Returns?

Skipping your CAC annual returns might not feel urgent at first, especially if your business is small or still growing. But over time, failing to file can create serious problems for your business, especially if you are actively operating every day.

Here’s what can happen when annual returns are not filed:

1. Your Business Can Be Marked as Inactive

When you fail to file your annual returns, the Corporate Affairs Commission assumes your business is no longer operating. As a result, your business name may be tagged as inactive on the CAC database.

Once this happens, your business record no longer reflects your true status, even if you are still selling, receiving payments, or running operations daily.

2. You May Lose Access to CAC Services

An inactive business record can restrict your access to important CAC post-incorporation services. This means you may be unable to:

• Download official CAC documents

• Generate status reports

• Carry out post-registration filings

For many business owners, this becomes a problem only when the documents are suddenly needed urgently.

3. You Won’t Be Able to Update Your Business Details

If your annual returns are not up to date, CAC may prevent you from making changes to your business information, such as:

• Updating your business address

• Correcting proprietor details

• Adding or removing partners

This can delay important decisions and slow down business growth.

4. It Can Affect Loans, Grants, and Partnerships

Many banks, grant providers, and corporate partners request proof that a business is active with CAC. When annual returns are missing, your business may appear non-compliant, which can:

• Delay loan approvals

• Disqualify you from grants or funding opportunities

• Reduce trust with potential partners

Even when your business is legitimate, missing filings can create doubt.

5. Risk of Long-Term Delisting

When annual returns are ignored for several years, CAC may begin the process of delisting the business name. Recovering a delisted business can be stressful, time-consuming, and more expensive than simply filing returns yearly.

This is why CAC annual returns are not a mere formality. Instead, they are how your business confirms its existence every year.

Filing on time helps keep your business active, compliant, and ready for opportunities whenever they arise.

Why Should You File Your Annual Returns with CAC?

1. It is compulsory to submit annual returns as a registered entity with CAC, whether it’s a business name, a private or public limited company, a partnership or an incorporated trustee.

2. It keeps your business in legal compliance and differentiates it from tax returns managed by the Federal Inland Revenue Service.

3. Missing the deadline or not doing it at all may result in your business being categorised as ‘inactive’ by CAC, as it is the only effective means of informing CAC that your business is still in operation.

4. It’s needed for contract bidding.

5. The absence of filed annual returns can inhibit the Corporate Affairs Commission from providing meaningful information about your company, thereby reducing the confidence of potential partners or investors.

6. Neglecting the filing of your annual return can lead to being locked out of some of the post-incorporation services that CAC offers, like obtaining incorporation documents, making changes to business particulars, editing the registered address, etc.

When Should You File Your Annual Returns with CAC as a Business Owner?

There are different periods for each entity registered with the CAC, but the part that concerns us is registered business names, which as a business owner, is the category you fall into.

Your business name annual returns are to be paid between January and June of the following year after your business registration. So, if you registered your business in 2023, you should file and pay your annual returns with CAC in January at the earliest, and no later than June. If you do not file before this deadline, payments after will attract a penalty for late filing.

Note: It doesn’t matter what day or month the business was registered in the year before. Make sure that you file and pay your annual returns before the end of June. For example, if you register your business with CAC in October 2023, you must still file your annual returns before the end of June 2024.

Can You File CAC Annual Returns After the Deadline?

Yes, you can still file your CAC annual returns even after the official deadline has passed. However, late filing comes with penalties.

For business names, CAC allows owners to submit outstanding annual returns at any time, but a late filing fee applies once the June deadline has been missed.

Here a few other things you need to know about late filing:

1. Late Filing Attracts a Penalty

When annual returns are not filed within the required period, CAC applies a penalty in addition to the normal filing fee. This penalty is charged for each year that was not filed on time.

This means that the longer the delay, the higher the total amount you may be required to pay.

2. Multiple Years Can Accumulate

If a business owner skips filing for more than one year, CAC may require that all outstanding annual returns be cleared before the business record can return to active status.

In such cases, penalties may apply separately for each missed year, making the total cost higher than filing annually.

3. Filing Earlier Helps Reduce Issues

While late filing is allowed, resolving outstanding annual returns as early as possible helps prevent further complications. Keeping your filings up to date ensures that your business remains compliant and avoids delays when CAC documents or services are needed in the future.

For this reason, business owners are advised to file their annual returns every year within the approved period, rather than allowing multiple years to accumulate.

How Much Does it Cost to File Annual Returns with CAC for a Business Name?

For a business name, filing fees for annual returns is 3,000 naira. The penalty for late filing is 5,000 naira.

Who Is Required to File CAC Annual Returns?

If your business is registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission, then filing annual returns is not optional, it is a requirement. CAC uses annual returns to confirm that registered entities are still active and operating.

Here’s how it applies to different types of registrations:

1. Business Names

If you registered your business as a business name, you are required to file annual returns every year. This category includes most small businesses, such as:

• Online sellers

• Fashion brands

• Food vendors

• Freelancers with registered business names

• Small shops and service providers

Once your business name has completed its first year of registration, annual returns must be filed every year between January and June.

