How to get a COIDA letter of good standing
A letter of good standing (LOGS) from the Compensation Fund proves your business is registered for COIDA, has filed its return of earnings (ROE) and has paid its assessment. Tenders and large clients often ask for it.
Last checked against official sources on 2 November 2026. Rules change: confirm on the official portal before you submit.
Who needs it
- Any employer with at least one employee, including a director who draws a salary
- Anyone asked for "COID good standing" by a client, tender or bank
- A business with no employees is not registered with the Fund, so it cannot get a letter
Before you start
Tick these off as you gather them.
Step by step
Log in to the Compensation Fund's online return of earnings system.
Screenshot of this step coming soon: ROE online login
If your registration details are out of date, submit the confirmation of employer registration details first, with supporting documents.
File any outstanding returns of earnings, oldest year first, then the current year. Declare actual earnings and your estimate.
Screenshot of this step coming soon: return of earnings declaration
Submit, then download your notice of assessment and keep the submission reference.
Pay the assessment by EFT using your Fund reference number, within 30 days of the notice.
Once your account shows as in good standing, download the letter from the online system.
Screenshot of this step coming soon: letter of good standing download
Check the certificate number and expiry date before you send it to anyone.
Open the official portal: Department of Employment and Labour: Compensation Fund
Fix a problem
The issues people hit most, and what to do.
The letter will not issue
Most often the current year's return of earnings has not been filed. File it, and any older outstanding returns oldest first.
I paid, but still no letter
Payments can take several working days to reflect. If it still has not reflected, check that you used your Fund reference number on the EFT and send proof of payment through the Fund's channels.
I cannot log in or my access is blocked
This usually means your registration details at the Fund are outdated or were captured wrongly. Submit the confirmation of employer registration details form with supporting documents.
My assessment looks wrong
Check the earnings you declared and your industry class. You can apply for a revision of the assessment within 30 days of its date.
I received an email offering a letter for a fee
Be careful. The Compensation Fund has warned about scams selling letters of good standing. Only use the Fund's own system, and verify any certificate number.
What it costs
| Item | What you pay |
|---|---|
| The letter of good standing | No fee |
| Your annual COIDA assessment | Your industry rate multiplied by your declared earnings, with a minimum amount |
| Late return of earnings | Penalties and interest can apply |
| An agent to do it | A service fee on top |
How long it takes
Once your return is filed and your payment has reflected, the letter is usually available within days. First-time registration, unpaid amounts or queries can stretch this to weeks.
When it expires
- Letters run on the annual return of earnings cycle. Letters for the previous cycle expired on 30 April 2026
- The 2026 return of earnings season ran from 1 April to 30 June 2026
- Renew each year by filing the new return of earnings and paying the assessment
What comes next
- Many tenders also want a tax compliance PIN, which is a separate document from SARS
- Keep your CIPC annual return up to date
- Diarise next year's return of earnings season
Sources
Get a reminder before ROE season and your letter's expiry
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