• includes ASIC fee, ASIC Certificate and ACN
• Constitution: Div7A Loan, 30 share classes, electronic secretary file and personalised Share certificates
• Company Officer: registers, minutes and consents
• we oversee & meet with ASIC, as required
You are welcome to add your logo to our law firm's documents for free.
Your new company and constitution are structured to perform many jobs. These include:
As you build your Australian company on our website, check if your preferred company name is available.
Restricted words and expressions in an Australian company:
You cannot use words that could mislead people about a company's activities. This includes links to the Government, the Royal Family, or ex-service groups.
ASIC also refuses offensive and illegal names.
Australian companies are governed by either:
Replaceable rules (from the Corporations Act 2001) provide a basic set of rules for your company. They are not good. Few accountants, lawyers and advisers recommend them.
Replaceable rules are less than the bare minimum. There are many additional powers that a company should have. These are only found in a constitution.
Replaceable rules change at the whim of the current government. While the changes may benefit ‘society’, they may not be in the best interests of shareholders. In contrast, shareholders can amend constitutions anytime.
Included in the above price you get:
Pty Ltd companies are the vast majority of companies registered in Australia. Over 99% of companies incorporated in Australia are Pty Ltd. (Less common is "Ltd" and "No Liability".)
The 5 advantages of using Legal Consolidated:
A company pays tax at a fixed rate. (In contrast, a human being pays tax at different marginal tax rates. The more you earn the higher the tax rate.) Your company (flat) tax rate depends on whether the company is a base rate entity.
Except for a company to be trustee of a Self-Managed Superfund, over 87% of companies built on our website site only have one director. This is for asset protection.
The sole director usually also wears two other hats. These are 'company secretary' and 'public officer'.
As such, under a Legal Consolidated company signing clause only one person signs. That is the sole director (who is also the secretary and public officer). The 'second director/secretary' signing position is left blank.
If you have two or more directors, then two directors must sign the company signing clause. They can sign on different days. And in different locations. (Or a person holding a Company POA can sign on behalf of the company.)
While a 'human' signing clause requires a witness, a company signing clause does not have witnesses. To labour the point, a director signs the company signing clause. The director's signature is not witnessed.
For example:
The company has 5 directors. Colin is one of the directors. Colin lives in the Gold Coast. He signs the company signing clause as one of the directors. The next day he couriers the deed to be signed by another director to the Barossa Valley. This is where one of the other directors lives. The other director a few days later gets around to signing the deed as the second director.
Neither director requires a witness. This is because company signing clauses do not have witnesses.
Shareholders can each sign in different locations. And with different witnesses. And on different days.
As stated above, a 'human' signing clause (in contrast to a company signing clause) requires a witness.
Q: When purchasing a new company on your website, does the constitution by default include a clause allowing for digital signatures for Directors? I know you do not like digital signatures!
A: You are correct, I do not like digital signatures. But the Company Constitution is fully updated to allow for all legislation of digital signatures and over Internet meetings, such as:
Yes. It is called a Corporate Power of Attorney. Legal Consolidated Constitutions allow for Company POAs.
When you build a company, any company, it becomes a beneficiary under a Family Trust prepared by Legal Consolidated or Brett Davies Lawyers. This is the case for most Australian Family Trusts, as well.
You could build the company many years after you built the Family Trust deed. It does not matter. The company automatically becomes a beneficiary under your family trust. You are then able to use it as a 'bucket' company if you so wish.
Similarly, if get married and have children then they automatically become beneficiaries under the Family Trust.
This is because the Family Trust has 'classes' of 'beneficiaries'. And these classes are 'open'.
The definition of beneficiaries generally includes 'my spouse, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and any company I have an interest in, from time to time'.
So generally any company you have an interest in is also a beneficiary under your Family Trust.
Interestingly, if you have a share in say, Rio Tinto, and if Rio Tinto has 300,000 beneficiaries, then all 300,000 beneficiaries are also beneficiaries of your family trust!