This is the category most small business owners fall under.

2. Limited Liability Companies

Businesses registered as limited liability companies (Ltd) are also required to file annual returns yearly. However, the filing process and requirements for companies are different and usually more detailed than those for business names.

Because of this, many companies use accountants or CAC-accredited agents to handle their filings.

3. Incorporated Trustees

Organizations registered as incorporated trustees, such as churches, NGOs, foundations, and associations, are also required to file annual returns with CAC.

This helps CAC confirm that the organization is still active and operating under its registered purpose.

Important Note for Business Owners

If you are a small business owner with a registered business name, you are still required to file annual returns, even if:

• Your business made little or no profit

• You did not actively sell during the year

• You ran the business part-time

Annual returns are simply CAC’s way of confirming that your business still exists.

If your business is registered, annual returns must be filed.

How to File CAC Annual Returns for Your Business Name

The great news is, that you can now file your annual returns with CAC online! All you need to do is gather the necessary forms and fill them accurately, pay your filing fees and submit the documents to the CAC. It is also necessary to follow all the steps carefully to ensure successful filing.

The CAC annual returns payment is made using this URL, post.cac.gov.ng.This is where all the changes after you have registered your business can be made. Make sure to use the same login details as the one used when you registered your company.

Step-by-Step Guide for Filing Annual Returns with CAC

1. Log in and click on the annual returns option.

2. Click on Start annual returns filing.

3. Fill in all the necessary information on the form provided, and click on submit.

4. Make your payment, and after this, you’ll be redirected to the CAC portal.

5. Click on document uploads.

6. Do not submit any document; simply click submit and you’ll be redirected to your dashboard. Your application will move from not submitted to ‘pending approval’.

Keep checking your dashboard to see whether you’ve been approved or queried. If it’s the latter, read the instructions of the query and reply accordingly. When you’re approved, download your acknowledgement letter.

And that’s it! You have successfully paid your annual returns. Make sure to repeat this process every year.

N.B: While there are different forms for filing CAC annual returns, the one that concerns your business name is FORM CAC/BN/7: Annual Return for Business Name.

Information You Need for Filing Your Annual Returns Form and Documents with CAC

While things might change over time, these are some things you’ll need when you’re ready to file your annual returns for your business with CAC.

1. Business registration number.

2. Business name.

3. General nature of your business.

4. The registered address of your business.

5. Branch address (if any) of your business.

6. Information about the proprietor and partners of the business.

7. Year annual return relates to.

N.B: Filing your annual returns for your business can be done online and isn’t complicated, but if you feel that you may not be able to handle it yourself, you can always find a CAC-accredited agent to help you out with the process.

Conclusion

We’ve seen the perks that come with filing your annual returns with CAC, and to make it easier, it can be done online and doesn’t cost a lot. As a business owner with a registered business name, it is necessary to do this process every year to ensure that your business name is not de-listed, and you do not have to jump through hoops to get these documents if you eventually need them in the future. Happy filing!

Frequently Asked Questions About CAC Annual Returns

1. Is CAC annual returns compulsory for small businesses?

Yes. CAC annual returns are compulsory for all registered businesses, including small businesses. Once your business name is registered with CAC and has completed its first year, you are expected to file annual returns every year, even if the business is small or not very active.

2. Can I file CAC annual returns myself?

Yes, you can. CAC allows business owners to file their annual returns by themselves online using the CAC post-incorporation portal. You do not need an agent, as long as you have your correct business details and login information.

If you’re unsure or uncomfortable with the process, you can also choose to use a CAC-accredited agent.

3. How much is CAC annual returns in Nigeria in 2026?

For business names, the standard CAC annual return filing fee is ₦5,000. If you file after the deadline, a late filing penalty of ₦5,000 may apply for each year missed.

Always confirm the final amount on the CAC portal, as fees may be updated.

4. What happens if I miss CAC annual returns for two years?

If you miss filing for two years, CAC may require you to clear both outstanding years before your business can return to active status. This means you may need to pay filing fees and penalties for each missed year.

The longer annual returns are ignored, the more difficult and expensive it can become to regularize the business.

5. Can I file CAC annual returns on my phone?

Yes. CAC annual returns can be filed using a mobile phone, as long as you have internet access and can log into the CAC portal. Many business owners complete the process successfully without using a computer.

6. Do freelancers need CAC annual returns?

If a freelancer has registered a business name with CAC, then yes — annual returns must be filed yearly. However, if you are freelancing without a registered business name, CAC annual returns do not apply to you.

Once you register with CAC, the requirement begins.

7. Can CAC deactivate my business name?

Yes. When annual returns are not filed for a long period, CAC may mark the business as inactive. If ignored for several years, the business risks delisting from the CAC register.

This is why filing annual returns yearly is important, even when the business is quiet.

8. Is CAC annual returns required for loans or grants?

In many cases, yes. Banks, grant programs, and funding platforms often request CAC documents that show your business is active. If annual returns are not up to date, your business may appear non-compliant, which can delay or block approvals.

Keeping your annual returns current helps your business stay opportunity-ready.

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