ASIC levy estimates jump 19% as regulator ramps up funding

ASIC has lifted its estimated industry funding levy by almost 20% for 2025-26, with regulated entities expected to shoulder $400.5 million in regulatory costs as the corporate watchdog expands its supervision and enforcement activities.

The regulator's 2025-26 Cost Recovery Implementation Statement (CRIS), estimates recoverable costs will rise from $337.6 million in 2024-25 to $400.5 million, reflecting additional government funding for ASIC's regulatory, supervisory and enforcement work, as well as the timing of expenditure.

The CRIS provides estimated regulatory costs and levies across ASIC's 52 regulated subsectors, allowing entities to budget ahead of final levy notices, which will be issued between January and March 2027 after actual costs and calculated.

ASIC said the estimates are intended as planning guide only, with final levies to be published in December 2026.

Under the industry's cost recovery framework, the cost of ASIC's regulatory activities is borne by the sectors it supervises rather than taxpayers, the regulator said.

The funding model, introduced following the Financial System Inquiry, recovers ASIC's costs through a combination of industry funding levies and fees for service. Levies support ongoing activities including supervision, surveillance, enforcement, policy advice, education and industry engagement, while fees apply to entity specific services as licensing and relief applications.

ASIC also notes it has simplified its CRIS webpages to make estimated costs and levy information easier for industry participants to navigate.

The regulator's forward estimates show recoverable costs are expected to rise further to $412.9 million 2026-27 before easing to $382.7 million 2027-28.

Registered charities and organisations registered with the Australian Charities and Not for profits Commission remain exempt from industry funding levies, while certain regulatory functions, including maintain ASIC's public registers and regulating SMSF auditors, continue to be excluded from the cost recovery model.