Quick answer
- A business name renewal letter from a private company (say $99 for 1 year or $189 for 3 years) is not from ASIC. It's an offer for a paid service, not a bill, and you don't have to use it. (ASIC)
- Renewing directly with ASIC costs $47 for 1 year or $108 for 3 years (from 1 July 2026). No GST. (ASIC fee schedule)
- Your ABN doesn't expire, so there's nothing to renew each year. (ABR)
- Your domain name is a separate thing, renewed with the company you registered it with. (Scamwatch)
A business name renewal letter landed in our own letterbox recently. It looked official. It had our business name in bold, an expiry date, a reference number, BPAY and card logos, and two prices: $99 for 1 year or $189 for 3 years. It was from Registry Australia Pty Ltd. If you run a small business or you're a tradie with a registered business name, there's a good chance you've had one like it.
So we did the homework. Here's what these letters are, what ASIC actually charges, and what to do next.
Why did I get a business name renewal letter?
Business name details are public. Anyone can search ASIC's business names register for free and see the holder, the ABN, the date the name was registered and its next renewal date. (ASIC)
ASIC says third-party providers use this public information to send unsolicited letters and emails about business name renewals. (ASIC) That's why a business name renewal letter knows your name, address and expiry date.
Is the Registry Australia letter a scam?
It's a fair question, and it's exactly what most people type into Google. The honest answer: it's a paid renewal service from a private company, not ASIC.
ASIC says third-party providers can offer to renew business names. But they must not pretend to be ASIC. They must be clear they're independent. They must show their service fee apart from ASIC's fee. And they must make clear the offer is not an invoice. (ASIC)
The letter we got does say it's "independent of ASIC", and the small print reads: "This is not a renewal notice issued by ASIC... This is not a bill. You are not required to pay any money."
The catch? It's easy to mistake for a bill when you're flicking through the mail between jobs. And it costs more than going direct. ASIC lists things to watch for in these letters: looking like an invoice, a renewal that isn't due yet, urgent deadlines or "discounts", and a fee that doesn't show how much is ASIC's part. (ASIC)
How much more does it cost than renewing with ASIC?
| Renewal period | Letter price | ASIC direct (from 1 July 2026) | You'd pay extra |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | $99 | $47 | $52 |
| 3 years | $189 | $108 | $81 |
ASIC fees come from its schedule of business names fees. business.gov.au's changes from 1 July 2026 confirm them (up from $45 and $104). ASIC says its fees are not subject to GST, so the direct price is No GST. (ASIC)
How do I know if a letter is really from ASIC?
ASIC's tips: (ASIC)
- ASIC emails come from addresses ending in @asic.gov.au.
- ASIC sends business name renewal reminders by email to the address linked to your registration.
- ASIC correspondence clearly names ASIC as the sender and tells you how to renew directly with ASIC.
- Compare any fee with ASIC's published fees, and be wary of payment requested well before the due date.
If you never gave ASIC an email address, the notice comes by post instead. (ASIC Connect help)
When does ASIC send its own renewal notice?
ASIC sends your renewal notice at least 30 days before renewal is due, usually by email. (ASIC) In most cases it's around two months' notice. If you don't renew, you'll get a reminder 28 days after the notice, then an overdue notice 14 days after the due date. (ASIC Connect help)
If someone else, like an accountant or registered agent, set up your business name, the notice may go to their email. Ask them. (ASIC)
How do I renew my business name directly with ASIC?
Using ASIC's "Business name renewal" service: (ASIC)
- Enter the account number from your ASIC renewal notice, or your ABN (if it's linked to the business name).
- Pick the business name and choose 1 year or 3 years.
- Pay by Visa or Mastercard, or request an invoice to pay by BPAY or Australia Post.
You can also renew through your ASIC Connect account if you need to update details at the same time.
How do I check my business name expiry date?
Search your business name on ASIC's business names register. The free result shows the next renewal date and whether the registration is current. It takes about a minute and settles the question before you pay anyone.
What happens if my business name expires?
The most common reason ASIC cancels a business name is that it wasn't renewed on time. ASIC emails a notice first. You then have 2 months from that notice to stop the cancellation by paying the renewal fee. After cancellation, you can ask ASIC to restore it within 6 months. Nobody else can register the name for at least 6 months. After that, you'd need to register it again if it's still available. (ASIC)
Do I need to renew my ABN every year?
No. The Australian Business Register says: "Your ABN is for life." You're entitled to it while you're running a business. You need to update your details within 28 days of changes. (ABR)
The ABR does review inactive ABNs and may cancel them. If yours is cancelled and you start up again, you can re-apply. In most cases you'll get the same ABN. (ABR)
Is my domain renewal the same as my business name renewal?
No, they're two separate things. Your business name is registered with ASIC. Your domain (like yourbusiness.com.au) is renewed with the company you registered it through. auDA says you can check your domain's expiry date with your registrar or reseller. (auDA)
Domain letters have their own look-alike problem. Scamwatch says to check three things. Is the notice from the company you first registered with? Does the domain match yours exactly (.com.au is not .net.au)? Is it actually due? (Scamwatch) The ACCC has also warned about letters that look like a renewal but really sell a new, similar domain, such as .com instead of .com.au. (Scamwatch)
What about trade mark and directory letters?
