Bankruptcy check - Australia

Australian National Character Check (ANCC) offers discount bankruptcy checks online, searching the National Personal Insolvency Index (NPII) to confirm whether a person has been declared bankrupt or entered a personal insolvency agreement.

We search the National Personal Insolvency Index (NPII), maintained by the Australian Financial Security Authority (AFSA), to confirm whether a person is currently or previously bankrupt.

Ideal for employers, landlords, lenders and businesses, our secure online bankruptcy search delivers quick, reliable results at a competitive price, Australia-wide.

Bankruptcy can affect someone's suitability for roles involving trust or financial responsibility, making the check ideal for all finance related roles.

Results include the type and date of proceedings, debtor details and the administration end date.

A bankruptcy check searches Australia's National Personal Insolvency Index (NPII) for personal insolvency records associated with an individual. The NPII is a publicly available electronic record maintained under Australia's bankruptcy framework.

Bankruptcy checks may help employers, financial service providers, creditors, and other decision-makers assess candidates or individuals for roles and responsibilities involving money, financial controls, or positions of trust.

A bankruptcy check does not contain company records.

A bankruptcy check searches for personal insolvency information recorded against an individual in Australia. It can indicate whether a person is currently bankrupt or has been involved in certain personal insolvency proceedings.

The search is based on identifying details supplied for the individual. Accurate information is important because people may share the same or similar names.

The National Personal Insolvency Index (NPII) is the official public electronic record of certain personal insolvency proceedings in Australia. The Australian Financial Security Authority (AFSA) maintains the register on behalf of the Inspector-General in Bankruptcy.

NPII records relate to proceedings under the Bankruptcy Act 1966. The register includes historical personal insolvency information and is not limited to people who are currently bankrupt.

Depending on the available record, a bankruptcy check may show:

• The individual's name, date of birth and recorded aliases;
• The type of personal insolvency administration or proceeding;
• The date the administration or proceeding started;
• The trustee, administrator or controlling trustee;
• The current status, including whether a bankruptcy has been discharged or annulled; and
• Other information recorded on the NPII under the applicable legislation.

Record types may include bankruptcies, debt agreements, personal insolvency agreements, and certain related proceedings.

A bankruptcy check is not:

• A consumer credit report or credit score;
• A search of unpaid bills, ordinary debts or repayment history;
• A criminal history check;
• A company liquidation or company administration search; or
• Legal or employment advice.

The NPII concerns individuals.

A bankruptcy check may be relevant to:

• Financial services, insurance, accounting and bookkeeping roles;
• Positions involving access to money, accounts or financial controls;
• Appointments to positions of trust;
• Creditors or parties considering a commercial relationship; and
• Licensing or regulatory processes where personal insolvency status is relevant.

Organisations should only request and use personal information for a lawful and relevant purpose. They should also consider privacy, consent, anti-discrimination and procedural fairness obligations before making a decision based on a result.

Applicants will generally need to provide identifying details such as:

• √ Full legal name;
• √ Date of birth;
• √ Any relevant previous names or aliases; and
• √ Other information requested during the application.

Providing complete and accurate details helps distinguish the subject from other people with similar names. Additional information may be required where a search returns possible matches.

Australian National Character Check provides an online bankruptcy check application for individuals and organisations.

1. Start the online bankruptcy check application.
2. Enter the requested identifying information accurately.
3. Review the details and complete payment.
4. Provide any further information requested to resolve possible matches.
5. Receive the result using the delivery method available through the service.

A result reflects information held on the NPII at the date and time of the search. A record does not, by itself, establish that a person is unsuitable for employment, licensing, credit or another purpose.

Before relying on a result, confirm that the record relates to the correct individual, consider the status and context of the proceeding, and make any further enquiries appropriate to the decision. Where a result will affect an individual, organisations should give that person a reasonable opportunity to verify or respond to the information.

Australian National Character Check provides online background checking services for individuals and organisations. Available services include bankruptcy checks, nationally coordinated criminal history checks and right to work checks (VEVO).

Australian National Character Check is not AFSA and does not control the information recorded on the NPII. Bankruptcy check results are based on information available from the relevant government source at the time of the search.