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Incorporated Association |
Company limited by Guarantee |
| The Law |
Associations Incorporation Act 2015 (Act) (AI Act).
The law relating to incorporated associations is state based and each State and Territory has its own legislation.
There are almost equivalent laws in other States and Territories.
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The law relating to company(s) limited by guarantee is a federal Act known as the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth). The law is the same regardless of which state you are in. |
| Recommended for - |
- Locally focused Not-for-Profit (NFP) community groups wanting to operate in Western Australia.
- Groups with limited capacity to meet reporting obligations.
- Groups with limited funds and resources, as costs associated with setting up and running incorporated associations are sometimes (but not always) less than those involved in Company Limited by Guarantee (CLG).
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- Organisations wanting to operate nationally or in more than one state or territory.
- Larger NFPs, including those that only operate in one state, often use this structure.
- Charities registered with the Australian Charities and NFPs Commission (CNC), as CLGs that are charities will only report to the ACNC (not also ASIC).
- Housing and aged care providers (who must be CLGs).
- Wholly owned subsidiary organisations, as only one member is required (but note that three directors are required).
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Structure
Company – National recognition |
An incorporated association is a body corporate with a legal
personality separate from its members. They are registered and regulated under the Associations Incorporation Act 2015 (Act) (AI Act).
Incorporated associations constituted by members and governed by a committee of management (which can also be known as a board of directors).
The AI Act imposes less onerous conditions than the Corporations Act which governs the activities of companies.
The AI Act provides a simple and affordable means of creating a separate legal entity for small, community based groups with limited resources, which operate only in Western Australia.
Carrying on business outside of Western Australia requires registration with ASIC as an Australian Registered Body (an ARB number is issued). If an association is registered as an Australian Registered Body, it must meet additional administrative and compliance obligations.
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A company is a body corporate with a legal personality separate from its members.
Companies limited by guarantee are public companies constituted by members and governed by a board of directors. Companies limited by guarantee are registered and regulated under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) (Corporations Act), which is administered by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.
A company's registration is recognised in the whole of Australia. |
| Legal Status |
The association has a legal existence independent of its members. This means that as an entity it may:
(a) sue and be sued;
(b) acquire, hold and dispose of property;
(c) act as a trustee;
(d) make contracts and enter into tenancy agreements;
(e) have a common seal;
(f) receive a bequest or gift from a will; and
(g) have perpetual succession. That is, the association will remain in existence regardless of who is a member until it is disbanded by operation of the law. |
A company limited by guarantee has broad powers equivalent to the legal capacity of an individual and a body corporate (except for the power to issue shares).
Registration of a company creates a legal entity separate from its members. This means that, as with an incorporated association, a company may:
(a) sue and be sued;
(b) acquire, hold and dispose of property;
(c) act as a trustee;
(d) make contracts and enter into tenancy agreements;
(e) receive a bequest or gift from a will; and
(f) have perpetual succession. The company remains in existence until it is disbanded by operation of the law. |
| Trading Ability |
Provided there is no inconsistency with the incorporated association's purposes, an association may trade or be involved in trading activities. However, an association may only trade if that trade is ancillary to the association’s purpose.
All funds raised by trading must be directed back to furthering the incorporated association's purposes.
As noted above, in order to carry on business in a State or Territory other than the association's place of origin or principal place of business, it must be registered as an Australian Registered Body (ARB).
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Once a company is registered under the Corporations Act it can operate in Australia. A company is entitled to carry on business nationally without having to separately incorporate in each State and Territory or register as an Australian Registered Body.
A company may conduct trading activities as a primary purpose. In contrast, an incorporated association may only trade if that trade is ancillary to the association’s purpose.
Where the company is a not-for-profit company, all funds raised by trading must be directed back to furthering the company's objects. |
| Winding up and the liability of members |
The liability of members of an incorporated association (including members who are committee members) in the event of a winding up is limited to amounts due to the association by way of unpaid subscriptions, joining fees or other amounts payable under the Rules of the association. |
“Limited by guarantee” means the liability of the company's members is limited to the amount of the guarantee (that is, the amount a member has agreed to contribute in the event of the company being wound up). The amount of the guarantee is usually specified in the company's constitution and is often fixed at a nominal amount. The guarantee is only called in a winding up situation.
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