Corporations (Fees) Act 2001

The Corporations (Fees) Act 2001 is a comprehensive legislation that imposes fees for various chargeable matters in relation to the Corporations Act 2001. The Act aims to regulate and administer the imposition of fees for services provided by ASIC, including registration of documents, inspections of registers, provision of information, and performance of functions.

The Act defines "chargeable matter" as any of the following: lodging a document under the Corporations Act 2001, registering a document, inspecting or searching a register kept by ASIC, making available information to the public, producing a register or document in response to a subpoena, issuing a document or a copy, granting a licence, consent, or approval, performing an act under the Act, making an inquiry or application, submitting a document for examination, making an application to the Panel, and performing functions by ASIC.

The regulations may prescribe fees for chargeable matters, which are imposed as taxes. The fees prescribed by the regulations for chargeable matters can be different depending on whether the matter is complied with electronically, has low, medium, or high complexity, and relates to a particular person. ASIC may also make determinations specifying criteria for determining the complexity of a chargeable matter.

The Act applies to the Crown in certain circumstances and provides definitions for key terms used throughout the legislation. The regulations may prescribe fees for chargeable matters, which are imposed as taxes. The fee for a chargeable matter need not bear any relationship to the cost of providing any service that forms part of or is related to the matter.

The Act also makes provisions for transitional matters, including amendments to existing laws and regulations. The Legislation Act 2003 authorizes First Parliamentary Counsel to make editorial changes to a compiled law in preparing a compilation for registration. The changes must not change the effect of the law.