5 Things POS Operators Should Know About CAC Annual Returns

A POS business registered with CAC needs to maintain its registration after incorporation or business-name registration. Your filing obligations follow the legal form of the business. A sole proprietor using a registered business name follows business-name rules; a limited company follows company rules.

1. Check your entity type before calculating a deadline

Look at your certificate and registration number. Do not apply a company rule simply because your POS business has a CAC certificate. Business names, companies and incorporated trustees have different provisions.

For a registered business name, section 822 of CAMA 2020 sets a 30 June annual filing deadline, except in the registration calendar year. A blanket statement that every POS operator waits 18 months is incorrect. For company returns, the relevant company provisions and any applicable exceptions need to be considered.

2. Annual returns and taxes are separate obligations

A CAC annual return updates the registry record. It does not replace a tax return, payroll remittance or another regulatory filing. Operating a small POS outlet does not turn one filing into the other.

Your financial records still matter. Keep records of commissions, operating costs and the movement of funds. Total cash passing through a POS account should not automatically be treated as the operator’s income without understanding the transactions.

3. Review the first return year and every outstanding year

Check the registration date and previous filings. If a business name was registered in 2024, the registration-year exception does not automatically postpone its first return until 2026. Obtain a record-based review rather than relying on a generic social-media date.

Prepare a list of return years and mark which have already been submitted. Keep the filing reference and the available acknowledgement with the business records.

4. Get a current quotation for overdue filings

The total depends on the entity, return years, current assessment and professional work involved. An old advertisement or a fee quoted for a different entity is not a reliable current price. Ask for the scope and the years covered in writing.

Late returns can create additional costs and make later changes to the record more difficult. Check the actual position before assuming that every year has the same penalty or that an agent can waive it.

5. Keep the business record consistent

Compare the proprietor details, business name, address and activity with the current position. If something has changed, discuss the relevant update rather than treating an annual return as a substitute for every change application.

A CAC-accredited agent can help review the record, prepare the filing and respond to queries. Approval and processing still depend on the transaction and the information submitted.

POS operator’s preparation checklist

• Certificate and registration number.
• Registration date and entity type.
• Previous annual-return records.
• Current proprietor or officer information.
• Financial information for the relevant period.
• Details of changes that have not been reflected on the record.

Further guidance

• Annual returns filing guide
• Overdue annual returns for POS operators
• Filing cost and quotation guide

Legal reference: Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020, section 822 for business names and sections 417–424 for companies.

Updated 13 October 2026. Published by Adebayo Oluwole & Associates.