Australian business owners are being warned to watch out for official-looking letters, emails and notices about company annual reviews, ASIC renewals and business name renewals.
These notices may look like they have come from ASIC, or may give the impression that urgent payment is required to keep your company or business name registered.
However, some of these notices are sent by third-party providers, not ASIC. They may look formal and official, but they are not connected with ASIC and they are not connected with our office.
In many cases, the fees charged by these third parties can be significantly higher than the standard ASIC fee.
Before paying anything, please take a moment to check whether the notice is genuine.
What is happening?
Some company owners and business name holders are receiving unsolicited letters in the mail, or emails, asking them to pay for things such as:
- Company annual review processing
- Business name renewal
- ASIC registry updates
- Company compliance checks
- Business registration services
These notices may include formal wording, reference numbers, QR codes, payment links, due dates or phrases that make the document look like a government notice.
The important thing to know is this:
These notices are not from ASIC. They are not connected with ASIC. They are not from our office.
Important note for our clients
For most of our clients, we act as your ASIC agent and manage your ASIC renewals on your behalf.
This means that if your company annual review or ASIC renewal is due, you will usually receive an annual email notification from our admin team with the relevant information and payment instructions.
You should not need to respond to unsolicited letters in the mail or unexpected emails from third-party providers about your ASIC renewal.
If you receive anything ASIC-related and you are unsure whether it is legitimate, please send it to us before making payment.
Why business owners are getting caught
Small business owners are busy. When something arrives in the mail that looks official and says a registration is due, it is easy to assume it is legitimate and pay it quickly.
That is exactly why these notices are concerning.
They often rely on business owners:
- Feeling rushed
- Not checking the sender carefully
- Assuming the amount is an official ASIC fee
- Scanning a QR code or paying from the notice
- Thinking the notice has come from ASIC, their accountant or another trusted provider
Before paying anything, it is worth pausing and checking.
What should you do if you receive one?
If you receive a letter, email or notice about your company annual review, ASIC renewal or business name renewal and you are not sure whether it is legitimate, please follow these steps.
1. Do not pay it straight away
Do not scan the QR code, click the payment link, or make payment just because the notice looks official.
Take a moment to check who sent it and whether the payment is actually required.
2. Check who sent it
Look carefully at the sender’s name, email address, website and payment details.
ASIC notices should come from ASIC or from your appointed ASIC agent. For most of our clients, that means your annual ASIC renewal communication will usually come from our admin team.
If the letter or email has come from an unfamiliar third-party provider, treat it with caution.
3. Compare the amount
The amount requested may be much higher than the actual ASIC fee.
If the fee seems unusually high, or if the notice is asking you to pay for a service you did not request, that is a warning sign.
4. Contact us before paying
If we look after your company or business structure, please contact us before making payment.
We can help you confirm whether the notice is genuine and whether anything actually needs to be paid.
5. Use ASIC’s official website
For ASIC-related matters, go directly to ASIC’s official website rather than using links, QR codes or payment instructions from an unsolicited letter or email.
Do not rely on payment details in a suspicious notice.
What if you have already paid?
If you think you may have paid a suspicious or misleading notice, act quickly.
You should:
- Contact your bank or credit card provider immediately and ask whether the payment can be stopped or disputed.
- Keep a copy of the letter, email, envelope, receipt and any payment confirmation.
- Do not provide any further information to the sender.
- Contact us so we can help you check whether your ASIC records or business name details have been affected.
- Report the matter to Scamwatch.
If you have provided sensitive information, clicked a suspicious link, or believe your computer or email may have been compromised, you should also take steps to secure your accounts and devices.
How to report it
You can report suspicious or scam activity through the following channels.
Report it to Scamwatch
Scamwatch collects reports about scams affecting Australians.
You can report a scam through the Scamwatch Website.
Report misleading conduct to ASIC
If you believe a business or person is misleading company owners or business name holders, you can also report the conduct to ASIC.
To report a scam letter or email impersonating ASIC, forward the suspicious email to ReportASICEmailFraud@asic.gov.au
Before making a report, keep copies of relevant documents, including letters, emails, envelopes, invoices, payment details and receipts.
Contact your bank
If you have paid money, contact your bank immediately.
Ask whether the transaction can be stopped, reversed or disputed.
Our advice
Do not assume that every official-looking ASIC renewal notice is genuine.
Before paying any company annual review, ASIC renewal or business name renewal fee, please check with us first.
For most of our clients, we manage ASIC renewals as your ASIC agent, and your renewal information will usually be sent by annual email notification from our admin team.
If something looks unusual, unexpected or overly urgent, pause before paying.