ASIC corporate secretarial services manage ongoing compliance obligations including annual reviews ($329 fee), director/shareholder changes (Form 484), share transfers, registered office maintenance, and statutory register updates. Late lodgement penalties are $98 (≤1 month) or $411 (>1 month) per document.
ASIC & Corporate Secretarial
Foreign companies registered in Australia face a constant stream of ASIC deadlines, form lodgements, and register updates. Miss a single notification and you are looking at $98 to $411 in late fees per document, potential infringement notices, and in serious cases, deregistration. Our ASIC corporate secretarial services take this burden off your plate entirely. We handle every Form 484 change notification, every annual review, every statutory register update, and every board resolution, so you can focus on running your Australian operations.
Pricing from $1,500/yr + GST | 28-day turnaround guarantee on all ASIC lodgements | Dedicated company secretary available
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What We Handle for You
Our corporate secretarial service covers every compliance obligation a foreign-owned Australian company faces. Here is what is included:
Company Secretary Appointment
- Qualified company secretary appointed to your company (public companies must have one under the Corporations Act)
- CA/CPA-qualified professionals with ASIC agent authorisation
- Primary point of contact between your company, ASIC, and other regulators
- Ongoing guidance on director obligations and governance requirements
ASIC Form Lodgements
- Form 484 – Director/secretary appointments, address changes, share structure updates (must be lodged within 28 days)
- Form 492 – Annual review statement and fee payment ($329 annual review fee, due within 2 months of review date)
- Form 6010 – Foreign company annual return with financial statements
- Form 205 – Special resolutions
- Form 361/370 – Share issues and cancellations
- Form 410 – Initial registered office notifications
Statutory Register Maintenance
- Members register – Current and former shareholders, share classes, transfer history
- Directors and secretaries register – Appointments, cessations, personal details
- Share register – Ownership records, share certificates, transfer documentation
- Minutes books – Board meetings, general meetings, written resolutions (retained for 7+ years)
Board Meeting Administration
- Agenda preparation and board paper distribution
- Professional minutes for board, general, and committee meetings
- Resolution drafting for director changes, share transfers, dividends, and other corporate actions
- Solvency declarations and annual compliance resolutions
Why Foreign Companies Need This Service
If your company is headquartered in Singapore, the UK, the US, or anywhere outside Australia, managing ASIC compliance from overseas is difficult for three reasons:
- Tight deadlines with real penalties – Most changes must be notified to ASIC within 28 days. Late annual reviews attract fees of $98 (within 1 month late) or $411 (more than 1 month late) per document. Directors and company secretaries can be held personally liable.
- Australian-specific requirements – The Corporations Act 2001 has its own forms, registers, and governance rules that differ from those in your home jurisdiction. A company secretary familiar with UK Companies House or Singapore ACRA processes will not automatically know ASIC procedures.
- Time zone and access challenges – ASIC’s online portal, document execution requirements, and correspondence all assume Australian business hours and local presence. Having a qualified Australian-based company secretary eliminates these friction points.
How It Works: Getting Started in 3 Steps
Step 1: Scope Your Requirements
We review your company structure (subsidiary, branch, or holding company), existing compliance status, and any outstanding ASIC obligations. If you have overdue lodgements or incorrect register entries, we identify and fix these first.
Step 2: Appoint and Activate
We prepare the director/secretary consent forms, lodge Form 484 with ASIC, update your company registers, and set up deadline monitoring. For new companies, this integrates with company formation. Typical turnaround: 1 to 3 business days.
Step 3: Ongoing Compliance Management
From this point, we proactively manage every ASIC deadline. You receive advance notice before each lodgement, a summary of what was filed, and confirmation of ASIC acceptance. No surprises, no missed deadlines.
Corporate Secretarial vs ASIC Compliance: What is the Difference?
These two services overlap but serve different functions. Here is how they compare:
| Feature | Corporate Secretarial | ASIC Compliance |
|---|---|---|
| Company secretary appointment | Yes – qualified person appointed to your board | No – monitoring and lodgement only |
| Board meeting administration | Yes – agendas, minutes, resolutions | No |
| Statutory register maintenance | Yes – all registers maintained | Limited – changes recorded for lodgement |
| ASIC form lodgements | Yes – all forms | Yes – all forms |
| Annual review management | Yes | Yes |
| Governance advisory | Yes – director duties, best practices | Limited |
| Best for | Companies needing full governance support | Companies with existing secretary needing lodgement help |
Many foreign companies start with ASIC compliance services and upgrade to full corporate secretarial as their Australian operations grow.
Company Secretary Requirements Under Australian Law
Public Companies
Public companies (Ltd) must appoint at least one company secretary who ordinarily resides in Australia and meets qualification requirements: either 3+ years experience in the role, or qualification as a lawyer, accountant, or member of a recognised professional body. The sole director cannot also be the sole company secretary.
