If you’re an entrepreneur who wants to start a business in Australia, then there are lots of things that you need to take into consideration. Not only do you have to think about where in the country you’d like to incorporate, but you need to be sure that there’s a demand for your products or services, and that you have the necessary capital required to make a splash. Learn more about legal compliance requirements in Australia.
Something else that you need to take into account is company structure and ensuring that you can comply with the legal compliance requirements in Australia which are set out by the government and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). In this article, we summarize how you can stay above board and compliant.
A local specialist such as Biz Latin Hub is invaluable in building bridges between different business cultures. Our array of back office services can make sure you stay abreast of the legal compliance requirements in Australia and make sure you stay on the right side of the law.
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Legal compliance requirements in Australia
One of the most obvious requirements for forming a legal entity in Australia is having a registered office within the country. As a company owner, you’ll be responsible for informing the ASIC of its location, and letting them know should you move to new premises.
This will serve as your official office and all communications will be sent to this address – whilst this address does not necessarily have to be where your main business operates, it must be a business address, rather than a home address, and it must be in mainland Australia.
Inform ASIC of your main business location
As discussed, your registered company address does not necessarily have to be your main office, so if you operate from a location that’s different from the address you provided to the ASIC, you must let them know. The same goes for any future addresses – should you open a chain, restaurants or clothing stores, for example, every address should be registered.
Keep all financial records
Not only should you keep hold of your financial records for accounting and tax purposes, but you should ensure that these records are up-to-date and easy to access. Every receipt, invoice and transaction record should be kept for up to six years so that you can provide the ASIC with information and an explanation of your day to day business operations.
Disclose your directors
Whether you’re forming a company, a trust or a partnership in Australia, you should make sure that ASIC has a copy of every director’s name, date of birth and residential address. If you have a company secretary, they must also be registered with the ASIC. It’s important to mention that every director must be registered using their home address – you cannot supply a post office box address or a principal place of business address for any of your directors.
Pay fees
When you register a company, make changes to your documents or submit your annual statements later than requested, then ASIC may impose fees or late fees. To ensure that your business is fully compliant and provides necessary information on time, refer to the ASIC website and add important dates – like tax returns – to your calendar for reference.
Keep information up to date
As a business owner in Australia, it is your responsibility to ensure that all information that the ASIC holds on your business is up to date. Whenever you make a change, whether it’s adding a new director to your company, changing the name of your business, moving to new premises or updating your email address, you must notify the ASIC as soon as you can.
Do what’s right
This point is something of a grey area, but it’s important to mention nonetheless. If you want to ensure your business remains fully compliant, you should act in the best interests of the company and its people, rather than your own personal interests.
For example, rather than taking a significant bonus that may have an impact on your company’s long-term viability, you should take a reasonable bonus or no bonus at all. Do what’s right for the good of your company, its staff, its shareholders and its creditors – if you don’t, you could be penalized.
Check your statements
Every year, you’ll receive an annual statement from the ASIC. It is your legal responsibility to review the statement and ensure that the details on the register are accurate and that all of your directors complete a solvency report, which leads us on to our next point.
Solvency
You must make sure that your company is solvent. If you cannot pay debts and when they are required, you have low levels of profits or poor cash flow, you have problems with paying creditors on time, or suppliers have taken legal action against your business, you could be insolvent.
You must notify the ASIC as soon as this happens, and take every possible step to ensure your business remains afloat. If your company goes into insolvency and the ASIC believe that your negligence was to blame, you may be required to speak before a judge.
Handle and use information correctly
Finally, you must take responsibility when handling data you obtain through a company. If you use information about staff, clients, or suppliers to gain an advantage over a person or use the information to harm a company, you may be committing an offense. Use information – and handle and encrypt it – carefully as an entrepreneur, and always do the right thing.
FAQs for legal compliance in Australia
Based on our extensive experience these are the common questions and doubts of our clients when looking to operate within the country
The following are the most common statutory appointments for Australian legal entities:
An appointed local director who will be personally liable, both legally and financially for the good operation and standing of the company. More than one local director can be appointed, however at least one of them should be a local national or a foreigner with the right to live/work in the country. In case it is a public company, then a minimum of three directors must be appointed, at least two of whom must reside in the country.
Yes, a registered office address or local fiscal address is required for all entities in Australia for the receipt of legal correspondence and governmental visits.
Some of the key legal compliance requirements for a business in Australia include the following:
Inform ASIC of a principal place of business: Your registered company address does not necessarily have to be your main office, so if you operate from a location that’s different from the address you provided to the ASIC, you must let them know. The same goes for any future addresses – should you open a chain, restaurants or clothing stores, for example, every address should be registered.
Keep hold of all financial records: Ensure that these records are up-to-date and easy to access.
Disclose your directors: You should make sure that ASIC has a copy of every director’s name, date of birth and residential address.
Pay fees: When you register a company, make changes to your documents or submit your annual statements later than requested, then ASIC may impose fees or late fees. To ensure that your business is fully compliant and provides necessary information on time, refer to the ASIC website and add important dates – like tax returns – to your calendar for reference.
Keep information up to date: Whenever you make a change, whether it’s adding a new director to your company or updating your email address, you must notify the ASIC as soon as you can.
Some taxes that could apply to a business in Australia include the following:
Income tax for business
Capital gains tax (CGT)
Pay as you go (PAYG) withholding
Pay as you go (PAYG) installments
Good and services tax (GST)
Payroll tax
Every year, you’ll receive an annual statement from the ASIC. It is your legal responsibility to review the statement and ensure that the details on the register are accurate and that all of your directors complete a solvency report.
Biz Latin Hub can help you with legal compliance requirements in Australia
When forming a legal entity in Australia, you should take care to follow the necessary rules and regulations and remain fully compliant – if you do not, then you may be subject to fines or criminal proceedings. Consider working with a solicitor or lawyer to handle paperwork and ensure that everything you do as an entrepreneur and as a company is compliant.
If you’re incorporating a business in Australia and need the help of an experienced team to assist in commercial representation, formation, accounting, legal services or due diligence, get in touch with the experts at Biz Latin Hub Australia today. Reach out to our team now for personalized support.
