The Australian Business Register (ABR) recently upgraded its registration services, making it even easier to set up a business. As part of the online Australian business number (ABN) application, you can now register for:
- a business name - for individuals and organisations with an Australian Company Number or Australian Registered Body Number;
- an AUSkey; and
- GST/fuel tax credits and PAYG withholding.
Some of your details will be pre-filled from one registration to the next.
If you choose not to apply for these registrations at the same time as your ABN application, you can apply at a later date but will need to do so directly with each agency.
ABN REGISTRATION TIPS
To prevent delays in the online process, make sure:
- you are entitled to an ABN – you must have started trading or have undertaken business commencement activities to trade in Australia;
- you provide the correct date of birth;
- the business address is a street address (for example, 123 Smith Street, Smithfield) – do not use a post office box number, RMB (roadside mail box) or other delivery point address. You can use the home address if you operate a home-based business or are a contractor who works at different sites;
- you do not include – phrases such as ‘trading as’, ‘ATF’, ‘liquidation’ or ‘the body corporate for’ in the legal name – the name of the trustee in the legal name of the trust (for example, Smith Pty Ltd as trustee for the Smith Family Trust) – phrases such as ‘t/tee’, ‘exec’ or ‘exec for’;
- the legal name for a Corporations Act company matches the name registered with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) – this must be an exact match including all full stops and character spacing; and
- the earliest ABN start date is the date of incorporation (if the company is registered with ASIC).
While you are not legally required to provide a TFN, if you don’t, the online application may fail if the data listed above does not exactly match the information the ATO holds. In the case of a partnership, trust, or company, make sure you provide the TFN for associated individuals or entities.
