Missing an ASIC deadline triggers an automatic late fee. There is no warning period and very little room for ASIC to waive it once it applies. Here is exactly what triggers a late fee, how much it costs, and how to avoid the situation in the first place.
The two most common deadlines that trigger late fees
Lodging a change of company details, including address changes
Any change to your company's details, including your registered office or principal place of business, must be lodged with ASIC within 28 days of the change taking effect, using Form 484 [ASIC, asic.gov.au].
The 28 days runs from the date the change actually happened, not from when you got around to lodging it.
Paying your annual review fee
Each year, on the anniversary of your company's registration, ASIC issues an annual review notice along with the annual review fee, currently $329 for proprietary companies.
This needs to be paid by the due date on the notice.
How much the late fee actually is
For a late Form 484 lodgement, the fee is $98 if you are up to one month late, and $411 if you are more than one month late [ASIC, asic.gov.au].
These figures apply consistently across late lodgements of company detail changes.
For a late annual review fee payment, a similar late penalty structure applies, increasing the longer the payment remains outstanding.
Why this catches people out more than expected
The 28-day clock for address changes starts from the date of the actual change, not the date you remember to deal with it.
If you move offices on the 1st of the month and do not lodge Form 484 until the 35th day after, you are already in late fee territory, even if you only forgot for a week past the deadline.
The annual review fee is the other common trap, particularly if your registered office has changed and the notice is sent to an old address.
If you never see the notice, you still owe the fee and the late penalty once the due date passes.
Can ASIC waive a late fee?
ASIC has limited discretion to waive late fees and generally only exercises it in circumstances genuinely outside your control, such as a natural disaster [ASIC, asic.gov.au].
Simply forgetting, being busy, or not receiving a notice because your address details were outdated is not typically grounds for a waiver.
How to avoid this entirely
Keep your registered office and principal place of business current with ASIC at all times, so notices actually reach you.
Set a calendar reminder for your annual review date each year, since it stays fixed to your registration anniversary.
If your address changes for any reason, moving house, ending a lease, or switching providers, lodge Form 484 immediately rather than waiting.
A stable, reliably monitored registered office removes a large part of the risk here, since notices and reminders will actually reach you rather than going to an address you have since left.
Space Penguin offers virtual addresses in Sydney and Melbourne from $20 per month plus GST, with mail scanning and notification included, so you are notified as soon as ASIC correspondence arrives. Visit spacepenguin.io/virtual-address for current details.
FAQs
How much is an ASIC late fee?
$98 if you are up to one month late lodging a change of company details, and $411 if you are more than one month late [ASIC, asic.gov.au].
What happens if I do not pay the late fee?
The amount remains owing and accrues alongside your other ASIC obligations. Unresolved unpaid fees can eventually contribute to ASIC moving to deregister the company.
Does ASIC send a reminder before charging a late fee?
ASIC sends the original notice (such as the annual review notice) ahead of the due date, but does not send a separate warning specifically before the late fee applies. The fee applies automatically once the deadline passes.
Can I get a late fee waived if I never received the notice because my address was outdated?
Generally no. Keeping your details current with ASIC is your responsibility, and an outdated address you failed to update is not typically treated as a circumstance outside your control.
Is the late fee the same for every type of ASIC lodgement?
No. Different lodgement types can carry different fee structures. The $98/$411 figures apply specifically to late lodgement of company detail changes such as Form 484.