Frequently Asked Questions

An Australian Business Number (ABN) is a unique 11-digit number used to identify a business or organisation when dealing with the Australian Government, other businesses and the community.

Depending on your business structure, you may need to provide information including your:

• Full legal name and date of birth
• Tax File Number (TFN), where available
• Residential and business addresses
• Contact details
• Business activities
• Business structure and commencement details

Providing accurate information, including your TFN where applicable, can help the Australian Business Register verify your identity and process your application more efficiently.

We strongly recommend providing your TFN where available. Your TFN is separate from your ABN and may be used to help verify your identity.

An application can still be submitted without a TFN in some circumstances; however, additional verification may be required and this can delay processing.

Many applications can be processed promptly when the information provided can be successfully verified.

If the ABR needs to check additional information, you may receive an application reference number. The ABR currently advises that it aims to review these applications within 20 business days and will contact the applicant if further information is required.

If you are a sole trader and previously held an ABN, you would generally reactivate your existing ABN rather than obtain another ABN for the same entity.

A sole trader generally uses the same ABN for the activities conducted under that individual business structure. An ABN identifies the entity rather than each individual business activity or Business Name.

You can operate multiple activities or registered Business Names under the same sole trader ABN where appropriate.

Not necessarily. The ABR allows an ABN record to include a main business activity and additional business activities. Your ABN details should be kept accurate and updated when your business circumstances change.

Our ABN Registration & Reactivation service is $69.

This is a professional service fee for reviewing and processing your application and providing support where required.

Nexa Business Services Pty Ltd is a private service provider and is not an Australian Government agency.

You can search your details using our free ABN Lookup tool.

If you receive an application reference number rather than an ABN immediately, the ABR may need to verify information or request additional details before determining the application.

The ABR currently states that it aims to review these applications within 20 business days.

Nexa Business Services provides a paid application service that includes professional review of the information provided, application processing and support throughout the process.

You can also request GST Registration and Business Name Registration as part of the same application, making it easier to complete multiple business registrations in one place.

A Business Name is the name under which you conduct your business when it is different from your own legal name.

Business Names in Australia are registered through the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).

To apply for a Business Name, you generally need either an ABN or an ABN application reference number.

If you also need an ABN, you can apply for both services through our ABN Registration form:

No. Your proposed Business Name is subject to ASIC's availability and registration requirements.

A name may be unavailable or require further assessment if, for example, it is identical or nearly identical to an existing registered name. ASIC's name-checking process can return a name as available, requiring manual assessment, or unavailable.

If your requested Business Name cannot be registered, our team will contact you and ask you to provide an alternative name.

We can then attempt to register the alternative without an additional service charge.

A registered company and a sole trader are different business structures. “Pty Ltd” indicates an Australian proprietary company rather than a sole trader.

If you want to operate through a company, the company must first be registered with ASIC.

Business Names can be registered or renewed for 1 year or 3 years.

Our Business Name Registration service is:

• 1 Year — $119
• 3 Years — $199

Once an application has been submitted and payment has cleared, ASIC states that registration can take up to 24 hours. A Business Name can be used once it appears on the Business Names Register.

If your Business Name application relies on your ABN, the ABN details must be valid for the registration to proceed. If your ABN needs to be reactivated first, you can request this through our ABN Registration & Reactivation service.

Complete our online Business Name Registration form and check your proposed Business Name before submitting your application.

Goods and Services Tax (GST) is a 10% tax on most goods and services sold or consumed in Australia.

Once registered, businesses generally need to account for GST on taxable sales and may be entitled to claim GST credits on eligible business purchases.

GST registration is generally required if:

• Your GST turnover is $75,000 or more.
• Your non-profit organisation has GST turnover of $150,000 or more.
• You provide taxi, limousine or ride-sourcing services, regardless of turnover.
• You want to claim fuel tax credits for your business.

Yes. If you provide taxi, limousine or ride-sourcing services, GST registration is required regardless of your turnover.

The normal $75,000 threshold does not apply to ride-sourcing activities.

Yes. GST registration is linked to your ABN. Ride-sourcing drivers, for example, must have an ABN and be registered for GST.

If you need both, you can request ABN and GST Registration together:

Yes, businesses that are below the compulsory registration threshold may generally choose to register voluntarily.

Once registered, GST obligations apply, including accounting for GST on taxable sales and lodging the required activity statements.

If your business reaches the GST registration threshold, registration requirements depend on your circumstances. For ride-sourcing specifically, the ATO states that drivers must register for GST regardless of turnover and, if they already have an ABN, register within 21 days of starting ride-sourcing services.

Once registered, you may need to:

• Include GST in the price of taxable sales.
• Issue tax invoices where required.
• Keep appropriate business records.
• Claim eligible GST credits.
• Lodge Business Activity Statements (BAS) and pay any GST amounts due.

Complete our secure online GST Registration form. Our team will review the information provided and process your registration.