Strike-off action in progress: what it means and what to do
‘Strike off in progress’ means ASIC has started to deregister the company. The most common reason is that the company’s annual review fee is at least 12 months overdue. ASIC writes to the company and its directors, updates the register and publishes a notice. Two months after that notice, ASIC may deregister the company. Paying the outstanding fees within those two months can often stop it.
Why ASIC starts strike-off action
ASIC calls this an ASIC-initiated deregistration. The most common reason is an annual review fee unpaid for at least 12 months after its due date. ASIC may also act when a company has stopped operating a business or has not paid industry funding levies.
What happens, step by step
- ASIC writes to the company, its directors and any liquidators, explaining how to stop the process.
- ASIC changes the company’s status on the register to ‘strike off in progress’.
- ASIC publishes a notice on its Published notices website that it will deregister the company in two months.
- After two months, ASIC may deregister the company and notifies the same people.
The notice stays on the Published notices website even if the deregistration is stopped.
If you are a director
First decide whether the company should continue.
- Keep the company. Act within the two months. Paying the outstanding fees, penalties or levies can stop the deregistration, depending on why ASIC started it.
- Close a solvent company properly. If the company has assets worth less than $1,000, no liabilities, is not trading or in legal proceedings, has paid ASIC’s fees and all members agree, it can apply for voluntary deregistration. Otherwise, a members’ voluntary liquidation is the usual route.
- The company owes money it cannot pay. Letting ASIC strike it off does not deal with the debts. Creditors and others can apply to have a deregistered company reinstated, and on reinstatement the former directors become directors again with the same duties and obligations. Look at small business restructuring, voluntary administration or creditors’ voluntary liquidation instead.
Any assets still held by the company when it is deregistered usually vest in ASIC or the Commonwealth. Deal with them before deregistration.
If you are a creditor
You can ask ASIC to defer the deregistration for an initial 30 days. During that time you can ask ASIC to defer it further or stop it, provided you have started, or plan to start, legal proceedings against the company. Give ASIC the company’s name and ACN, your reason with supporting evidence, and your postal address. Act within the two months after ASIC’s notice.
After deregistration: reinstatement
A deregistered company can sometimes be reinstated, and is then treated as if it had never been deregistered. ASIC gives examples such as a procedural error, an incorrect declaration on a voluntary deregistration application, legal proceedings started before deregistration, or a person aggrieved by the deregistration. Former directors, secretaries and members can apply if they are not disqualified and can confirm the company will be solvent on reinstatement. A former liquidator or an aggrieved person, such as a creditor, can apply to a court.
Strike-off, voluntary deregistration and liquidation compared
| Who starts it | When it fits | |
|---|---|---|
| ASIC strike-off | ASIC | Usually unpaid annual review fees. Not a way to deal with company debts. |
| Voluntary deregistration | Members, by application to ASIC | Solvent company with assets under $1,000 and no liabilities. |
| Members’ voluntary liquidation | Directors and members | Solvent company that does not meet the voluntary deregistration criteria. |
| Insolvent liquidation | Members, creditors or a court | Company that cannot pay its debts as and when they fall due. |
Common questions
What does strike-off action in progress mean?
It means ASIC has started to deregister the company. ASIC has updated the register to show strike off in progress and published a notice that it will deregister the company in two months.
Why would ASIC strike off a company?
The most common reason is that the company has not paid its annual review fee for at least 12 months after the due date. ASIC may also act when a company has stopped operating a business or has not paid industry funding levies.
How long do I have to stop it?
ASIC may deregister the company two months after publishing its notice. Directors or creditors who want to defer or stop the deregistration should act within those two months.
Can I stop a strike-off by paying the fees?
Often, yes. ASIC states a company may be able to stop an ASIC-initiated deregistration by paying its outstanding fees, penalties or levies, depending on why ASIC started it.
Does strike-off mean the company is insolvent?
Not necessarily. The most common reason is an unpaid annual review fee. A company that cannot pay its debts should consider a formal process rather than letting ASIC deregister it.
Can a deregistered company be reinstated?
Sometimes. Former directors, secretaries and members can apply to ASIC in some cases, and a former liquidator or an aggrieved person such as a creditor can apply to a court. A reinstated company is treated as if it had never been deregistered.
Sources: ASIC, When ASIC initiates a company’s deregistration; ASIC, Voluntary deregistration of a company; ASIC, Reinstate a company after deregistration. This page is general information, not advice about your circumstances. Last reviewed: 16 October 2026.
Written by John Chand, Principal and Registered Liquidator. John has more than 17 years’ insolvency experience. Meet the team.
