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CAR filing guide

The Compliance Audit Return, explained.

The CAR is an annual report on how your organisation handles personal data, filed with the NDPC under NDPA Section 33 by an NDPC-licensed DPCO. Here's who must file, the timeline, and what happens if you're late.

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Who must file

Organisations processing personal data above NDPC thresholds — most fintechs, insurers, health and large-scale data businesses.

Filed by a licensed DPCO

The CAR is produced from a 10-module gap audit and filed by an NDPC-licensed DPCO on your behalf.

Deadline + grace period

There's a headline filing deadline followed by a grace period — after which a 50% surcharge and enforcement risk apply.

Don't let the grace period lapse

The real risk isn't a single date — it's letting the grace window close. Start early so filing is routine, not a scramble.

Find out whether you need to file a CAR this cycle — and get your audit started before the grace period lapses.

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