When to complete a letter of authority
A letter of authority is a legal document that authorises a third party to act on behalf of a business.
The person completing the letter of authority must be listed as an associate of the business on the Australian Business Register (ABR).
You will need to complete a letter of authority if:
- you would like to nominate someone within your business who is not listed as an associate on the ABR to act on behalf of your business – use sample text A as a base for your letter
- you would like your accountant, tax agent or BAS agent to act on behalf of your business – use sample text B as a base for your letter.
Applicants must consent to Service NSW conducting an audit of documents used to support an application to verify information provided.
What to include in a letter of authority
The information we require in a letter of authority is described in the following sample letters.
Incomplete information may result in application processing delays, or we may ask you to provide a new letter with the correct information.
How to write a letter of authority
Business letterhead
- Create a letter using your business letterhead.
- Copy and paste the text from either
- sample text A, if someone from your business is acting on behalf of the business
- sample text B, if your accountant, tax agent or BAS agent is acting on behalf of your business.
- Where you see the square brackets [ ], insert your specific details.
- Sign the letter of authority or insert a digital signature.
- Mail the document to us or send it by email as an attachment.
If you do not have business letterhead, you can provide a letter of authority as email from your business email address.
- Create a new email message.
- Copy and paste the text from either
- sample text A, if someone from your business is acting on behalf of the business
- sample text B, if your accountant, tax agent or BAS agent is acting on behalf of your business.
- Where you see the square brackets [ ], insert your specific details.
- Insert an email signature (if you have one).
- Send the email to us.
Sample text A: alternative business associate authorisation
To whom it may concern
I, [insert full name as recorded in the ABR] am an Associate of [insert registered business name and ACN/ABN] (‘the Business’) listed on the Australian Business Register and authorised to act on behalf of the Business. My position in relation to the Business is [insert your position title/role].
I authorise [insert full name, position title/role and contact details of the authorised person] to:
- apply for the [name of grant] on behalf of the Business; and
- act on behalf of the Business in matters related to the abovementioned grant application.
[full name and title of authorised ABR associate]
[date and signature of authorised ABR associate]
[phone number of the business]
[commercial address of the business]
Sample text B: authorise your accountant, tax agent or BAS agent
If you are a qualified accountant, registered tax agent or registered BAS agent applying on behalf of a business
Your client must complete a letter of authority on their company letterhead using sample text B if:
- you are a qualified accountant, registered tax agent or registered BAS agent
- your client has asked you to apply on their behalf for a grant, scheme or support program administered by Service NSW.
We will ask you to submit your client's signed letter during the online application process.
To whom it may concern
I, [insert full name as recorded in the ABR] am an Associate for [insert registered business name and ACN/ABN] (‘the Business’) listed on the Australian Business Register and am authorised to act on behalf of the Business. My position in relation to the Business is [insert position title/role].
I authorise [insert registered business name of the authorised accountant/tax agent/BAS agent, ABN/ACN, professional registration number and contact number] to:
- apply for the [name of grant] on behalf of the Business; and
- act on behalf of the Business in matters related to the abovementioned grant application.
[Important: Delete the next paragraph if you do not want the funds to be paid to your nominated accountant/ tax agent/ BAS agent ]
I authorise [insert name of authorised accountant/tax agent/BAS agent] to receive any funds that may be payable to the Business, if the application is approved, and I authorise Service NSW to deposit such funds into the account nominated by [name of authorised accountant/tax agent/BAS agent].
[full name and title of authorised ABR associate]
[date and signature of authorised ABR associate]
[phone number of the business]
[commercial address of the business]
Penalties
Giving false or misleading information is a serious offence under Part 5A of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW). A person convicted of an offence under Part 5A of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) is liable to imprisonment for up to 2 years and/or a fine of up to $22,000.