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InFocus July 2025 - Volume 34 Issue 6

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2025 Fee indexation – New fees now apply

As of Tuesday 1 July 2025, you will notice some ASIC fees have changed. This is based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) increase announced for the March 2025 quarter.

For a list of our current fees, visit Fees for commonly lodged documents. 

For more information about fee indexation, visit our website. 

The ASIC website refresh is now live!

We are excited to announce that the refreshed asic.gov.au website is now live!  

As you know, for millions of people who operate businesses in Australia, the website provides the gateway to important and up-to-date information and tools.  

The new website has delivered:   

  •  Improved look and feel for the website overall 
  •  Enhanced navigation to better support user needs 
  •  Refreshed company registration and business names content that will be easy to use and understand. 

This refresh is a huge step towards our commitment to delivering great experiences for people. This refreshed website ensures a positive impact on users by: 

  •  Better meeting user expectations about how to perform a task or find relevant information. 
  •  Providing logical signposts to ensure users are directed to the relevant portal to perform key tasks. 
  •  Improving search functionality of regulatory documents and forms to allow users to filter by industry, date, and other categories.
  •  Ensuring links to key information are accessible via global navigation features.

This is an important milestone for ASIC’s RegistryConnect program. It is consistent with our drive to be a modern, efficient, digital regulator, and the goal to drive simplicity.   

If you have any feedback on the refreshed website, please send it to feedback@asic.gov.au. 

New payment gateway to increase fraud protection 

Users of our services will now be better protected from fraud, following improved payment security changes being introduced from end of July 2025. 

Customers paying for our services using credit card payment, will transition to a more secure process for the following purchases:    

  • Business name registration and renewals.   
  • Paid search products through the ASIC website via ASIC Connect.    
  • Business name registration and Company incorporations via the Business Registration Service.  

This follows the introduction of the improved payment service in May 2025, for credit card purchases of:    

  • Professional Registers search products.    

Additional fraud protection measures will include in some cases, additional authentication through their credit card provider (if enabled by the card holder).   

Card holders may be prompted to verify their identity through a one-time-passcode (OTP), biometrics or security questions.   

This added layer of security reduces the potential for use of stolen credit cards and reduces the risk of payment fraud.     

Updated support pages with user guides and FAQs will also be provided as part of this change.

All licence transactions are now live in the new Australian Financial Services (AFS) licensing portal  

Following the launch of a new digital portal in May 2025 to allow applicants to apply for an AFS licence, all AFS licence transactions, including ‘vary’, ‘cancel’, and ‘maintain’, are now available in the new licensing portal. 

From 16 June 2025, AFS licensees and applicants can access or submit an AFS licence transaction via the new licensing portal dashboard, which is integrated into the ASIC Regulatory Portal. The portal provides a more streamlined, secure, and user-friendly process, making transactions more intuitive and easier to navigate. 

AFS licensees and applicants will need to note the following:  

  • All AFS licence transactions must now be submitted exclusively in the Regulatory Portal.  
  • Anyone seeking access or submitting an apply, vary, cancel or maintain AFS transaction through the Regulatory Portal will need to register first.  
  • AFS licensees must still use the eLicensing system to lodge applications to register managed investment schemes and PDS in-use notices. Credit licence applications and applications relating to registered company auditors also continue to be made in the eLicensing system.   

The AFS licences project is a part of our RegistryConnect program to uplift ASIC’s business and professional registers. 

ASIC conducts check of Financial Advisers Register for compliance

Relevant providers and their authorised AFS licensees are urged to immediately verify all relevant information on the Financial Advisers Register. 

ASIC has conducted a second spot check of the Financial Advisers Register, focusing on the accuracy of qualifications listed for relevant providers. With new compliance deadlines fast approaching, it’s critical that action is taken to meet their obligations. 

Relevant providers need to: 

  • Review their details on the Financial Advisers Register to ensure qualifications are current and accurate.  
  • Meet the qualifications standard by 1 January 2026. - If you’re a relevant provider you must hold an approved qualification, pass the relevant exams and complete ongoing development.  

Failing to comply with these requirements could lead to further action including fines or criminal penalties.  

Read more in ASIC news. 

Director’s duty to prevent insolvent trading

Company directors have a duty to prevent their company from trading and incurring debts if it’s insolvent.  

A company is considered insolvent if it’s unable to pay its debts when they are due. 

Before incurring any new debt, you must assess whether there are reasonable grounds to suspect that the company is insolvent or will become insolvent as a result of taking on the new debt. 

Indicators that your company might be in financial difficulty include:  

  • Poor cashflow  
  • Ongoing losses  
  • Issues obtaining finance  

As a director, it is crucial to understand and remain aware of your company’s financial position. If you believe your company is in financial trouble, it is important to understand your options and to seek professional advice if required. 

Learn what to do if your company is in financial difficulty. 

Spotlight article from other Government departments or industries

Don’t rush this tax time – wait for pre-fill! 

The best time to lodge your tax return, is from late July when most of your information from employers, banks, health funds and government agencies has been pre-filled into your return. This helps you to avoid mistakes.  

All you need to do is check the pre-filled information is correct, add any income or other information that’s missing, and claim your deductions.  

For more information, visit ato.gov.au/prefill.