Foreign companies registered in Australia must meet ongoing compliance obligations including ASIC annual reviews ($329 fee), company tax returns (due by 28 February or later with a tax agent), quarterly BAS lodgement for GST, and maintaining financial records for 5 years. Non-compliance can result in ASIC late fees of $98–$411 per document and ATO shortfall penalties up to 75%. Bundled compliance packages are available across three tiers — request a quote.
Ongoing Compliance Services for Foreign Companies in Australia
Registering your company in Australia is just the beginning. From the day your entity is active, a series of ongoing compliance obligations kick in – ASIC annual reviews, tax returns, BAS lodgements, record-keeping requirements, and more. Missing a single deadline can trigger late fees, ATO penalties, or even deregistration.
Australian Business Register provides bundled compliance packages that bring all your ongoing obligations under one roof – with a single point of contact, proactive deadline management, and monthly reporting so you always know where you stand.
What Are the Ongoing Compliance Requirements?
Every foreign company operating in Australia – whether through a Pty Ltd subsidiary or a registered branch – must meet several recurring obligations:
ASIC Obligations
- Annual review: ASIC issues an annual statement each year on your company's review date. You must pay the $329 annual review fee and confirm your company details are up to date.
- Change notifications: Any changes to directors, shareholders, registered office, or principal place of business must be lodged with ASIC within 28 days using the relevant forms (Form 484, 492, etc.).
- Financial reporting: Large proprietary companies (meeting 2 of 3 thresholds: $50M revenue, $25M assets, 100 employees) must prepare and lodge audited financial statements.
Tax Obligations
- Company income tax return: Due by 28 February each year (or later with a registered tax agent – typically 15 May or 15 June depending on your balance date and lodgement history).
- Quarterly BAS: If registered for GST, you must lodge a Business Activity Statement every quarter covering GST, PAYG withholding, and PAYG instalments. Due 28 days after the quarter ends.
- Transfer pricing documentation: Cross-border transactions with related parties must be documented at arm's length under Subdivision 815 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997.
Record-Keeping Obligations
Under the Corporations Act 2001, companies must maintain financial records that:
- Correctly record and explain the company's transactions and financial position
- Enable true and fair financial statements to be prepared and audited
- Are kept for at least 5 years after the transactions they relate to
Employment Obligations (If Applicable)
- Superannuation: Currently 12% of ordinary time earnings, paid quarterly
- Single Touch Payroll (STP): Real-time payroll reporting to the ATO each pay cycle
- Payroll tax: State-based tax on wages above the threshold (varies by state – e.g., NSW $1.2M threshold at 5.45%)
- Fair Work compliance: Modern Award obligations, minimum wage, leave entitlements
Our Compliance Packages
We offer three tiers designed for different stages of your Australian operations:
Essentials
Best for: Companies with minimal Australian activity (e.g., a registered branch with no employees and low transaction volume).
Includes:
- ASIC annual review management and fee payment
- Registered office address (Sydney CBD)
- Annual company income tax return preparation and lodgement
- Compliance calendar with proactive deadline reminders
- Dedicated compliance manager
- Quarterly compliance status report
Standard
Best for: Active subsidiaries or branches with regular transactions, GST obligations, and a need for ongoing financial management.
Includes everything in Essentials, plus:
- Quarterly BAS preparation and lodgement by registered BAS agents
- Monthly bookkeeping (Xero or MYOB cloud-based)
- Bank reconciliation and GST tracking
- Monthly management accounts (P&L, balance sheet, cash flow)
- ASIC change lodgements (directors, shareholders, address changes)
- ATO correspondence management
Complete
Best for: Companies with Australian employees, complex structures, or significant revenue requiring full-service financial management.
Includes everything in Standard, plus:
- Professional resident director (Corporations Act s201A compliance)
- Payroll processing and STP reporting
- Superannuation management
- Monthly board-ready management reports with KPI dashboards
- Budget vs actual analysis
- Transfer pricing documentation support
- Ad-hoc advisory on Australian regulatory changes
Why Bundle Your Compliance?
Cost Savings
Purchasing services individually typically costs 20 – 30% more than a bundled package. Our bundled packages combine services at a lower cost than purchasing each service individually.
