Audit relief
Find out the different types of relief available to auditors and how to make an application for relief.
Auditor rotation for listed companies
The Auditor rotation requirements for listed companies are contained in Division 5 Part 2M.4 of the Corporations Act 2001.
Generally, an individual auditor or authorised audit company must not play a significant role (such as lead auditor, review auditor or an RCA individually appointed as the auditor of the audited body) in the audit of a particular listed company or listed registered scheme for more than 5 successive financial years. The auditor must have at least 2 successive financial years break.
The rotation requirements do not apply to the auditor of the compliance plan for a registered managed investment scheme appointed under s601HG of the Corporations Act. The auditor rotation requirements are primarily aimed at maintaining the independence and objectivity of the auditor, by reducing familiarity threat through long associations with key auditors.
Regulatory Guide 187 Auditor rotation provides guidance about how ASIC will exercise the relief power in s342A of the Corporations Act.
How to apply for relief
Read Regulatory Guide 51 Applications for relief (RG 51) before applying for relief.
The application must be in writing and signed by the applicant. Under s342A, an application for relief may be made by:
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an RCA, or
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an audit firm or AAC on whose behalf the RCA acts or would act for the audit(s).
An audited body cannot apply for relief.
More about auditor relief
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Appointment of auditors:
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Removal and resignation of auditors:
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Audit relief for proprietary companies:
ASIC Corporations (Audit Relief) Instrument 2016/784
Relief from corporate finance provisions (including provisions relating to financial reporting, fundraising/equities, mergers and acquisitions, debentures or transactions affecting share capital)
More about your ongoing obligations as a registered company auditor