Late CAC Annual Returns for POS Operators: Penalties and Next Steps

If your POS business has outstanding CAC annual returns, start by checking its entity type and filing history. The remedy depends on whether you registered a business name or incorporated a company, how many years are outstanding and what the current record shows.

Why old fee examples can be misleading

A price published several years ago may use an outdated assessment, omit particular return years or include a different service scope. There is no reliable all-in total that applies to every overdue POS business.

Request a quotation after the record has been checked. It should identify the years to be filed and explain any additional work needed. Avoid paying for a generic package before understanding what it covers.

Business-name deadlines are different from company deadlines

Section 822 of CAMA 2020 provides for business-name annual returns by 30 June, with an exception for the registration calendar year. Do not assume that a POS business registered in 2024 first becomes due in 2026 simply because of an 18-month rule used in discussions about companies.

If the outlet is operated through a company, review the company rules and the relevant exceptions. The word “POS” describes the activity; it does not determine the legal filing category.

How to establish the outstanding years

1. Locate the registration certificate and number.
2. Confirm the legal form and registration date.
3. Gather previously submitted returns and acknowledgements.
4. Review the current record and the years still outstanding.
5. Agree the preparation and filing scope for each year.

When several years are handled in one engagement, each year’s information still needs to be checked. Filing the latest year alone should not be assumed to resolve earlier gaps.

Penalties and inactive status

Late filing may attract penalties under the applicable provisions and regulations. The charge should be established from the actual filing position. Do not assume a fixed yearly amount, a daily increase in every case or an automatic waiver.

An inactive registry status, a pending application and a record removed from the register are different situations. If the record shows a serious status issue, seek a review before paying for routine annual-return filing.

What to prepare before contacting an agent

• Registration number and certificate.
• Proprietor or director details.
• Previous filings, if available.
• Any notice or query received.
• Financial information for each return period.
• Information about changes to the address or ownership.

Send documents through an agreed channel. Never share banking PINs, payment-card details or login passwords as part of a filing enquiry.

Keeping future returns current

Create a yearly reminder appropriate to the entity, maintain your financial records and keep completed filing documentation together. Discuss outstanding record changes early, especially before a bank update or another post-registration application.

Related guides

• Five annual-return checks for POS operators
• National filing guide
• Understanding inactive CAC status

Legal reference: Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020, section 822 for business names and section 425 for company non-compliance.

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