An annual return confirms who runs and owns a company. It is one of the few filings every company must make, whether or not it traded during the year, and it is easy to forget until a bank, a client or a tender asks for proof of good standing.
The position
Under the Companies Act, 2015, every company must deliver an annual return to the Registrar of Companies. The return records the company’s directors, its shareholders and its registered office as they stood on the date it is made up to.
Who is affected?
All companies registered in Kenya, including dormant companies and those that have not yet started trading.
What does it mean in practice?
- Diarise the date each year.
- Check that director and shareholder details on the register are current before filing.
- Keep the filing receipt; it is the quickest evidence of good standing.
Sources
- Companies Act, 2015, Kenya Law