In 2026-27 ASIC charges $636 to register a company, $342 for a proprietary company's annual review, $47 (1 year) or $108 (3 years) for a business name, and late fees of $102 (up to one month late) or $428 (more than one month). AusBusinessRegister.com.au, an ASIC registered agent, lodges these for foreign-owned companies.
Quick answer: ASIC fees are CPI-indexed every 1 July. From 1 July 2026 the Pty Ltd registration fee is $636, the annual review is $342, and late lodgement penalties are $102 (within one month) or $428 (more than one month overdue). Foreign company registration via Form 402 is also $636. Business names cost $47 (1 year) or $108 (3 years). The Commonwealth penalty unit is $364 for offences committed on or after 1 July 2026 (it was $330 from 7 November 2024).
Last reviewed: 8 November 2026 against the official ASIC fee schedule.
Reviewed by: James Carey, CA CTA JP, Director, AusBusinessRegister.com.au.
What is ASIC?
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) is the Australian Government corporate regulator. ASIC administers the Corporations Act 2001 and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001. Its role covers:
– Registering Australian companies (Pty Ltd, public companies) and foreign companies operating in Australia – Maintaining the public companies register and business names register – Licensing and regulating financial services providers – Enforcing corporate, market and financial services laws – Indexing and collecting statutory fees (the fees on this page)
ASIC is not the Australian Business Register (ABR). The ABR (operated by the Australian Taxation Office) issues Australian Business Numbers (ABNs) and is a separate registry. ASIC issues the Australian Company Number (ACN) and the Australian Registered Body Number (ARBN). Most companies need to deal with both ASIC and the ABR.
AusBusinessRegister.com.au is a private professional services firm. We help foreign companies interact with ASIC and the ABR. We are not affiliated with either agency.
How ASIC fees are set
Most ASIC fees are indexed annually on 1 July under the Corporations (Fees) Act 2001 and the Corporations (Review Fees) Act 2003. Indexation tracks the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the March quarter of the previous financial year. The 1 July 2026 indexation lifted most indexed fees by roughly 4%, for example the Pty Ltd registration fee from $611 to $636.
Late lodgement penalties and Commonwealth penalty units are set separately under different legislation and do not always change on the same cycle.
ASIC fees 2026-27 compared with 2025-26
If an invoice, an older guide or an ASIC letter shows a different amount, it may be quoting the 2025-26 fee. These are the main ASIC fees before and after the 1 July 2026 increase.
| ASIC fee | 2025-26 (to 30 June 2026) | 2026-27 (from 1 July 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Register a company with share capital (Pty Ltd) | $611 | $636 |
| Register a foreign company (Form 402) | $611 | $636 |
| Annual review fee, proprietary company | $329 | $342 |
| Annual review fee, public company | $1,528 | $1,591 |
| Prepay 10 years of annual review fees (Pty Ltd) | $2,438 | $2,538 |
| Foreign company annual return (Form 405/406) | $1,521 | $1,583 |
| Business name, 1 year | $45 | $47 |
| Business name, 3 years | $104 | $108 |
| Late fee, up to 1 month | $98 | $102 |
| Late fee, more than 1 month | $411 | $428 |
| Reserve a company name (Form 410) | $62 | $65 |
| Voluntary deregistration (Form 6010) | $50 | $52 |
Source: ASIC fee schedule data file, 2025-26 version as published in May 2026 and current 2026-27 version, checked 8 November 2026. The fee that applies is the one in force on the day you lodge or the day the fee falls due, not the year your company was registered.
Company registration fees
The fee you pay to register a company depends on the company type.
| Company type | Registration fee | ASIC item |
|---|---|---|
| Proprietary company limited by shares (Pty Ltd) | $636 | 1(a)(i) |
| Public company limited by shares | $636 | 1(a)(i) |
| Company without share capital (for example, limited by guarantee) | $524 | 1(a)(ii) |
| Foreign company (Form 402, ARBN issued) | $636 | 2(b) |
The fee is paid once at incorporation. ASIC issues an Australian Company Number (ACN) for Australian-registered companies, or an Australian Registered Body Number (ARBN) for registered foreign companies. The ACN or ARBN is unique, permanent, and printed on every ASIC document about the company.