Same pattern. IP Australia warns about unofficial trade mark invoices with inflated prices and fine print like "This renewal is optional". (IP Australia) Scamwatch warns businesses about requests to pay for directory listings, advertising and domain renewals they didn't order. (Scamwatch)
What to do with a business name renewal letter: a checklist
- [ ] Read the small print. Who's it from? Does it say it's not ASIC or not a bill?
- [ ] Look up your name on ASIC's register to see the real renewal date.
- [ ] Search your inbox (and spam) for a notice from an @asic.gov.au address.
- [ ] Compare the price with ASIC's $47 (1 year) or $108 (3 years).
- [ ] Not due yet? Wait for ASIC's notice. You can only renew once ASIC has sent it. (ASIC Connect help)
- [ ] Renew directly through ASIC with your account number or ABN.
- [ ] Keep your email current with ASIC so the real notice reaches you.
- [ ] Got a domain letter too? Check it against your actual registrar and domain.
- [ ] Something pretending to be ASIC? Report it through ASIC's online enquiry. (ASIC)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Registry Australia part of ASIC?
No. The letter itself says Registry Australia Pty Ltd is a private provider and independent of ASIC. ASIC confirms third-party providers are not ASIC. (ASIC)
Do I have to pay a business name renewal letter from a private company?
No. ASIC says you don't have to use a third-party provider and can renew directly with ASIC. (ASIC)
How much does ASIC charge to renew a business name?
$47 for 1 year or $108 for 3 years, from 1 July 2026. (ASIC)
Does business name renewal have GST?
No GST applies to ASIC's fees. (ASIC)
Can I renew my business name early?
Only once ASIC has sent your renewal notice. (ASIC Connect help)
Does an ABN expire if not used?
An ABN doesn't expire, but the ABR reviews inactive ABNs and may cancel them. You can re-apply later. (ABR)
I paid a third-party provider already. Is my name renewed?
If they renewed it, your new renewal date will show on ASIC's register. Check it.
What if I never got ASIC's renewal notice?
Check your spam folder and whether an agent's email is on file. ASIC says it's the holder's job to note the expiry and contact ASIC if no notice arrives. (ASIC RG 235)
I got a letter to renew my domain name. Is it real?
Check it's from your current registrar and for your exact domain. (Scamwatch)
Sources
- ASIC, Unsolicited business name renewal and company review notices: https://www.asic.gov.au/about-asic/news-centre/news-items/unsolicited-business-name-renewal-and-company-review-notices
- ASIC, Schedules of business names fees: https://www.asic.gov.au/for-business-and-companies/forms-and-fees/all-fees/schedules-of-business-names-fees
- business.gov.au, Changes for businesses from 1 July 2026: https://business.gov.au/news/changes-for-businesses-from-1-july-2026
- ASIC, Fees for commonly lodged documents: https://www.asic.gov.au/for-business-and-companies/forms-and-fees/all-fees/fees-for-commonly-lodged-documents
- ASIC, Fee indexation: https://www.asic.gov.au/for-business-and-companies/forms-and-fees/all-fees/fee-indexation
- ASIC, Renew a business name registration: https://www.asic.gov.au/for-business-and-companies/business-names/renew-a-business-name-registration
- ASIC Connect help, Renewing a business name: https://connectonline.asic.gov.au/HLP/SearchResults/BN_HLP_CANC_RENEW
- ASIC, Business names register: https://www.asic.gov.au/online-services/search-asic-registers/business-names-register
- ASIC, When ASIC cancels a business name: https://www.asic.gov.au/for-business-and-companies/business-names/cancel-a-business-name-registration/when-asic-cancels-a-business-name
- ASIC, Regulatory Guide 235: https://download.asic.gov.au/media/1247075/rg235.pdf
- ABR, ABN important facts: https://www.abr.gov.au/business-super-funds-charities/applying-abn/abn-important-facts
- ABR, Do you still need your ABN?: https://www.abr.gov.au/media-centre/featured-news/business-super-funds-charities/do-you-still-need-your-abn
- Scamwatch, Domain name renewals, don't be dot conned: https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/about-us/news-and-alerts/domain-name-renewals-%E2%80%93-dont-be-dot-conned
- Scamwatch, Beware of unsolicited domain name registration offers: https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/about-us/news-and-alerts/beware-of-unsolicited-domain-name-registration-offers
- Scamwatch, Protect your small business from scams: https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/stop-check-protect/protect-your-small-business-from-scams
- auDA, WHOIS Policy: https://www.auda.org.au/au-domain-names/au-rules-and-policies/whois-policy-2014-07/
- IP Australia, Beware of unofficial invoices, correspondence and registers: https://www.ipaustralia.gov.au/about-us/doing-business-with-us/fraud-and-corruption/beware-of-unofficial-invoices-correspondence-and-registers
Fees checked on 21 October 2026. ASIC indexes business name fees every 1 July, so check the current schedule before you pay.
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