Respond to a Director Penalty Notice (DPN)

Stop the ATO from pursuing your personal assets for company tax debts.

You have received a Director Penalty Notice making you personally liable for your company’s unpaid PAYG, GST or superannuation. We will immediately assess your notice, identify every available defence, and implement a response strategy to protect your personal assets. You will have a clear path forward and the confidence that comes from having experienced advocates in your corner.

What is a Director Penalty Notice and why does it matter?

A Director Penalty Notice is issued by the ATO when a company has failed to pay its PAYG withholding, GST or superannuation guarantee obligations. Once issued, you as director become personally liable for those company debts. You have strict timeframes to respond, and certain defences are only available within the first 21 days of the notice being posted.

What is the difference between a lockdown and a standard Director Penalty Notice?

A standard DPN allows you to avoid personal liability by placing the company into voluntary administration or liquidation within 21 days. A lockdown DPN, issued where obligations were reported late or not at all, removes this option. Identifying which type you have received is critical to building your defence.

How long do I have to respond to a Director Penalty Notice?

You have 21 days from the date the DPN was posted to take action that preserves your key defences. After 21 days, certain options are no longer available. If you have received a DPN, contact us immediately.

Can I be personally liable for company tax debts I did not know about?

Yes. A Director Penalty Notice can make you personally liable even if you were unaware of the unpaid obligations, particularly where the company’s reporting obligations were not met on time. This is why early legal advice is essential for any director who receives a DPN.

What options are available if the company is already in financial difficulty?

A range of options may still be available depending on the type of DPN and the company’s circumstances, including voluntary administration, payment arrangements, and other defences. We will assess your specific situation and advise you on the options available to protect your personal position.

Utilise every available defence to eliminate or reduce your personal liability.

Shield your home, savings and investments from ATO recovery action.

Avoid personal bankruptcy and protect your credit standing.

Not sure what type of DPN you have received or what defences apply?

Before we explain the process, let us review your notice and confirm your position. The type of DPN determines which defences are available, and the clock is already running.

Don't let company tax debts become your personal nightmare.

The ATO has issued a Director Penalty Notice making you personally liable for your company’s unpaid tax. You have only 21 days to respond before key defences expire, and the stakes could not be higher. Your home, savings, and financial security are all at risk.

A Director Penalty Notice puts everything you own at risk. Don't face it alone.

You are a company director who has worked hard to build and manage a business. Out of the blue, you receive a Director Penalty Notice from the ATO. Suddenly, you are personally liable for company tax debts that may amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars. The notice is complex, the timeframes are tight, and the consequences of responding incorrectly are catastrophic.

What's included in your DPN response service

Immediate review of your Director Penalty Notice and deadline assessment.
Identification of all available defences based on your specific notice type.
Development of a tailored response strategy to minimise personal liability.
Direct ATO negotiations and communications on your behalf.
Preparation and lodgement of all required documentation.

The ATO has made you personally liable. Your assets are now at risk.

If you ignore the DPN or respond incorrectly, the ATO will pursue aggressive recovery action against you personally. This means garnishing wages, freezing bank accounts, placing caveats on property, and potentially forcing the sale of your assets. After 21 days, key defences are lost and your options narrow significantly.

Here is how we protect you from personal financial ruin.

We will immediately take control of your DPN response, removing the uncertainty and fear. Our team will deploy every available legal defence, handle all ATO communications, and negotiate to eliminate or minimise your personal liability. With the matter resolved, you can move forward without the threat of personal financial ruin and focus on what comes next.

Your DPN defence plan.

From DPN crisis to personal asset protection. We defend directors when it matters most.

Assess your notice

We will immediately review your DPN, confirm whether it is a lockdown or standard notice, calculate your deadlines, and identify every defence available to you.

Develop your response

We will gather all relevant information about your directorship and the company's circumstances, then build a comprehensive strategy tailored to your specific situation.

Negotiate and defend

We will engage directly with the ATO on your behalf, present your case, raise all available defences, and negotiate the best possible outcome to protect your personal assets.

Experienced director penalty lawyers who understand the urgency of your situation.

We understand the shock and fear that comes with receiving a Director Penalty Notice. The sudden realisation that your personal assets, everything you have worked for, are at risk because of company debts is genuinely distressing. We have helped many directors navigate this exact situation, bringing 25 years of ATO negotiation experience to bear when it matters most.

We understand you want to know the cost, before we get started.

We will map out our process, from beginning to end, so you know what the journey will look like before you get started.

We will provide you with a clear and detailed Work Proposal covering each step along the way.

Our fair fees are all-inclusive. No hidden costs for telephone calls, emails, photocopying, couriers, or coffee.

Our great lawyer guarantee

We want to be part of your team over the long term. We achieve this by adhering to these core principles:

Take the time

We listen carefully to understand what you want to achieve. Then we thoroughly explain our advice and step you through the documents. You can be sure you know the full consequences.

Share our knowledge

We will pass on as much knowledge as we can, so you can make your own informed decisions. We want to make you truly independent.

Stick to our knitting

We only do what we're good at. You can be confident that we know what we're doing and don't pass on the cost of our learning.

Work as one team

Someone will always be available to answer your questions, or point you in the right direction. You will also benefit from a range of perspectives and experience.

Fair pricing

For advice and documents, we provide a fixed or capped quote so you don't take price risk. If you're in a dispute, we map out the process and costs so you know what to expect.

It's your show

We're not in this for our egos. We're in it for a front row seat to witness your success.

Act now. The clock is ticking.

Speak with one of our experienced director penalty lawyers today. We will review your notice, identify your defences, and take immediate action to protect your personal assets. Time is critical.

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