Basic shelf company
Explore an existing company where VAT or customs registration is not part of your immediate requirement. Confirm the registration records and proposed ownership changes.
Explore the basic option SHELF COMPANIES · SOUTH AFRICA
Shelf companies
with VAT.
Your next chapter.
Looking to buy a company with an existing VAT registration? Explore available options with Vatco, understand the records and agree the handover before you commit.
Company-specific quote · Document checks · Guided handover
THE COMPANY FILE
Know what you’re buying.
Know what you’re buying.
01
Company recordsRegistration, ownership & history
02
VAT registrationEvidence, status & tax records
03
Your handoverChanges, access & next steps
Three things to review before you decide.
Start with the right fit.Tell us what your business needs.
AN EXISTING COMPANY. A CONSIDERED START.
What is a VAT-registered
shelf company?
A shelf company is an existing registered company offered for purchase. A VAT-registered shelf company is offered with a VAT registration already associated with that company. The purchase involves the company and its ownership arrangements; it is not simply a VAT number to add to a different business.
This route may be worth exploring when an opportunity requires a VAT-registered contracting entity. Start with the actual requirement: who will sign the contract, what registrations are requested and when the company needs to be operational. An older incorporation date alone does not demonstrate trading experience, creditworthiness or tender eligibility.
Vatco offers shelf-company services alongside company registration and tax support. Use your enquiry to explain the intended business activity and deadline, so the discussion can focus on a suitable option and the work required to complete it.
Shelf company with VAT
Discuss an existing VAT-registered company, the supporting evidence and the steps needed for your intended business. Availability and the exact scope are confirmed individually.
VAT & customs
If you plan to import or export, specify the activities and registrations you need. Check the exact customs registration rather than assuming VAT covers cross-border trade.
Explore VAT & customsAlready have a company? VAT registration support may be the more relevant starting point. Compare the available routes before buying another entity.
KNOW WHAT YOU ARE PAYING FOR.
Compare the company price and the work included.
Ask for a company-specific quotation before committing. A purchase price is only useful when the records, changes and handover responsibilities are clear.
Swipe across to compare all columns.
| Cost item | Price basis | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Company purchase | Quoted for the available company | The company identity, existing registrations, records reviewed and the agreed purchase terms. |
| Director, ownership and name changes | Included or itemised in the quote | Which changes the package covers, who prepares the documents and which authority charges are separate. |
| Tax representative and access handover | Quoted against the required actions | The authorised SARS representative work and eFiling access arrangements, with unresolved items identified. |
| Additional registrations or complex documents | Separately scoped where needed | Customs, specialist review, translations or overseas authentication should not be assumed to be included. |
| Ongoing bookkeeping and tax work | Separate recurring scope | The service frequency, covered filings and records you must supply after the handover. |
Vatco’s numeric purchase prices and ranges are awaiting business approval. Availability, company history and the agreed amendments affect the final quotation. Confirm VAT treatment, third-party charges and payment terms in writing.
YOUR STARTING POINT MATTERS.
Different buyers need a different handover.
Buying your first company
Start with the business activity and the contract or trading requirements you need to meet.
- Compare the existing company route with a new company and its own registrations before paying for a package.
- Agree who will hold the company records and manage bookkeeping and tax tasks after purchase.
Already operating another business
Explain which entity will trade, sign contracts and issue invoices.
- A purchased company remains a separate legal entity; its VAT registration is not a number to place on another company’s invoices.
- If your existing entity needs VAT registration, consider that application before buying a second company.
Appointing a foreign director
Identify the proposed directors and where their identity documents were issued before fixing a handover date.
- CIPC has an identity-assurance route for relevant foreign nationals. Check the applicable passport and certification requirements before commissioning documents.
- Overseas certification or translations can add preparation steps. Confirm the required route instead of assuming one stamp is accepted everywhere.
LOOK BEYOND THE REGISTRATION NUMBER.
A clearer picture.
Before the purchase.
Ask for evidence tied to the specific company, with a written explanation of the work included.
Company identity & history
A description such as “shelf company” should be supported by the records you review.
- Review the company name, registration number, incorporation documents and Memorandum of Incorporation.
- Ask who owns the company and who is authorised to sell it.
- Check whether it has traded, held assets, entered contracts or incurred liabilities.
VAT evidence & tax position
A VAT number and the company’s wider tax compliance position answer different questions; include both in your discussion.
- Request the VAT Notice of Registration and check that its details correspond to the company.
- Ask about the current VAT registration status.
- Review outstanding returns and balances alongside the registration evidence.
Ownership & company changes
Changing directors and recording share ownership are separate parts of the handover.
- Confirm the proposed shareholders and directors, the agreed share-transfer records and any amendments required.
- Ask how the securities register and share certificates will be handled.