Proprietary Companies
Proprietary companies (Pty Ltd) are not legally required to appoint a company secretary, but many do. When a proprietary company appoints a secretary, that person assumes the same statutory responsibilities as in a public company. Directors can serve in both roles simultaneously.
Foreign Registered Companies
Foreign companies registered under Part 5B.2 of the Corporations Act must appoint a local agent (not a company secretary). However, if a foreign company also incorporates an Australian subsidiary, that subsidiary needs its own governance structure, including a potential company secretary appointment.
Annual Compliance Calendar
Key deadlines we monitor and manage on your behalf:
| Obligation | Deadline | Penalty for Late Lodgement |
|---|---|---|
| Director/secretary changes | 28 days from change | Infringement notice |
| Address changes | 28 days from change | Infringement notice |
| Annual review (Form 492) | 2 months after review date | $98 (within 1 month) / $411 (over 1 month) |
| Foreign company return (Form 6010) | 1 month after AGM or 4 months after FY end | Infringement notice + potential deregistration |
| Large proprietary financials | 4 months after FY end | Civil penalties for directors |
| Share structure changes | 28 days from change | Infringement notice |
Pricing
| Service | Annual Fee |
|---|---|
| Corporate secretarial (Pty Ltd) | From $1,500/yr + GST |
| Corporate secretarial (public company) | From $3,000/yr + GST |
| Company secretary appointment | From $2,000/yr + GST (included in above) |
| ASIC form preparation and lodgement | Included (government fees at cost) |
| Statutory register maintenance | Included |
| Board meeting administration | Included for up to 4 meetings/yr |
Need a complete package? Most foreign companies combine corporate secretarial with a resident director ($6,000/yr + GST) and registered office address. See bundled pricing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my company need a company secretary?
Public companies must appoint one under the Corporations Act. Proprietary companies are not required to, but appointing a qualified company secretary is strongly recommended for foreign-owned companies that lack local staff familiar with ASIC procedures. It reduces the risk of missed deadlines, incorrect lodgements, and compliance penalties.
Can a director also serve as company secretary?
Yes, for proprietary companies. A director can hold both positions simultaneously. For public companies, the sole director cannot also be the sole company secretary. Having separate individuals in each role provides better governance oversight.
What ASIC forms does a company secretary typically handle?
The most common are Form 484 (changes to company details), Form 492 (annual review), Form 6010 (foreign company annual return), Form 205 (special resolutions), and Form 361 (share issues). The specific forms depend on your company type and what changes occur during the year.
What happens if we miss an ASIC deadline?
Late annual review fees are $98 if paid within 1 month of the due date, or $411 if more than 1 month late. Other late lodgements can result in infringement notices with penalties ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars. Persistent non-compliance may lead to deregistration. Directors and company secretaries can be held personally liable.
How often must statutory registers be updated?
Registers must be updated whenever changes occur. Best practice is to update immediately when a change happens and certainly before lodging the corresponding ASIC notification. We conduct regular reviews to ensure ongoing accuracy.
Can you act as our company secretary?
Yes. We provide qualified company secretary appointments for both proprietary and public companies. Our company secretaries are CA/CPA-qualified with ASIC agent authorisation and handle all statutory obligations, lodgements, and register maintenance on your behalf.
How do I change my company secretary?
The board passes a resolution appointing the new secretary and accepting the outgoing secretary’s resignation. ASIC must be notified within 28 days via Form 484. We handle the entire transition process, including consent documentation, ASIC lodgement, and register updates.
What is the difference between a company secretary and a public officer?
A company secretary manages corporate governance and ASIC compliance under the Corporations Act. A public officer is an ATO requirement under the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 – they serve as the tax office’s primary contact. Foreign companies operating in Australia typically need both.
Get Started
Stop worrying about ASIC deadlines and compliance gaps. Our team sets up your corporate secretarial function within days and manages every obligation from that point forward.
Request a Quote | Call +61 2 8599 9890
Related Services
Foreign companies often combine corporate secretarial with:
- ASIC Company Compliance – Annual reviews, change notifications, and compliance monitoring
- Resident Director Services – Professional nominee directors meeting ASIC residency requirements
- Company Formation Services – Complete Australian company registration and incorporation
- Ongoing Compliance Package – Bundled compliance management from $2,500/yr
Pricing
From $720/yrOngoing ASIC compliance and corporate registry maintenance for foreign companies registered in Australia.
What's included:
- ✓Annual ASIC review lodgement
- ✓Corporate registry maintenance
- ✓Director/shareholder change filings
- ✓Compliance monitoring & reminders
All prices in AUD. Foreign company services are GST-free. Government fees additional where applicable.