Australia: deregistered companies, ASIC and the records left behind

While an Australian company is in liquidation or voluntary administration, the liquidator or administrator controls its property under the Corporations Act 2001. Once the company is deregistered, things change: its remaining property vests in ASIC (s.601AD).

What it means for records

Business records and the rights in them can be part of that property. After deregistration, former directors generally cannot license them. Reinstatement of the company may be possible, after which a liquidator could deal with the asset.

Before deregistration

• List the systems and export the records while access still works.
• Identify personal information: the Privacy Act 1988 and the Australian Privacy Principles may apply.
• Set employee records aside.
• Check fit: micro1 lists Australia among ten countries for companies with 30+ peak employees and English records company.micro1.ai/get-started · 15 Nov 2026.

General information, not legal advice. Read the Australia guides or run the fit check.