What happens if your society doesn’t reregister
Why it’s important to act before 5 April 2026
Your society must actively decide whether to reregister under the Incorporated Societies Act 2022 (2022 Act).
Before 5 April 2026 it must either:
- apply to reregister to continue operating as an incorporated society, or
- appoint a liquidator, or
- wind up its operations and apply to be dissolved.
If your society does nothing it will cease to exist. That could have serious implications — especially if your society has any debts (or obligations such as leases) or it owns any assets.
If your society decides not to reregister
Your society may decide to appoint a liquidator, or it can apply to be dissolved if it has ceased to carry on operations. Before applying for dissolution, the society’s assets (if any) should be fully distributed and all liabilities discharged. In any event, you should check and follow your society’s rules. These should set out the steps you must take to deal with your society’s assets and debts, and what meetings you must hold.
You must also appoint a liquidator or apply for dissolution before 5 April 2026.
If your society does nothing
Your society will cease to exist unless it does one of the following before 5 April 2026:
- Apply to reregister,
- Appoint a liquidator, or
- Apply to be dissolved.
If your society ceases to exist it would no longer be an incorporated society.
- Your society would no longer be registered as a separate legal identity. Members could be held personally liable for debts or obligations (such as leases) owed by the society. Similarly, your society could not sign any new contracts in its name.
- This also removes your right to make decisions on behalf of your society. Such as, deciding what happens to any assets it owns; the Registrar could direct how to distribute them instead.
- The name your society used will no longer have any protection – another group could incorporate using the same name.
Published 5 October 2023, updated 8 May 2025
Other guides in
Reregistering under the 2022 Act
- Getting ready for reregistering
- Reregistration videos and tools
- Your society will need a constitution
- Using our Constitution Builder to draft or revise a society’s constitution
- Applying to reregister your society