Single Point of Contact
Instead of coordinating between separate accountants, bookkeepers, registered agents, and compliance officers, you deal with one dedicated compliance manager who knows your business.
Proactive Deadline Management
We track every deadline across ASIC, ATO, state revenue offices, and Fair Work – and notify you well in advance. No more scrambling to meet deadlines you didn't know about.
Integrated Reporting
When your bookkeeping, tax, and compliance are managed together, your reports are consistent and your tax return flows directly from your monthly accounts – no reconciliation surprises at year end.
What Happens If You Miss a Deadline?
The penalties for non-compliance in Australia can be significant:
| Obligation | Consequence of Non-Compliance |
|---|---|
| ASIC annual review | Late fee: $98 (â¤1 month) or $411 (>1 month) per document |
| Company tax return | Failure to lodge penalty: $330 per 28-day period (up to 5 periods = $1,565) |
| BAS lodgement | Failure to lodge penalty: $330 per 28-day period |
| Superannuation | Super guarantee charge: shortfall amount + interest (10%) + $20/employee/quarter admin fee |
| ATO shortfall | Shortfall penalties: 25% (lack of reasonable care) to 75% (intentional disregard) |
| Record keeping | Up to $13,200 per offence for individuals; body corporate penalties are 5Ã higher |
These penalties are per instance and can compound quickly for companies that fall behind on multiple obligations simultaneously.
How It Works
Step 1: Compliance Assessment
We review your current Australian entity structure, existing obligations, and any outstanding lodgements. If there are gaps, we prepare a remediation plan to bring you up to date.
Step 2: Onboarding
We set up your cloud accounting (Xero or MYOB), establish access to your ASIC portal, register as your tax and BAS agent with the ATO, and create your personalised compliance calendar.
Step 3: Ongoing Management
From day one, we handle all recurring obligations – lodgements, payments, reporting, and correspondence. You receive monthly reports and can access your accounts online 24/7.
Step 4: Annual Review
Each year we conduct a comprehensive review of your compliance position, identify optimisation opportunities (e.g., restructuring, DTA benefits, R&D incentives), and adjust your package as your operations evolve.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the ongoing compliance requirements for a foreign company in Australia?
Foreign companies must lodge an ASIC annual review ($329), file company tax returns, lodge quarterly BAS (if registered for GST), maintain financial records for 5 years, and keep their ASIC details current. Companies with employees also manage payroll tax, superannuation (12%), and STP reporting.
How much does annual compliance cost?
We offer three package tiers – Essentials (ASIC review, registered office, tax return), Standard (adds BAS and bookkeeping), and Complete (adds resident director, payroll, and management reports). Government fees are additional. Request a quote for pricing tailored to your entity.
What happens if my company misses an ASIC deadline?
ASIC charges $98 per document if lodged within one month of the due date, and $411 if lodged more than one month late. Persistent non-compliance can lead to deregistration and director penalties.
Do I need a resident director for ongoing compliance?
Pty Ltd companies must have at least one director ordinarily resident in Australia under Section 201A of the Corporations Act. Registered branches need a local agent instead. Our Complete package includes a professional resident director.
What is included in a compliance bundle vs individual services?
Bundles combine multiple services at a discounted rate with a single point of contact, proactive deadline management, and integrated reporting. Individual services are available but typically cost 20 – 30% more in total.
How often must a foreign company lodge a BAS?
Most foreign companies lodge quarterly (due 28 days after quarter end). Companies with GST turnover over $20M lodge monthly. A registered BAS agent provides an additional 4-week extension.
Can compliance be managed remotely from overseas?
Yes. We provide cloud-based accounting access, digital document signing, monthly reports, and a compliance manager available during timezone overlap hours. All lodgements are handled in Australia.
What reports will I receive?
Depending on your package: monthly management accounts, quarterly BAS summaries, annual tax return copies, ASIC review confirmations, and a compliance calendar. The Complete package adds board-ready reports and KPI dashboards.
Get Started
Whether you're just setting up in Australia or looking to consolidate your existing compliance with a single provider, we can help.
Request a Quote or call us on +61 2 8599 9890 to discuss which package suits your business.