A new Pty Ltd typically receives its ACN within 1 to 3 business days when the registration is lodged electronically. A foreign company registration via paper Form 402 typically takes up to 28 days from lodgement.
Annual review fees
Every company on the ASIC register pays a fee each year on the anniversary of its registration. The annual review fee is separate from any tax, accounting or compliance fees you pay your professional advisers.
| Company type | Annual review fee |
|---|---|
| Proprietary company limited by shares (Pty Ltd) | $342 |
| Public company | $1,591 |
| Special-purpose proprietary company (SMSF trustee) | $70 |
| Registered foreign company | $1,583 |
| Registered scheme (managed investment) | $1,591 |
Pty Ltd companies can prepay 10 years of annual review fees for $2,538 (a discount on 10 separate annual payments).
ASIC issues an annual statement on or shortly before the review date. The fee falls due 2 months after the review date. If the fee is not paid in time, late lodgement penalties apply.
If you would rather not track review dates and lodgements yourself, our ASIC compliance service does it for foreign-owned companies (From $500/yr).
Late lodgement penalties
ASIC charges a late fee for any document lodged after its statutory deadline. The fee is per document, not per month. For grace periods, fee waivers and what happens if you do not pay, see our full guide to ASIC late lodgement penalties.
| How late | Late fee |
|---|---|
| Up to 1 month overdue | $102 |
| More than 1 month overdue | $428 |
The late fee applies to the late lodgement of an annual review, a Form 484 (changes to company details), a Form 388 (financial reports), and most other document types. ASIC may also commence enforcement action for sustained non-compliance.
Most late fees come from a missed annual review or a change that was never lodged. Our company secretarial services keep the registers, lodge the forms and track each deadline for foreign-owned companies.
Business name registration fees
A business name is a name under which a person or company carries on business that is different from their personal or company name. Business names are registered on a national register operated by ASIC.
| Term | Fee |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $47 |
| 3 years | $108 |
The fee is paid at registration and again at each renewal: renewing a business name in 2026-27 costs the same $47 for one year or $108 for three years. Business name registration does not give trade mark rights or exclusive use of the name. For exclusive rights, register a trade mark with IP Australia (separate fees apply).
Other commonly paid ASIC fees
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Reservation of company name (Form 410) | $65 |
| Change of company name (Form 205) | $524 |
| Voluntary deregistration of a company (Form 6010) | $52 |
| Reinstatement application (Form 581) | varies, typically several hundred dollars plus outstanding fees |
| Director Identification Number (Director ID) | Free (issued by ABRS, not ASIC) |
| Form 484 (changes of director, shareholder, registered office) | Free if lodged on time |
| Form 388 (financial reports) | Free if lodged on time |
The Commonwealth penalty unit
Many statutory penalties under federal law (including ASIC offences) are denominated in penalty units rather than fixed dollar amounts. The unit value is set by section 4AA of the Crimes Act 1914.
| Effective from | Penalty unit value |
|---|---|
| 1 July 2023 | $313 |
| 7 November 2024 | $330 |
| 1 July 2026 | $364 (current) |
A statutory penalty of, for example, “60 penalty units” therefore equals 60 × $364 = $21,840 at the current rate. This is the maximum civil penalty that can be imposed for failing to apply for a Director ID.
The penalty unit is indexed to CPI every three years under section 4AA of the Crimes Act 1914; the most recent indexation took effect on 1 July 2026. The unit value that applies is the one in force when the contravention occurred.
s201A breach: no Australian-resident director
Section 201A of the Corporations Act 2001 requires every Pty Ltd company to have at least one director who is ordinarily resident in Australia. A public company must have at least two such directors.