So pretty much any company you have an interest in is a beneficiary of your family trust. Obviously, a "Special Purpose Company" (while also a beneficiary of your family trust) can not be used as a bucket company. This is because a Special Purpose Company can only do one job. This is to be a trustee of your Self-Managed Superannuation Fund.
Your Family Trust distributes to human beneficiaries (mum, dad, children) first. This is to use up their low marginal tax rates. When there is no one left on low marginal tax rates then the family trust pours the rest of the income into the 'bucket' company. The company gets whatever income is left to be distributed.
Unlike humans, companies pay a fixed percentage rate of tax. Whether the company gets $10,000 or $100,000 in trust income, it pays the same percentage tax rate.
However, bucket companies are rarely used, these days. This is because of the draconian and cruel Division 7A.
Yesterday, the client built a new company - Head Co Pty Ltd - on Legal Consolidated's website.
Today Head Co Pty Ltd is building a second company called Subsidiary Pty Ltd. Head Co Pty Ltd wants to own all the shares in this new company.
Yes, a Legal Consolidated Company can own 100% of the shares in another company, known as a wholly-owned subsidiary.
Once incorporated, your company can hold all shares of the subsidiary, controlling its operations while keeping it a separate legal entity. For example, your new company, "Head Co Pty Ltd," can own all shares in "Subsidiary Pty Ltd," making Subsidiary Pty Ltd a subsidiary. After you have built 'Head Co' wait one day and start building the subsidiary company.
Over 99% of Pty Ltd companies only have one director. This is for asset protection. But you can have more. There are distinctions in the types of directors. These are all 'nicknames' for different roles a director may hold. You can mix and match these powers as the shareholders see fit:
The above expressions are descriptive. They are not strict legal terms. Because you have a Legal Consolidated Constitution you can change and amend the powers of the directors.
A Pty Ltd company in Australia requires a company register. All Australian companies keep some form of written financial records that:
Section 9 Corporations Act defines 'books' to include:
All Australian Pty Ltd companies maintain 'books'. The common expression is the 'company secretary file'. The Corporations Act sets out how this is maintained. It also states who is provided access to the information in the company secretary file.
You suffer penalties if you fail to maintain the company's books and destroy or falsify them. For example, false minutes carry a fine and two years in jail.
The Constitution - Is available for inspection at the company's registered office. Access is provided (at no charge) to ASIC, directors, the auditor, liquidators, receivers, administrators, debenture holders and anyone authorised by ASIC and (for a fee) to shareholders (Authorised Persons).
Financial Records – These are kept for seven years. See section 286. They are also available for inspection. Keep them at the company's registered office. Otherwise, you need to go out of your way to let ASIC know where they are kept. You provide access to the finances to the Authorised Persons for a fee. However, members see the finances for free.
These financial records can be electronic. But they must be convertible into hard copies. You must be able to print them.
Even if the financial records are held by your accountant, you, as a company officeholder, are still responsible for providing copies to auditors or anyone entitled to inspect your records.
Minute book of Directors' Meeting – Minutes are recorded in the Directors' minute book. This is within one month of the meeting. These are available for inspection at the registered office and principal place of business. The Authorised Person, other than members, access Directors' Minutes.
Minute Book of Members' Meetings – As with Directors' meetings minutes are recorded within one month of the members' meeting. They are available for inspection at the registered office, principal place of business or elsewhere approved by ASIC. The Authorised Person accesses the shareholders' meeting minutes.
Register of Members – Section 169 Corporations Act requires an up-to-date register of all shareholders. This is for 7 years. And showing the changes over the 7 years of incoming and outgoing members. The register is kept in Australia. This is at either the registered office, principal place of business or an ASIC-approved share registry. It is available for inspection. Access to these documents is provided to both the Authorised Persons and the general public for a fee. This Register of Members includes:
names
addresses
share certificate number
amount paid for the shares
number of shares held
Debenture holders and option holders - only if they exist these interests are also recorded.
