All incorporated societies must re-register under the Incorporated Societies Act 2022 (Act) by 5 April 2026. Societies that fail to do so by that date will be involuntarily dissolved and will cease to exist as legal entities.
With less than two months remaining, societies that have not yet started the re-registration process should act now. Re-registration commonly involves updating constitutions, consulting members, and obtaining formal approvals. These steps often take longer than expected, particularly for volunteer-led organisations. For further information on these points, please see our earlier articles on preparation and considerations regarding re-registration.
What happens if a society does not re-register?
If a society fails to re-register, it will be involuntarily dissolved and cease to have legal status. This has immediate and significant consequences, including:
- Inability to hold or deal with property and other assets.
- Disruption of bank accounts and funding arrangements.
- Loss of capacity to enter into and enforce contracts.
- Governance uncertainty for committees and officers.
- Difficulty continuing day-to-day operations.
Is your sports club an incorporated society?
Incorporated Community Sport Organisations (ICSOs) appear to be at particular risk. We understand that a significant portion of ICSOs have yet to complete re-registration under the Act. This raises the prospect of widespread involuntary dissolutions of the deadline, with serious operational and governance consequences for affected organisations.
Next steps
Societies that have not yet re‑registered should:
- Review their constitutions for compliance with the Act;
- Identify any required amendments;
- Allow sufficient time for member consultation and approvals; and
- complete the re-registration process well before the deadline.
Taking action now helps reduce the risk of non‑compliance and avoids last‑minute governance or procedural difficulties.
If you would like advice on the re‑registration process or on updating your constitution to meet the requirements of the Act, please contact a member of our team.
All incorporated societies must re-register under the Incorporated Societies Act 2022 by 5 April 2026. Failure to do so will result in involuntary dissolution. With less than two months left, now is the time to act.
Emma and Lauren acknowledge Henry Hunt (summer clerk) as co-author of this article.