If a company has no resident director (a so-called “directorless” company), ASIC can:
1. Issue a notice requiring the company to appoint a compliant director within a stated period 2. Begin enforcement proceedings if the position remains vacant 3. Apply for a court order to wind up the company
A breach is a strict liability offence. The Act sets no specific penalty for s201A, so the default applies: 20 penalty units, which is $7,280 at the current $364 unit (s1311F). A company can be fined up to 10 times that, $72,800 (s1311C). In practice ASIC’s first response is usually a notice rather than a fine.
If your company is at risk of becoming directorless, our Resident Director service (from $6,000/year + GST) puts a qualified Australian-resident director on the ASIC register within days.
Foreign company branch fees
A foreign company (one incorporated outside Australia) that wants to operate in Australia under its existing legal personality registers as a foreign company under Part 5B.2 of the Corporations Act 2001. The registration uses paper Form 402 and ASIC issues an ARBN.
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Form 402 lodgement (registration) | $636 |
| Annual return (Form 405 or 406) | $1,583 |
| Late lodgement of annual return | $102 (up to 1 month) / $428 (more than 1 month) |
| Change of registered office address | Free if lodged via Form 489 within statutory timeframes |
A registered foreign company must also appoint a local agent under section 601CG of the Corporations Act 2001. The local agent is the named contact for ASIC and accepts service of legal documents on behalf of the foreign company. See our Local Agent service for an outline of the appointment process.
For a comparison of the foreign branch path versus setting up an Australian Pty Ltd subsidiary, see our Branch Establishment Services page.
Frequently asked questions
When do ASIC fees go up next?
The next CPI indexation takes effect on 1 July 2027. ASIC has not yet published the 2027-28 fees; we will add them when it does. The fees applying for 2026-27 (from 1 July 2026) are: Pty Ltd registration $636, annual review $342, late fees $102/$428, foreign company registration (Form 402) $636, annual return (Form 405/406) $1,583, and business names $47/$108.
Are ASIC fees deductible?
ASIC annual review fees and late lodgement penalties are generally deductible as a business expense. Confirm with your tax adviser, since the treatment depends on the entity type and the nature of the fee.
Can I pay ASIC fees by credit card?
Yes, ASIC accepts BPAY, credit card (with a surcharge), and direct debit. A registered ASIC agent (such as AusBusinessRegister.com.au) typically pays the fee on the company’s behalf and invoices the client.
What happens if I do not pay an ASIC annual review fee?
Three things follow in sequence:
1. A late lodgement penalty is added to the bill ($102 within 1 month, $428 after 1 month) 2. ASIC may suspend or strike off the company under sections 601AA and 601AB if the fee remains unpaid 3. The company’s directors may face director-duty enforcement action
Reinstating a deregistered company is more expensive and slower than paying the original fee. The reinstatement application costs a few hundred dollars plus the original outstanding fees.
What is the difference between an ASIC fee and a professional service fee?
An ASIC fee is paid directly to the Australian Government for a specific filing or service. A professional service fee is what AusBusinessRegister.com.au or another registered agent charges for preparing and lodging the document on your behalf. The two are quoted separately on every quote we issue.
For example, a Pty Ltd company registration through us is from $1,536 in total: the $636 ASIC government fee plus our professional fee of From $900 (+ $636 ASIC fees).
Official sources
– ASIC fees for commonly lodged documents – ASIC fee indexation – ASIC late fees – Schedules of corporations fees – Crimes Act 1914 section 4AA (penalty unit)
Related pages
– Foreign Company ABN & GST Registration – Australian Pty Ltd Company Registration – Branch Establishment (Form 402) – Resident Director Services – Local Agent Services – Director ID for Non-Residents – ASIC Compliance Checklist for Foreign Companies – Corporations Act s201A: Resident Director Rules – ASIC Compliance Service – How to Register a Business in Australia
This page is general information, not legal or tax advice. Fees and penalties change from time to time. Always verify the current fee with ASIC or your professional adviser before lodging.
This content is general information only and is not legal, financial or tax advice. Laws and regulations change often. For advice on your circumstances, speak to a qualified adviser.