The 5 April 2026 deadline has passed. Societies that did not re-register under the Incorporated Societies Act 2022 have been automatically removed from the Incorporated Societies Register. This has several consequences:
- The society has lost its separate legal identity, meaning members may now be personally liable for any debts or obligations, such as leases, that the society owes.
- The society no longer has the right to make decisions about its assets, and the Registrar may direct how these assets are distributed.
- The society’s name is no longer protected, allowing another group to potentially use it.
- The society cannot sign new contracts in its name, and bank accounts may be frozen or inaccessible.
But removal is not necessarily permanent. Under the 2022 Act, a removed society can apply to be restored to the register. The restoration process involves:
- Preparing a constitution that is fully compliant with the 2022 Act
- Providing current officer details (minimum 3 officers), a registered office address, and a nominated contact person
- Lodging a restoration application through the Incorporated Societies Register (fee: $177.78 + GST)
- A 20 working day public notice and objection period
If your society missed the deadline, don’t wait — the sooner you start the restoration process, the sooner you can resume normal operations. IGS can manage the entire process for you, from drafting a compliant constitution to lodging the application, with fixed-fee pricing.
Contact us today to secure your society’s future with expert compliance assistance
