Every company carrying on business or deriving income in Australia must, unless specifically exempted, at all times have a public officer.

A Public officer must be appointed within three months of the company commencing to carry on business in Australia or first deriving income in Australia. The Public Officer’s name and address for service of notices must be given to the Commissioner at the place where the company’s return are lodged.

The Public Officer must be a natural person of at least 18 years of age who is capable of understanding the nature of the appointment. In addition, he/she must be "ordinarily resident" in Australia. If the company has its principal place of business or income-producing activity in an external territory, the public officer must be ordinarily resident either in that territory or Australia.

The Public Officer of a company is answerable for everything that is required to be done by the company for tax-related purposes and, if in default, is liable to the same penalties. The Public Officer is not, however, personally liable for payment of tax due by the company.

Any changes in the Public Officer must be notified to the Australian Taxation Office within 28days. Shelfcom will in some circumstances agree to provide a Public Officer where we already provide the Company’s Director and Secretary. Our annual fee for providing a Public Officer is $395.00pa, inclusive of GST.

Where we do not provide a Director the annual fee is $1,650.00pa inclusive of GST.

Order Form - Public Officer