Obtain a company seal
Agency: Seal maker
Although companies are not expressly mandated by law to make a company seal, they are required to have a seal to meet the Companies Act requirements for issuing share certificates for entering into deeds and contracts. The fee for a seal varies with its size but is about PGK 40–80. A seal can be obtained in up to 4 days and can also be applied for online: http://www.theodist.com/print-shop/custom-rubber-stamps.
Time and cost: 4 days, PGK 60
Reserve company name and complete the registration process
Agency: Registrar
A company registration application must be submitted to the Registrar of Companies. Using standard Form 1, the application must include 3 proposed names of the company, the postal and street address of the registered office, and the number and names of the directors, the shareholders, and the secretaries.
Form 1 must also be accompanied by: A certified copy of the company constitution, if applicable; Form 6, an application for name reservation
A company is no longer required to have a memorandum or articles of association. A proposed company may opt to have a constitution but is not required to do so.
Total fees to register are
- Form 1 – PGK 400 (Online) and PGK 500 (Over the counter)
- Form 6 – PGK 50 (Online) and PGK 100 (Over the counter)
Time and cost: 7 days, PGK 600
Register with the Tax Authorities and the Employment Register
Agency: Internal Revenue Commission
Under the Income Tax Act, a company carrying on business or deriving income in Papua New Guinea must appoint a Papua New Guinea resident to be a public officer. The appointment must be made 3 months from the date the company starts business operations or derives income in the country, by written notice to the Internal Revenue Commission.
All tax notices and forms are filed to the attention of the Internal Revenue Commissioner. Although different officers in this agency will likely attend to the separate notices and forms, these forms can be submitted to the Commissioner in a single filing. The procedure takes a week to a month.
If a company employs one or more employees in Papua New Guinea with a weekly salary of more than PGK 126 a week, they must register as a “group employer” by submitting a written notice to the Internal Revenue Commission. No fees apply.
Any business or individual whose annual turnover exceeds (or is likely to exceed) PGK 100,000, must register for goods and services tax (GST) by filing Form 1 with the Internal Revenue Commission. This standard form requires the company business name and a description of its proposed main business activities along with the street and postal address of the registered office and a statement of its monthly sales and liabilities (approximate). No fees apply.
Time and cost: 9 days, no charge
Apply for a trade license from the National Capital District Commission
Agency: National Capital District Commission
Companies in Port Moresby must obtain a trading license from the National Capital District Commission.
Time and cost: 20 days, PGK 750
Open an account at an Authorized Superannuation Fund (ASF)
Agency: Authorized Superannuation Fund
According to the amendment to the Superannuation (General Provisions) Act 2000, a company with 20 or more employees must contribute to an Authorized Superannuation Fund (ASF; a superannuation fund that the Central Bank has approved and licensed).
An employer must remit its employer contributions to the ASF within 14 days of the end of each calendar month in which the relevant contribution is due for deduction from an employee’s pay. It is an offence not to make contributions. Under the act, the Central Bank has the power to instigate proceedings against any offence by a person. It takes 7–10 days to open an account.
Time and cost: 9 days (simultaneous with previous procedure), no charge
Register workers with the private insurers for work injury
Agency: Insurance company
Although there is no registration requirement, it is an offence for an employer to employ any worker without an insurance or indemnity policy issued by a licensed insurer for injury to the worker arising out of or during employment. Registration time is 10 – 30 days.
Time and cost: 20 days (simultaneous with previous procedure), PGK 200
