One of the 12 point business stimulus package approved by the NEC for implementation in 2013 is the online registration of companies in PNG and work is currently underway with Foster Moore and the IPA to get this online lodgment system up and running by the end of the year. The "go live" date is just 3 months away and the staff of IPA and the Foster Moore team are currently kept busy with testing using a "proof of concept" website to do test registrations of local and overseas companies online. Results and feedback from testing on this prototype online registration site is on going and will eventually lead to a fully operational online business registration system for PNG. With the new online lodgment system IPA's clients can comfortably lodge company forms, file documents and do virtual company searches from anywhere they can access the internet with out ever fronting up at the IPA front counters.
What does mean for existing business and company owners?
What this means is that when the new online lodgment system goes live in September at the end of this year all company business registrations and lodgments will be done online through the IPA website from the comfort your home or office, with out physically coming to the IPA. Pre-registration is encouraged for all external users in order to use the new online lodgment system. Pre-registration will ensure that you to get a username and password to logon on to the IPA online database when the online lodgment system goes live.
All pre-registered company and business owners, directors or agents of the business entity can:
● Lodge documents to make changes to the respective business entity on the IPA Register without lodging paper forms at the IPA offices;
● See the status of your lodgments on a user dashboard;
● Request for other online services such as certificates, extracts or make certain changes to the business entity.
Having a credit or debit card would be the most acceptable method of making payment on the new online lodgment system. The IPA is also looking into the possibilities of using mobile phones for payment of services on the new online lodgment system including prepaid accounts such is the current EFF prepaid account set up. All company and business owners and or directors of the business entity will need to pre-register a nominee who will be the authorized person to access the entity's database. This nominee should be a company director and in the event of pre-registering this person, he or she will be given a password which will be used to login to do any company searches or lodgments in the new online lodgment system.
Why is it important to pre-register an account for the Online Lodgment System?
There will be some waiting period for the Registrar to authorize you to lodge documents on behalf of the business entity. Pre-registration will allow you to use the new system immediately after the system go live at the end of the year. ONLY people who have pre-registered accounts will be able to access and lodge documents or access and update their records in the database in the new system.
So why go online?
Doing business in the last decade has increased with technology. PNG has been ranked below global indicators for its performance. With the review of the company and business legislation, it paves way for the introduction of a more web-enabled system. The introduction of the online registry system is a way of addressing the issue and simplifying the processes of doing business in PNG.
Who will benefit from the Online Registry System?
Any persons intending to register a business entity or file documents or do searches without coming to the IPA office will benefit from the online system.
Will IPA still accept manual lodgments?
Yes! Whilst the IPA encourages clients to do business online, it will still accept manual lodgments during its transition period to allow clients to pre-register their accounts and get used to the system. Clients may decide to continue with manual lodgments or register for online registration which provides an easier and efficient way of doing business.
How can I know more about the Online Registry System and other changes to the Company Act and Business Name Act?
By talking to officers at the Investment Promotion Authority on the following telephone numbers: (675) 308 4440, 308 4531, 308 4420, 308 4428, or email onlinelodgment[earth]ipa[dot]gov[dot]pg.