Apply In-Person:

1. ToFilling of Annual Returns, the applicant has to approach the RGD office Contact link
2. Annual returns are a requirement for all businesses irrespective of the type of business. During the filing of annual returns, the business has to report any changes that have occurred over the period.
3. For instance, changes in business name, activities, shareholder(s), director(s), auditors, and address of principal place of business etc. An annual returns form has to be completed to reflect any of the above changes. Therefore, it is important to refer to the current company profile before completing the form.
4. Filing of Annual Returns for a Sole Proprietorship Business
   • This type requires the filing to be done every year including the year of incorporation. This is because; no Audited Account is required to file this kind of returns. It is the simplest of the Returns forms.
5. Filing of Annual Returns for a Company Limited by Shares/Company Limited by Guarantee
   • The Companies Act 992, 2019 requires all companies registered in Ghana to file Annual Returns with the RGD. The filing of annual returns has to be done 36 days after the financial statements have been approved and signed by directors.
   • The Companies Act requires that Limited Liability Companies file their first Returns after 18 months of incorporation.
   • This therefore implies that a company is not required to file returns within or for the year of incorporation.
   • Note that, after the first 18 months of incorporation, the company is required to file every year of operation.
6. Filing of Annual Returns for an External Company
   • An External Company which is also referred to as a Branch/Liaison Office is one incorporated by a company (referred to as the “Parent Company”) registered outside the jurisdiction of Ghana. The branch office is required to file returns together with the Audited Financial Statements of the parent company.
7. Applicant can be downloading the application Form D from this link link.
   • Sole Proprietorship= Form 1A
   • Company Limited by shares= Form of Annual Return
   • Company Limited by Guarantee= Form of Annual Return
   • Unlimited Liability companies= Form of Annual Return
   • External company=Just the Audited Accounts of the Parent Company
8. Applicants must download the application form.
9. The applicant has to make sure he or she has all the required documents that are required for this process to be successful and they can be found under the "Required Documents" section of this page.
10. Payment of appropriate fees should be made and that can be found under the "Fees" section of this page.
11. Applicant Provide 3 business/company names for search for availability of a name.
12. Then, the applicant must be Complete the Entity Form.
13. Pick a ticket per the Entity Type. Then, the applicant Wait till your ticket number is called.
14. Submit the completed form with the entire supporting document for validation by inspector.
15. A fee is payable upon delivery of the application to Companies House.
16. Document is left at the in-house Bank for onward process.
17. Decision is made to Approve, Query or Reject.
18. Certificate and other supporting documents are issued when approval is given.
19. Generally, the processing time for this procedure takes up to 2 to 3 weeks.
20. The certificate is conclusive evidence that the requirements of the CA 2006 as to re-registration have been complied with. The company’s previous incorporation certificates should be retained as evidence of the company’s historical identity and status.

Apply online

1. Applicant Go to online website Link
2. Applicant search for the availability of your business name by clicking on “Name Search”.
3. Applicant “Download” forms of the entity type you want to register.
4. Then “print, fill, sign and scan” the form and other supporting documents may be required.
5. Applicants create an account as a portal user.
6. Applicant login with the “user name” and “password” given after the account creation.
7. Applicant must select Entity Registration link again on the left pane.
8. Click on “Create New” button if name has not been reserved or click on “Create from Name Reservation” button if business name has been reserved.
9. Applicant select entity type from the dropdown list.
10. Type business name under entity name and click on Proceed button.
11. Certificate and other supporting documents are issued when applicant approval is given.
12. Input data, upload scanned and signed document and applicant follow the instructions.
13. Pay online by clicking on “make payment online” link.
14. The status of the registration will be communicated via SMS.
15. Applicant click on e-Certificate link to save or print certificate and other supporting documents after approval is given.

• Application form link
• File Annual Returns or Renewal up to date
• Acquire individual TIN for all directors, executive members, secretaries and shareholders from GRA
• Fill Re-Registration Form with regards to the type of Business (ie Sole Props, Partnership etc.)
• Attach old Registration Particulars (i.e. Registration Certificates, Business Profile or any other Relevant Documents
• Also penalty applies to all entity types except Sole Proprietor and Subsidiary Business names

GREATER ACCRA REGION
P.O.Box 118 Accra
Tel: +233 302 664 691-93
Fax: +233 302 662043
Email: info@rgd.gov.gh
Digital Address:GA-143-4647
Contact link

ASHANTI REGION
Opposite Hotel Gandolfo Asafo PMB, Kumasi
Tel: +233 322 083 151 / 322 042 152
Email: kumasi@rgd.gov.gh
Contact link

WESTERN REGION
P.O.Box 251 Ministries, Sekondi
Tel: +233 312 482 58
Email: sekondi@rgd.gov.gh
Fax: +233 312 48258
Digital Address: WS-001-7903
Contact link

NORTHERN REGION
Tel: +233 372 023 715
Email: tamale@rgd.gov.gh
Email: info@rgd.gov.gh
Digital Address: NT-0066-0976
Contact link

• Sole Proprietorship in Ghana is eligible.
• Company Limited by shares in Ghana is eligible.
• Company Limited by Guaranteein Ghana is eligible.
• Unlimited Liability Companies in Ghana is eligible.
• External Company in Ghana is eligible.

• Sole Proprietorship = GH¢25.00
• Company Limited by shares = GH¢50.00
• Company Limited by Guarantee= GH¢50.00
• Unlimited Liability Companies = GH¢50.00
• External Company = US$600.00

• Validity for this certificate for 1 year.

Link

Please attach sample completed documents that would help other people.

• The Certificate issued in 2 to 3 weeks.

Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications.
Attach videos using the following tag <&video type='website'>video ID|width|height<&/video&> from external websites.
Please remove the '&' inside the tags during implementation.
Website = allocine, blip, dailymotion, facebook, gametrailers, googlevideo, html5, metacafe, myspace, revver,
sevenload, viddler, vimeo, youku, youtube
width = 560, height = 340, Video ID = Can be obtained from the URL of webpage where the video is displayed.
e.gIn the following url 'http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0US7oR_t3M' Video ID is 'Y0US7oR_t3M'.

• Act 992 defines an external company as a body corporate formed outside the jurisdiction of the Republic of Ghana which has an established place of business in Ghana.

• The total number of expats working with the company throughout the year.
• The particulars of all the expats
• How many are still working with the company and those who have left
• Whether they have returned to their home country or changed company
• The number of persons who are on work and residence permit
• How many are on quota and residence permits and the dependents of the principal applicants, etc.
• What are the issued and expiry dates of each applicant
• How long have they stayed in the country

• Annual Returns is a means of reporting the current status of the company to the respective regulators. It is therefore considered a necessity since it also indicates a renewal of registration. It is required to be filed every year.

• Every company is expected to stay compliant with all the regulatory bodies within the environment they operate. By so doing, some agencies use the term “Renewal of Registration”, whiles others use the term “Annual Returns”.
• It is important to note that almost all the regulatory agencies in Ghana have different modes by which they require companies to renew their registration. Some agencies require renewals annually (every year), whiles others are done every two (2) or five (5) years after registration. It is prudent for every company to keep proper records of all the agencies when they are due for renewal in order to remain compliant.
• In this article, we will focus on three main Agencies which require Annual Returns Filing. These Agencies include:
• Registrar General’s Department (RGD) for renewal of business registration
• Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) for renewal of the status of the number of expatriates working in the firm
• Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) for tax related updates

Please explain what are other uses of obtaining this document/certificate.
e.g. Birth Certificate can be used as proof of identity.

Link

More information which might help people.