- Confirm who will maintain and submit the relevant beneficial ownership information.
Access & practical handover
The quote should make clear who handles each action and what remains your responsibility after purchase.
- Identify the records and access arrangements you will receive.
- Discuss the company’s SARS representative and authorised eFiling access.
- Confirm contact details and any bank-account arrangements required for the handover.
Put the details in writing. Keep the quotation, company information, agreed scope and handover checklist together. Resolve unanswered questions before agreeing to proceed.
THE RECORDS BEHIND THE PURCHASE.
Prepare the documents for your particular buyer and company.
Use this list to discuss the formal handover. The initial enquiry only needs your requirements; confirm the secure document-sharing process with the team before supplying identity records.
- The proposed ownership teamBuyer, director and shareholder details
Identify each person or organisation involved. Confirm the identity and address evidence required for the appointment, transfer and verification work.
- The company you are buyingCompany incorporation and ownership records
Request incorporation documents, the Memorandum of Incorporation and the existing ownership records. Compare them with the seller’s authority and the agreed purchase.
- A VAT-registered companyVAT registration and tax records
Request the VAT Notice of Registration and current status information. Review outstanding returns or balances separately from the existence of a VAT number.
- The agreed transactionTransfer documents and signed mandates
Confirm the required share-transfer documents, appointment records and mandates. Identify who prepares, checks and signs each document before paying for changes.
- Where CIPC foreigner assurance appliesPassport and identity-assurance evidence
Prepare the applicable passport or foreign identity document, with names and identifying details captured exactly. Use the route-specific certification guidance below.
- An organisation is buying sharesEntity shareholder and handover records
Explain the organisation’s ownership and authority to act. Agree which supporting records, register updates and beneficial ownership information the team needs.
AVOID PREPARATION THAT HAS TO BE DONE TWICE.
Check certification before getting documents stamped.
CIPC’s foreigner-assurance guidance applies to a particular identity-verification route. It should not be read as a requirement to certify every document used in a shelf-company purchase. A foreign national with a South African identity document does not use that assurance route under this guidance.
- For the relevant assurance copy, CIPC calls for a certified or notarised true copy, with certification dated within three months.
- The Commissioner of Oaths must be identifiable and traceable, including full name, surname, designation and address.
- If certification, notarisation or an apostille is not in English, CIPC requires an English translation. Confirm the accepted overseas authentication route for your document.
Confirm the requirement before paying for certification
A clear, matching identity record and the correct authentication process matter more than collecting unnecessary stamps. Confirm any additional request against the specific application.
Read moreFROM YOUR FIRST QUESTION TO THE HANDOVER.
Your next steps,
made clear.
A practical sequence for discussing and arranging your purchase with Vatco.
- 01YOUR REQUIREMENTS
Tell us what you need
Start an enquiry with your business activity, the registrations you need and any contract deadline. Mention whether you have an existing company, need a particular company age or want to change the name. These details help narrow the discussion before you spend time on unsuitable options.
- 02AN INFORMED DECISION
Review an option and the quote
Discuss current availability and request the company-specific information. Review the price, inclusions, supporting records and estimated stages together. Ask which items are included in the package and which would be quoted separately, particularly additional registrations or ongoing accounting.
- 03THE DETAILS IN PLACE
Agree the documents and changes
Once the scope is agreed, confirm the buyer details, appointment or transfer documents and any required mandates. Establish who will make the company and tax-record updates, what evidence each party must provide and whether any further verification is needed.
- 04READY FOR YOUR NEXT STEP
Complete and check the handover
Review the delivered documents against the agreed checklist. Confirm which changes are complete, whether any items are still awaiting third-party processing and who will follow them up. Keep a clear record of the effective handover arrangements and the next filing or bookkeeping tasks.
A USEFUL HEAD START.
Prepare your brief.
We’ll discuss the details.
You can start with a clear description of your needs. You do not need to attach identity documents to the initial enquiry.
For the formal process, you may be asked for identification, address evidence, director and shareholder information, and signed documents or mandates. The required list depends on the buyer, the proposed changes and the relevant verification process.
If an organisation will be a shareholder, explain its structure early. If you want a new company name, prepare alternatives and discuss name availability. Confirm how sensitive supporting documents should be supplied before sending them.
Read the shelf-company buying guideYOUR BUYER-PREPARATION CHECKLISTFive things to bring
Five things to bring
to the conversation.
- Your business activityWhat the company will do and who its customers will be.
- Your registration needsVAT, customs or any contract-specific requirements.
- Your intended ownershipThe proposed directors and shareholders.
- Your target dateThe deadline and what must be complete by then.
- Your questions about costBudget, package inclusions and ongoing support.
PRICE & PRACTICAL EXPECTATIONS.
