Reporting obligations for public companies

The financial reporting obligations of a public company depend on whether it is a company that is:

• not a disclosing entity or a company limited by guarantee
• not a disclosing entity
• limited by guarantee.

Companies that are not disclosing entities or companies limited by guarantee

You must prepare annual financial reports in accordance with Chapter 2M of the Corporations Act 2001 (Corporations Act).

These financial reports must be:

• audited
• lodged with ASIC within four months of financial year end
• sent to members by the earlier of four months after year end or 21 days before the next AGM.

Companies that are not disclosing entities

A public company that is not a disclosing entity is not required to comply with Part 2M.3 of the Corporations Act if all conditions of ASIC Corporations (Wholly-owned Companies) Instrument 2016/785 are met, and it is also not:

• a borrowing corporation
• the guarantor of such a borrower, or
• a financial services licensee

• is a wholly-owned entity
• undertook a deed of cross guarantee with every other company in the closed group.

These companies do not have to prepare audited financial statements for lodgement with ASIC or for sending to members.

Companies limited by guarantee

• More about financial reports
• More information for auditors

What's new

• 29 August 2024 - MEDIA RELEASE 24-190MR CLSA pays penalty for providing incorrect regulatory data
  CLSA Australia Pty Limited has paid a penalty of $144,300 to comply with an infringement notice given by the Markets Disciplinary Panel (MDP) for .
• 31 July 2024 - MEDIA RELEASE 24-172MR ASIC suspends AFS licence of Id Funds Management Limited
  ASIC has suspended the Australian financial services (AFS) licence of Id Funds Management Limited (Id Funds) until 28 February 2025. The licence was .
• 30 July 2024 - MEDIA RELEASE 24-167MR Melbourne accountant Stephen Allen convicted for falsifying signatures on audit documents
  Stephen Robert Allen, the sole director of K.H.N Holdings Pty Ltd trading as Alkemade & Associates, was sentenced to serve a Community Correction .