Ultimate guide for ASIC fees 2025

Congratulations on registering your business. Now, to stay compliant, each year, you’ll need to pay ASIC fees and submit an annual statement.

But what does that actually involve? We’ll break down everything you need to know about ASIC fees, including how they’re set, the types of fees you might come across, and what happens if you miss a payment.

What are ASIC fees? 

ASIC is the Australian Securities and Investments Commission. This is an independent government body that enforces and regulates companies and financial services laws to protect Australian consumers, investors and creditors under the ASIC Act 2001.

In this context, ASIC fees are the charges you pay for ASIC’s services, such as starting a company, keeping it registered, lodging documents, and more. If you’re running a company, these fees are part of your regular business expenses.

There are different types of ASIC fees, depending on the service you need. The 3 most common are: 

1. Company registration fees → A one-off fee when you register a new proprietary or public company.
2. Annual review fees → Charged each year to keep your company registered. This applies to proprietary companies, public companies, and special purpose entities.
3. Other lodgement fees → Includes fees for reserving a company name, lodging specific documents, or updating company details.

ASIC fee indexation and CPI adjustments

ASIC adjusts its fees annually based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI)—a measure of inflation tracked by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). The CPI reflects changes in the cost of living by monitoring the prices of a fixed basket of goods and services over time.

Here’s how the ASIC fee indexation works:

• each March, the ABS reviews CPI changes;
• ASIC then applies this percentage increase to most of its fees from 1 July each year; and
• if the CPI goes up by 3%, most ASIC fees will also rise by 3%.

This adjustment ensures ASIC’s fees keep pace with inflation, but it also means you can expect a small bump in fees each year.

ASIC company fees 2025-2026

ASIC fees are updated on 1 July each year. The following are some of the common fees for 2025–2026.

Business name fees 2025-2026

The company renewal fee for the name varies based on how long you want to register the name.

Late fees and penalties

If you miss a deadline or forget a lodgement, you’ll have to pay an extra fee. If the delay is serious enough, penalties may apply too.

ASIC late lodgement fees:

Penalties:

From 7 November 2024, the penalty unit is $330. Penalties can stack up fast, especially if the breach is serious. 

Fines are imposed by the courts in criminal and civil proceedings and are calculated by multiplying the value of one penalty unit by the number of units that the offence or contravention carries.

How to avoid ASIC fees and penalties

📅 Know your due dates – these are usually aligned with your company’s registration anniversary;

📞 Keep your contact information updated – you have 28 days to notify ASIC of any change; 

💼 Engage a trusted advisor – a legal expert (like H+A Legal) can help you stay compliant;

🖥 Use ASIC’s online portal – easily access notices, view invoices and lodge forms securely; and

⚠️ Don’t delay – late lodgements attract penalties that add up quickly.

Waiver requests for late fee penalties 

There are certain circumstances where companies can formally request a waiver from ASIC to cancel or avoid a fee, usually a late fee. However, this only applies to situations where the delay was genuinely out of your control, such as a natural disaster, serious illness or an error on ASIC’s part.

To apply, log in to your ASIC account and submit your request with supporting evidence. ASIC will review your application within 28 days.

ASIC annual statement requirement

Once your company is registered, each year you’ll have to provide an annual statement. In here, you will need to detail: 

1. Company’s current details:

• company name and Australian Company Number (ACN);
• names and addresses of company directors and owners (including their Director Identification Number);
• annual review date, typically the anniversary of your company’s registration;
• registered office address and principal place of business;
• corporate key – a unique identifier for secure access to ASIC’s online services; and
• directors must pass a solvency resolution within two months of the review date, confirming the company can pay its debts as they fall due.

2.  Invoice for your annual review fee: 

Pay ASIC fees by the due date (within two months) to avoid late fees. Payment options include credit card and BPAY. This invoice needs to be attached along with the statement. 

ASIC sends the statement around your company’s anniversary date, and it goes to your:

• registered agent;
• ASIC online account;
• nominated mailing address; and
• registered office. 

How to change or update your company details 

You (or your accountant)  have got 28 days from the date of change to update ASIC. Here’s how to do it:

1. register for online access using your corporate key (found on your last annual statement);
2. log into the ASIC portal;
3. select ‘Start new form’ > ‘Change to company details (Form 484)’; and
4. submit the form online.

If you are a Responsible Entity for a registered scheme, you must notify ASIC of any changes to the scheme by a Change to scheme details (Form 491).

Other common questions about ASIC fees 

What happens if you don’t pay ASIC fees?

If ASIC fees are not paid on time, the company can face serious consequences from financial penalties (late fee charges) to potential deregistration of your company.

Can I pay ASIC fees in advance?

Yes, some fees, such as annual review fees, can be paid in advance up to 10 years for some company types, often at a discounted rate. 

Get assistance with ASIC fees from the H+A Legal team

Understanding ASIC fees is essential for every company to stay compliant, avoid penalties, and confidently navigate regulatory requirements.

Partner with our trusted legal advisors at H+A Legal to manage your ASIC compliance with ease. Our team can assist with:

• company registrations and business structuring; 
• commercial transactions and disputes; and 
• ongoing corporate governance support (in consultation with your accountant). 

Let us help you simplify the process. Contact us today for personalised advice and support that keeps your business compliant and protected.