The Register

From 1 July 2023 the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) commenced administering the Register of Foreign Ownership of Australian Assets (the Register).

The Register replaces a suite of existing registers including registers relating to agricultural and residential land, and water interests.

The Register provides the government with improved visibility of foreign investments made in Australia.

Investors with a no objection notification or an exemption certificate

The launch of the Register impacts investors with a no objection notification (NON) or an exemption certificate (EC).

Investors continue to be required to notify the Australian Government of the actions specified on the NON and EC, however the process for notifying the government has changed.

Notification of actions

The changed process applies to all actions notified on or after 1 July 2023, regardless of when the action was taken.

Investors may have obligations to give a register notice for inclusion on the Register. Find out about your obligations to notify to the Registrar in Guidance Note 15: Register of Foreign Ownership of Australian Assets.

To notify an action (manage your registration obligations) from 1 July 2023 you must first login to Online services for foreign investors using myID.

If you have any questions about your obligations under the Register, please contact the ATO.

Investors who are not required to give notice for inclusion on the Register may have notification requirements under sections 98C, 98D and 98E of the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act 1975 (FATA), regardless of whether conditions have been imposed on your NON or EC.