Several years ago the business name registry was moved from the state registers (Office of Fair Trading in QLD) to ASIC.
ASIC now operates the registry entirely electronically via their ASIC connect portal. This means you no longer receive a renewal notice in the mail like the good ol’ days – all renewal notices and invoices are sent via email.
Unfortunately, your renewal could be sent to an email address that you no longer use or monitor, especially if you registered your business name many years ago!
We find regularly that clients don’t realise that their business name registration has lapsed. This could be serious – think of the marketing dollars you’ve put into establishing that name in your field. If it lapses, after a certain period of time, someone else could register that name! It’s one of those all too easy to forget registrations because generally they only come once every 3 years. As your accountant we are also unable to monitor this as we do not have access to your ASIC connect portal – this is a totally separate from your company ASIC registrations.
If you’re concerned your registration has lapsed or you don’t recall when you last got a renewal notice:
- Search your business name in the registry – this will provide general details including the registration status (registered, cancelled etc) and the renewal date so you can mark it in your calendar to remind you closer to the date
- If you haven’t received your renewal notice request a new notice
- Login to ASIC connect
- Contact us for help to check your registration