Payroll documents and a calculator used to complete the COIDA Return of Earnings declaration

COIDA Assessment Instalment Plan: How to Pay Your Assessment in Parts

Quick Answer

Can I pay my COIDA assessment in instalments?

Yes. The Compensation Fund considers instalment arrangements from employers who apply with their CF reference number and Notice of Assessment number. While paying instalments, your Letter of Good Standing is issued with limited month-to-month validity until the assessment is settled in full.

Key Terms Explained

Notice of Assessment
The invoice the Compensation Fund issues after your Return of Earnings, stating how much you must pay within 30 days.
Instalment plan
An approved arrangement to pay your annual assessment in scheduled parts instead of one lump sum.
Revision of assessment
A formal application, made within 30 days of the Notice of Assessment, to correct an assessment you believe is wrong.
CF number
Your 12-digit employer account number with the Compensation Fund, starting with 99.

Your Return of Earnings is submitted, the Notice of Assessment arrives – and the amount is more than your cash flow can handle in one payment. The Compensation Fund does allow employers to pay their annual assessment in instalments. But there is a catch that catches tendering businesses off guard: while you are on an instalment plan, your Letter of Good Standing is only issued for limited validity instead of the full period. Here is how instalment arrangements work and how to use one without losing tender eligibility.

Payroll documents and a calculator used to complete the COIDA Return of Earnings declaration
The Return of Earnings declares your actual and provisional payroll so the Fund can calculate your assessment. Image: Wikimedia Commons.

How the COIDA Assessment Normally Works

After you submit your Return of Earnings, the Fund calculates your assessment from your declared remuneration and your industry tariff – our COIDA assessment fee calculator shows the mechanics. The invoice (Notice of Assessment) must be paid within 30 days to avoid interest. Once full payment reflects, you can generate your Letter of Good Standing online. Miss the payment and penalties and interest apply, as covered in COIDA ROE penalties.

Applying for an Instalment Plan

  1. Apply before the invoice falls into arrears. Contact the Compensation Fund through the online submissions portal or your provincial office as soon as you know you cannot pay in full.
  2. Provide your CF reference number (the 12-digit number starting with 99) and the Notice of Assessment number.
  3. Propose a realistic schedule. The Fund considers the number and size of instalments against the total assessed. Requests made early, before penalties attach, are far more likely to succeed.
  4. Pay every instalment on the agreed date. A broken instalment arrangement cancels the concession and the full balance, plus interest, becomes due.

The Letter of Good Standing Catch

Payment position Letter of Good Standing
Assessment paid in full Issued for the full validity period (read about LOGS validity)
On an instalment plan, payments up to date Issued with limited, month-to-month validity while instalments continue
Instalment missed or plan broken Not issued / existing letter lapses
Assessment unpaid, no plan Not issued – tenders and site access blocked

If you need a Letter of Good Standing for a specific tender with a hard closing date, a short-term instalment arrangement is usually not enough – most tender boards want a letter valid beyond the award date. In that case it is often cheaper to borrow to settle the assessment than to lose the contract. Our guide on Letters of Good Standing for tenders and contracts explains what evaluators look for.

Think the Assessment Itself Is Wrong?

Do not stretch an instalment plan over an assessment you believe is overstated. You have 30 days from the Notice of Assessment to apply for a revision – for example if the wrong industry tariff was applied or earnings above the annual ceiling were included. Check the figures with the assessment calculator first, and make sure next year’s declaration uses the right split of actual and provisional earnings.

Instalment requests and revision applications are administrative processes – they succeed or fail on paperwork. If you would rather have it handled for you, Admin Boss assists South African businesses with exactly this kind of compliance administration.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I pay my COIDA assessment in instalments?

Yes. The Compensation Fund considers instalment arrangements from employers who apply before or shortly after their Notice of Assessment falls due. Apply through the online portal or your provincial office with your CF reference number and assessment number.

Will I get a Letter of Good Standing while paying instalments?

Yes, but with limited validity. While an instalment plan is active and payments are up to date, the Fund issues Letters of Good Standing with month-to-month validity rather than the full period. Once the assessment is paid in full, a full-validity letter can be issued.

What happens if I miss an instalment payment?

A missed instalment can cancel the arrangement, making the full outstanding balance due immediately, with interest. Your Letter of Good Standing also lapses, which blocks tenders and site access.

Can I apply for instalments and dispute the assessment at the same time?

You can, but it is better to dispute first. A revision of assessment application must be lodged within 30 days of the Notice of Assessment. If the revision reduces the amount, your instalment plan recalculates on the corrected figure.

Does interest apply to a COIDA instalment plan?

Interest rules are set by the Compensation Fund and can apply to balances outstanding beyond the 30-day payment window. Confirm the current interest treatment when your instalment arrangement is approved.

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Sources and Further Reading

Last reviewed: 14 August 2026 against the official sources listed above. This guide is general information for South African employers and employees, not legal advice. Figures such as minimum assessments and earnings ceilings are set by the Compensation Fund and change annually – always confirm the current amounts on the official portals before paying.

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