ASIC Withdraws and Updates Regulatory Guides

Detected March 16th, 2026

Summary

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has withdrawn Regulatory Guide 64 (Failure to lodge documents) and Regulatory Guide 40 (Good transaction fee disclosure). ASIC also made minor updates to Regulatory Guide 104 (AFS licensing: Meeting the general obligations) and Regulatory Guide 205 (Credit licensing: General conduct obligations) to improve clarity and accuracy.

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What changed

ASIC has withdrawn two regulatory guides, RG 64 concerning the failure to lodge company documents and RG 40 regarding transaction fee disclosure for deposit and payment products. Additionally, ASIC has made minor technical updates to RG 104 (AFS licensing: General obligations) and RG 205 (Credit licensing: General conduct obligations) to ensure accuracy and clarity for industry participants.

Regulated entities no longer need to refer to RG 64 and RG 40 for guidance. Information previously covered by RG 64 can now be found on ASIC's Company Annual Review webpage. Consumers seeking information on transaction accounts and banking products are directed to Moneysmart.gov.au. Providers of retail payment and deposit products should refer to RG 168 and RG 221 for disclosure practices. The updates to RG 104 and RG 205 are minor and intended to maintain accuracy, with no new obligations imposed.

What to do next

Discontinue reliance on RG 64 and RG 40.
Refer to ASIC's Company Annual Review webpage for lodgement obligations.
Consult RG 168 and RG 221 for guidance on disclosure practices for retail payment and deposit products.

Source document (simplified)

Newsroom

Print Share ASIC has withdrawn and updated certain regulatory guides as part of its push to make financial regulation simpler, clearer and easier to apply.

ASIC has withdrawn outdated guidance:

Regulatory Guide 64 Failure to lodge documents (RG 64), and
Regulatory Guide 40 Good transaction fee disclosure for bank, building society and credit union deposit and payments products (transaction accounts) (RG 40).
ASIC has also updated:
Regulatory Guide 104 AFS licensing: Meeting the general obligations (RG 104), and
Regulatory Guide 205 Credit licensing: General conduct obligations (RG 205).
ASIC has made minor and technical updates to RG 104 and RG 205 to maintain accuracy and clarity for industry.

These changes form part of ASIC’s broader program to review, update and simplify our regulatory guidance.

More information

Following on from the withdrawal of RG 64 and RG 40:

Companies can find information about their obligations to lodge certain company documents on ASIC’s Company annual review webpage
Consumers seeking information about transaction accounts, credit cards, and other banking products can visit Moneysmart.gov.au, and
Retail payment and deposit product providers can also refer to ASIC’s regulatory resources on good disclosure practices including:
- Regulatory Guide 168 Product Disclosure Statements: Disclosure and other obligations (RG 168), and
- Regulatory Guide 221 Facilitating digital financial services disclosures (RG 221).

Background

RG 64 outlined ASIC’s approach to companies that failed to lodge certain documents and when ASIC would withdraw proceedings against a company secretary.

RG 40 was a reference guide for retail payment and deposit product providers and consumers on transaction fee disclosure. ASIC undertook targeted consultation with industry prior to withdrawing this guidance.

RG 104 and RG 205 set out what ASIC looks for when assessing how Australian financial services licensees and credit licensees meet their general obligations under the law.