Change business name details |
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You must notify us of any changes to the details recorded for your business name. This includes changes in:
- postal address
- business addresses
- email adress
- ownership, such as when the owner leaves or dies or new owner joins
- nature of the business
- owners' names, such as via marriage or legal change of name
- owners' residential address (individuals)
- owners' registered office address (for corporations not registered under the Corporations Act only).
Changing details
To update your business name details:
- complete Business Names Act Form 4 - Statement of change in certain particulars form (PDF 454 KB)
- pay late lodgement fees if necessary (see below)
- lodge your application (see the application form for lodgement details).
Fees
This service is free, if notification of the change is received within one month of it occuring.
Late fees
We charge late fees if you delay notifying us about changes to business addresses, owners or owners’ names.
If the form is lodged:
- between 1 and 2 months after change occurred, the fee is $15.50
- more than 2 months after change occurred, the fee is $46.00.
In some circumstances, we can waive the late fee if you have a reasonable excuse, but you must write us a letter explaining your reasons. We will process your letter within two weeks and contact you with our decision.
Signatories for possible circumstances
If an owner dies
Fill out the ‘Ceasing to carry on business’ section of the form. Include the word ‘deceased’, and the date he or she died. Show any remaining owners in the ‘Continuing to carry on business’ section. The executor of the deceased’s estate and any continuing owners must sign the form.
If an owner (individual or corporation) cannot sign the form
A person who holds the power of attorney, or has written authority to sign the form on behalf of a person, can sign but they need to explicitly state this.
If an owner cannot be found
We can accept a statutory declaration stating why an owner cannot sign the form (as they cannot be found). This applies to an individual and a corporation.
If an individual holds power of attorney for a corporation, they can sign the form on the corporation’s behalf.
If an owner’s name has changed
If the owner has changed their name, they must include proof of identity documentation with the form (certified by a Justice of the Peace, Commissioner for Declarations or lawyer). Acceptable identification documents include passport, drivers licence, tertiary student card (with photo and signature), public service identity card, pension concession card, 18+ card, birth certificate or extract from a birth entry. If the proof of identity document is not in the correct name of the applicant, due to the applicant's marriage or legal change of name, it must be accompanied by a copy of the marriage certificate or, where relevant, a copy of the official document evidencing the change of name.
Correcting errors in your application details
Depending on the mistake you’ve made, you must send us a letter, fill out another form and/or provide a statutory declaration.
A spelling error in your business name
The wrong date of change
If you wrote the wrong date on your Statement of change in certain particulars form, you must:
- lodge another signed Statement of change in certain particulars form with the correct dates and clearly mark the form as 'Amended'
- lodge a statutory declaration stating that the date of change entered on the form was incorrect and specify the correct date.
See change business name details.
Other mistakes on your original application
If you’ve made other mistakes on the application form, such as leaving out an owner’s name or using the wrong address, you must follow the same process as registering a business name:
- fill out the application form again and clearly write 'Amended' above the form title
- complete a statutory declaration stating the errors and changes (see below)
- lodge your amended application (see the application form for lodgement details).
The statutory declaration must:
- state that the original application was completed incorrectly
- specify which details were incorrect in the original application
- specify what the correct details are
- declare and identify missing business owners’ names. If an owner’s name was accidentally left off the original application to register a business name, and this person began business under this name from the date of commencement, you must state this in the statutory declaration. You must also provide certified proof of identity.
Other mistakes on your Statement of change
If you’ve made other mistakes on the statement of change form, such as leaving out an owner’s name or using a wrong address, you must follow the same process as registering a business name:
- fill out the statement of change form again and clearly write 'Amended' above the form title
- complete a statutory declaration stating the errors and changes (see below)
- lodge your amended statement of change (see the application form for lodgement details).
The statutory declaration must:
- state that the original form was completed incorrectly
- specify which details were incorrect in the original form
- specify what the correct details are declare and identify missing business owners’ names. If an owner’s name was accidentally left off the original statement of change and this person began business under this name from the same date of change, you must state this in the statutory declaration. You must also provide certified proof of identity.
Processing time
The processing time for your application depends how you lodge the forms:
- Up to 2 hours - in person at a Fair Trading counter
- 2-4 hours - in person at SmartLicence or call 1300 363 711 for regional locations
- 5-10 working days - by mail or fax to Registration Services
- Up to 5 working days - mail to SmartLicence
- At least 10 working days - in person at a Magistrates Court or QGAP office.
Last reviewed 02/11/2009 |
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