Section 1306 Corporations Act 2001 permits companies to prepare and store their ‘books’. This includes registers and minutes, in a ‘mechanical, electronic and other device’.
But, the data stored in the device must be able to be reproduced ‘at any time’ in a written form. You must be able to print it out.
Also, Pty Ltd companies take reasonable precautions to protect their records against damage and tampering.
A company is also obliged to keep written financial records that correctly record and explain the company’s activities, financial position and performance. See section 286 Corporations Act 2001.
These records are kept for seven years. Section 288 allows financial records to be kept electronically. But, again, this is so long as they can be converted into a hard copy on demand.
Electronic signatures are recognised in Australian law under the Electronic Transactions Act 1999 (Cth). States adopt similar rules.
However, these provisions do not apply to the Corporations Act 2001. Therefore, minutes are signed in hard copy before electronic storage.
In any event, Legal Consolidated is not an advocate of electronic signatures.
Q: I want to appoint a Governing Director. This is so they cannot be removed. They are on the Board until they die, become of unsound mind or resign.
The powers of the Governing Director are:
A: Also, a Governing director has:
After your company is incorporated think about a Shareholders Agreement. This is if you have more than just you and your spouse control the Pty Ltd company. Shareholders' agreements are in addition to the constitution. It is between the members. It governs share ownership and transfers, dividend policies and management roles. They override the Constitution.
Build a Shareholders Agreement. And in the Minutes the shareholders unanimously agree to the powers of the Governing director.
Q: I will hold shares in the company for my child. This is as bare trustee. She is currently under 18 years of age.
A: Legal Consolidated's company constitutions allow for a person (including shareholders and directors) to hold the beneficial interest in the share for someone else. And yes, this someone else can be a person under 18 years of age.
Now it is not correct to suggest that when a minor turns 18 you immediately transfer the shares from the legal shareholder to the beneficiary. (For an explanation of Australian trust law see here.)
Any person that is of sound mind and over 18 can direct a bare trustee to transfer the legal ownership of the shares to that beneficiary. Or, indeed, to any person the beneficiary wishes.
So, when the beneficial owner of the shares turns 18 then they can, if they wish, direct the trustee of shares to transfer them. Or not. It is the beneficiary owner's decision. For example, the beneficial owner of any asset, not just shares, can direct these actions:
For example, Fred holds 15 shares in a Legal Consolidated company. But he holds them in trust for his brother Brian. Brian is currently 30 years old. (In other words, Brian is over 18 when the trust relationship starts).
As Brian was at all times the beneficial owner of the shares, Brian declared all income from the shares on his personal income tax returns. If Brian goes bankrupt or gets divorced the shares are lost.
Igal is a loving father of a 4-year-old daughter called Muriel. Igal issues and allots 60 shares in a company he controls to himself. But as bare trustee for his 4-year-old Muriel. Igal is merely a bare trustee.
When discussing the transfer of Pty Ltd shares, you do not need to use the expression "off-market transfers". Since Pty Ltd cannot be listed on the Australian Stock Exchange all such transfers are 'off-market'.
And the Legal Consolidated Company Constitution comes with share certificates, transfers, share registries and the like. You merely print them off and complete them as required.
Every person who is a director of a Pty Ltd company must have a "Director ID" number.
ASIC controls companies. However, the ABRS is controlled by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). But ASIC is responsible for enforcing director ID offences. This is within the Corporations Act 2001. Yes, this is rather confusing for both ASIC and ATO. Let's hope that they find their inner strength to start working together as a united team.
It is a criminal offence if you do not apply for a Director ID on time. This is a bit draconian. This is especially true given the turf wars between the ATO and ASIC.
It is time that the services of ASIC are removed from the federal government. And those services are looked after by the private sector. Governments are not good at running businesses.
