Lodge as soon as you properly can, and do not let a late lodgement become a non-lodgement. Check the current deadline and consequences on ASIC’s website, get the financial statements and the auditor’s work completed, and keep a record of why it was late and what you have done. If a licence condition or breach reporting obligation may be triggered, take advice on that promptly.
What it depends on
Where judgement stays human: Whether a late lodgement is reportable, and how to explain it, is a judgement on your specific facts — and the audit itself must be signed by an independent registered auditor, not us.
The first step is to work out what is actually missing — the financial statements, the independent auditor’s report, or both — because that tells you the critical path. A licensee’s accountant can prepare and reconcile; the audit opinion must come from an independent registered auditor, so their availability often sets the timetable.
The second step is to consider whether the lateness is itself a reportable matter under your licence obligations. That depends on your circumstances, so it deserves a considered answer rather than an assumption either way.
Whether a late lodgement is reportable, and how to explain it, is a judgement on your specific facts — and the audit itself must be signed by an independent registered auditor, not us.
Financial Services · general information current as at 1 September 2026. This is general information only, not personal financial, tax or legal advice.