Request correction of business name details
If a person's date or place of birth is incorrect on the business names register or there is a typographical error in any of the details recorded, you can request a correction.
You cannot use this transaction to change details that were correct in the past, but are no longer correct (e.g. after you have moved house or office, changed your email or changed your name). These details should be maintained through 'Person details' or 'Business details'.
Go to the 'Lodgements & notifications' tab in ASIC Connect; select 'Other notifications' and then 'Request to correct registry details'.
Tell us:
- the details as they appear on the register
- which business name record(s) they relate to, and
- the correction required.
We may then ask you to provide documents to support this request, e.g. for a request to correct birth details, a copy of your birth certificate or extract.
Changing your business name
You cannot use this transaction to change your business name. If you have registered the incorrect name or want to change a registered business name, you must cancel your current business name and/or register a new name.
Request suppression of business name register details
We have the power to suppress details from the public register if you lodge a request with us. If we approve your request, we may suppress some or all of the details you have requested to be suppressed.
Before we will make a decision to suppress a detail on the public register, we must be satisfied that it is not appropriate to disclose the detail. We will also consider if these details are already in the public domain, for instance on the Australian Electoral Roll or Australian Business Register.
We will not suppress:
- the business name or details relating to the registration dates and status of the registration of the business name, or
- the address for the service of documents, therefore, the address for service should not be your residential address.
Submit your request to suppress registry details from the 'Lodgements and notifications' tab in ASIC Connect; select 'Other notifications', then 'Request to suppress registry details'.
Tell us:
- the details you want suppressed, and
- why you want them suppressed, such as any risk to personal safety or endangerment of life to an individual, their family or their employees.
We may contact you to request supporting information such as a copy of:
- a letter from the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) showing that the applicant has silent elector status;
- a court order;
- a police report, or
- other evidence to support this request.
Notify ASIC of disqualification
We must be notified where a business name holder, or a person involved in the management of a business name holder, is disqualified from holding a business name.
A business name holder, or a person involved in the management of a business name holder, is disqualified from holding a business name if they:
- are disqualified from managing a corporation under section 206B(1) of the Corporations Act 2001, or
- have, within the last 5 years, been:
- convicted of any of criminal offences referred to in 32(1)(c) or (d) of the Business Names Registration Act 2011, or
- released from prison after serving a term of imprisonment for any of criminal offences referred to in 32(1)(c) or (d) of the Business Names Registration Act 2011.
To notify us that you are disqualified, go to the ‘Lodgements & notifications’ tab in ASIC Connect; select ‘Other Notifications’ and then ‘Notification of disqualification’.
For business names registered before 28 May 2012
We must be notified within 28 days of the business name being added to the business names register on 28 May 2012.
You can submit this notification without providing any additional information. You can continue to carry on business under a business name, unless the Minister has made a determination in writing that your registration of the business name should be cancelled.
For business names registered after 28 May 2012
We must be notified immediately. It is an offence under the Business Names Registration Act 2011 to carry on business under a business name while disqualified; unless you have received a determination in writing from the Minister that you may carry on business under a business name while disqualified. We may cancel your business name(s) unless you provide us with a copy of the Minister’s determination.
When you notify us of your disqualification through ASIC Connect, you may be contacted and asked to provide additional information such as the Minister's determination.
Requesting a business name application be treated as refused
If we have not approved your application for registration of a business name 28 days after you submitted it (or a longer period if we have requested additional information from you) you may request the business name application to be treated as refused.
Once this notice is lodged, we will be taken to have refused the application. If a registration fee has been paid, we will refund it.
This gives you the opportunity to request a review of our decision to refuse the application, within 28 days. At any stage you can apply for another business name.
Submit the request from the ‘Lodgements & notifications’ tab in ASIC Connect. Select ‘Other notifications’ and then ‘Request for a business name application to be treated as refused’.
You must provide the transaction reference number for the application you wish to treat as refused. You do not need to provide any additional information.
See how to request a review of an ASIC decision
Tell ASIC
You can provide addition information to us through 'Tell ASIC'. Go to the ‘Lodgements & notifications’ tab in ASIC Connect; select ‘Other notifications’ and then ‘Tell ASIC' .
You can provide up to 250 characters. If you need to provide additional information, such as an attachment, we will contact you to explain how.
Notifying ASIC that you have consent to register a business name
There may be a legal reason that you need to trade under a business name that is already registered to another holder (e.g. you have bought a business and the agreement included consent to use the existing business name). You must have consent from the current holder of a business name to carry on business under that name.
You must:
- notify us of that consent
- submit an application to register the business name to us within 3 months of carrying on business under this name.
You have two options to notify us that you have consent to carry on business under the registered business name:
1. If you have received a 'consent to transfer number' from the current business name holder, you can apply to register the business name. This also serves to notify us that you have consent from the current holder to trade under this name. Your application will be processed immediately and if successful, registration of your name will come into effect as soon as the registration to the existing holder is cancelled (usually 28 days after they request the cancellation).
2. If you have been given consent but not yet received the consent to transfer number from the current business name holder, you can lodge a 'notification that you have consent to register a business name’ through ASIC Connect.
You must still obtain the consent to transfer number and submit an application to register the business name to us within 3 months of trading under this name.
If you choose to lodge a notification prior to receiving the consent to transfer number you must provide:
- the business name that you have consent to register; and
- the name of the entity (business name holder) that you intend to register this business name to once you have received the consent to transfer number.
Submit the additional information from the ‘Lodgements & notifications’ tab in ASIC Connect, select ‘Other notifications’ and then ‘Notification that you have consent to register a business name’.