All directors apply for a director ID, including directors of corporate trustees of self-managed super funds (including Special Purpose Companies), Family Trusts, Unit Trust and Legal Consolidated's famous Corporate partnership of family trusts.
Yes. A director ID is a unique identifier. You apply for it once. And you keep it forever.
You keep your director ID until death. This is even if you stop being a company director, change your name or move interstate or overseas.
Every company in Australia is issued with a unique, nine-digit number. This is when your company is registered on our website. This is an Australian Company Number (ACN). It is displayed on all company documents.
The director ID helps prevent the use of false and fraudulent director identities.
It confirms your identity. It links you to all Australian companies.
Sadly, your accountant and financial planner can not apply for a director ID number for you. No one, not even your tax agent, can apply for the director ID number on your behalf.
You need to do it yourself. The Australian Business Registry Services must personally verify your identity.
The Australian Business Registry Services (ABRS) needs to verify information held on your ATO records. This includes your Notice of Assessment.
But you are allowed and should seek assistance from your accountant and adviser with finding this information. Once the ABRS has your information, the online application is intuitive. It takes less than 5 minutes. You get your director ID number instantly.
Q: Professor Davies the whole reason for having an Enduring POA and Company POA is so that others can do things on your behalf. In any event, one of our directors has lost mental capacity. Another is living overseas.
A: Neither a POA nor a Corporate Trustee can apply for a director ID on your behalf.
But your question worries me. It is a good idea for every company to have a Company POA. This is just in case you cannot get hold of a director quickly. For example, the director is on a Heli Ski trip and the Internet is not available. This is also fine if the director has just died or just lost mental capacity.
However, you need to be aware that dead people and people who have lost mental capacity cannot be directors of Australian companies. A Corporate POA does not rectify a dead or mentally incapacitated director.
No. It is free to apply for a Director ID number via your Australian government ''myID".
Those voluntary, unpaid director roles on not-for-profit organisations and Company Title Buildings. You all need a DIN.
A registered Australian body, an ASIC-registered foreign company and an ATSI corporation require a DIN.
Q: I have been in turmoil over this director's digital ID. I had no idea that setting up a trust & company would allow a government to take over my life in such a way that I have no freedom at all.
This is not what I had in mind when I set up the company and trust.
I merely wanted to leave my children a little security and a home. Not be forced into a corporate prison run by corrupt politicians.
Any director (or alternate director) who inadvertently fails to comply with the rules suffers civil and criminal penalties. The civil penalty is up to $1 million.
More serious liability arises if a director, by mistake, applies for multiple Director Identification Numbers, provides false information in their application, or misrepresents their Director Identification Number. These offences include imprisonment. Civil penalties also apply to any person who aids, abets, counsels, procures or induces such acclivities.
A: A company can hold assets in its own right. Or it can act as trustee of a family trust or trustee of a unit trust.
A company is 'over-regulated' when compared to a trust. And the Director ID number is just more regulation. However, the introduction of director IDs will hopefully create a fairer business environment. This is by helping prevent the use of false and fraudulent director identities. In my personal view, this goes a long way to better identify and eliminate director involvement in unlawful activity.
You appear to have a company as trustee of a family trust. A company as a trustee is good for asset protection. But if you are holding only 'safe' assets such as shares and real estate then you may not need the additional protection of a corporate trustee.
There is no law that requires you to have a corporate trustee for your family trust. Instead of a company, as trustee, you could have a human as trustee of the family trust.
On another matter, you mention a 'home' in a trust. Your main residence (your home) is generally exempt from capital gains tax (CGT). This is called the 'main residence exemption'. This is valuable. You probably do not want to lose that tax advantage.
You may be able to put a home into a bare trust or a Special Disability Trust and keep the principal place of residence CGT tax-free status. But if you put a family home into a family trust then the tax-free status of the home is usually lost. Plus if you are a pensioner you may lose Centrelink and local council discounts.
Service trust and Independent Contractors Agreements