Know the cost.
Understand the timing.
What does a VAT shelf company cost?
Request a written quote for the particular company and the work you need. Compare the total scope so you can see exactly what is included:
- The company purchase, agreed company amendments and tax-related assistance.
- Optional services and any work that will be quoted separately.
- Whether the quoted amount includes applicable VAT and whether third-party charges are separate.
- The payment terms that apply to the purchase and the agreed work.
Also separate once-off purchase costs from ongoing accounting or compliance fees. A lower initial price is difficult to evaluate without knowing the records supplied, the changes included and the work left for you to arrange.
How long will the process take?
The useful estimate is the time to complete your required handover, not just the time to select a company. Ask for an estimate broken down by stage, with these dependencies made clear:
- Availability of a suitable company and receipt of complete buyer documents.
- The company amendments you have requested and any representative verification required.
- Third-party processing and any items that would still be outstanding on your target date.
If a tender or contract has a fixed deadline, share the requirements before committing. Avoid assuming that an existing VAT registration means every banking, tax-access or procurement requirement is already complete.
AFTER THE HANDOVER.
The company is the start.
Keep the records moving.
Plan who will maintain the books, prepare returns and keep company information current. Give your accountant the handover records and agree where historic responsibilities end and your ongoing work begins. Establish the filing position before the first deadline becomes urgent.
YOUR QUESTIONS, BEFORE YOU COMMIT.
Shelf companies with VAT:
frequently asked questions.
01Can I buy a company that already has a VAT number?
Vatco offers VAT-registered shelf-company options, subject to availability and confirmation of the particular company’s records. Ask for the registration evidence, current status and agreed purchase scope. The enquiry should cover the company itself and the ownership and access arrangements needed for your intended business, rather than treating the VAT number as a standalone product.
02What should be included in my quotation?
Ask for an itemised description of the company purchase and related work. Confirm the company documents, VAT evidence, director or ownership changes, any name change and tax-access assistance. Optional services such as customs registration, bank-account assistance or bookkeeping should be clearly identified. The written quote should also explain payment terms, applicable taxes and any additional charges.
03How do I check the company’s VAT registration?
Request a VAT Notice of Registration and check the company identifiers against the incorporation documents. SARS makes the notice available through eFiling. Ask for current confirmation of the registration and a separate explanation of outstanding returns or balances. A historic registration document should not be your only basis for understanding the company’s present tax position.
04Can I use the VAT number for my other company?
Do not assume that buying a company allows a different entity to use its registration. Keep each company’s contracts, invoices and tax records tied to the correct legal entity. If your existing business needs VAT registration, discuss that business’s own application and eligibility with Vatco instead of purchasing a company solely for its number.
05Can the directors and company name be changed?
Proposed director changes and a possible name change should form part of the initial discussion. Confirm which amendments are included, what documents or approvals they require and how they affect the handover schedule. Also ask about shareholder records: a director change by itself should not be treated as the complete record of a share purchase.
06Will a VAT shelf company qualify me for a tender?
That depends on the tender’s actual conditions. VAT registration is only one possible requirement; a buyer may also ask for experience, financial information, industry registrations or other compliance evidence. Share the relevant checklist with Vatco before choosing a company. An older incorporation date does not establish a trading track record or guarantee that a bid will qualify.
07Is buying a shelf company faster than registering a new one?
It can provide a different starting point because the entity already exists, but the comparison depends on the work still required. Ask about available stock, document readiness, company changes, tax-access arrangements and your deadline. Compare the full route to your intended outcome with the requirements for a new company and its own VAT application; do not rely on a blanket turnaround promise.
08What happens after the purchase is complete?
Keep the completed purchase and handover documents, confirm authorised access and agree who will manage the company’s ongoing records. Review upcoming tax and company-filing tasks with the appropriate adviser. If you need continued support, request a separate scope for bookkeeping, tax submissions or company compliance, with the responsibilities and recurring fees clearly explained.
Have a question about your situation?
KEEP THE USEFUL DETAILS CLOSE.
Resources for
a more informed decision.
A practical starting point, plus guidance from the relevant authorities.
ON THIS PAGE · CHECKLIST
Your buyer-preparation checklist
Five prompts to help you explain your needs and prepare for the first discussion.
Review the checklist SARS · OFFICIAL GUIDEUpdating registered tax details
Read SARS guidance on maintaining entity details and the role of an authorised representative.
Visit SARS CIPC · OFFICIAL RESOURCEBeneficial ownership information
Explore CIPC’s information and guidance on beneficial ownership filings.
Visit CIPCLET’S FIND THE RIGHT STARTING POINT.
Your next company.
A clearer way forward.
Tell us what you need from a VAT-registered shelf company.
Start with availability, your requirements and a clear quote.