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ABN, ACN, GST and the rest: what every Australian business actually has to register for

Australian business registration is a set of separate identifiers that do different jobs. Most confusion comes from assuming one of them covers the others.

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  1. An ABN identifies the business, not the company

    The Australian Business Number is an 11-digit identifier for anyone carrying on an enterprise, including sole traders. It is free, and without one your customers must withhold tax at the top rate from payments to you.

  2. An ACN identifies a company specifically

    The Australian Company Number is issued by ASIC when a company is incorporated. A company has both an ACN and an ABN, and the ABN usually contains the ACN.

  3. GST registration is a separate step

    Having an ABN does not register you for GST. That happens at $75,000 turnover, or immediately if you drive a taxi or rideshare regardless of turnover.

  4. A business name is not a legal entity

    Registering a business name with ASIC gives you the right to trade under it. It gives you no ownership of the name and no legal protection, which is what a trade mark is for.

  5. PAYG withholding registration comes with the first employee

    The moment you pay wages, you must register to withhold. This is also when Single Touch Payroll reporting and superannuation obligations begin.

  6. Workers compensation is a state scheme

    icare in NSW, WorkSafe in Victoria, WorkCover in Queensland and equivalents elsewhere. It is compulsory, it is separate from every federal registration, and it is per state.

  7. Domain eligibility is tied to your registration

    A com.au domain requires an Australian presence, an ABN, ACN or an Australian trade mark, and the name must relate to your business. This catches out overseas companies constantly.

  8. Trade marks are the only real name protection

    IP Australia registration is what stops someone else using your brand. A business name and a domain together still do not.

  9. The order that saves the most rework

    Check the name is available as a trade mark and a domain first, then structure, then ABN and ACN, then GST and PAYG when the thresholds arrive. Doing it the other way round is how businesses end up renaming in year two.

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