🇦🇺 Australia · Company Registration
Entity types, registration process, required documents, costs, and official registries.
Quick answer
Companies in Australia register with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and receive an Australian Company Number (ACN); most also obtain an Australian Business Number (ABN) and register for GST. A proprietary limited company (Pty Ltd) is standard.
Companies are registered with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), which issues an Australian Company Number (ACN); an Australian Business Number (ABN) is then obtained from the Australian Business Register.
- ASIC registers the company and issues the ACN; a proprietary limited (Pty Ltd) is the common form.
- An ABN from the Australian Business Register is used for tax, GST and invoicing.
- Company details are searchable on the ASIC registers.
Step-by-step
- 1
Choose a business structure
Decide between a sole trader, partnership, trust or company; the proprietary limited company (Pty Ltd) is the usual choice for a private business and gives limited liability.
- 2
Apply for a Director ID
Every company director must obtain a Director Identification Number from the Australian Business Registry Services (ABRS) before being appointed.
- 3
Check and reserve a company name
Search the ASIC and business-name registers to confirm the name is available, and check that a matching web domain is free; you can reserve the name if needed.
- 4
Register the company with ASIC
Register with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (directly or through the Business Registration Service) and pay the fee; you receive an Australian Company Number (ACN).
- 5
Get an ABN and register for tax
Apply for an Australian Business Number (ABN) and a company tax file number (TFN), and register for GST if turnover will reach A$75,000, plus PAYG withholding if you employ staff.
- 6
Open a bank account and meet obligations
Open a business bank account, keep your details current on the ASIC register, and pay the annual review fee to keep the company registered.
Checklist
- Business structure chosen (usually Pty Ltd)
- Director ID for every director (from ABRS)
- Company name cleared on ASIC + domain checked
- ASIC registration + Australian Company Number (ACN)
- Australian Business Number (ABN) + company TFN
- GST registration if turnover ≥ A$75,000
- PAYG withholding if employing staff
- Business bank account + annual review fee
Official authorities
- Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC)
Company registration and corporate regulation.
- Australian Business Register (ABN)
Australian Business Number registration.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a resident director?
Yes — a proprietary company must have at least one director who ordinarily resides in Australia.
What is the difference between an ACN and an ABN?
The ACN identifies the company at ASIC; the ABN is a broader business identifier used for tax and invoicing, obtained via the ATO/ABR.
Do I need to register for GST?
Registration is required once turnover reaches the GST threshold, and optional below it.
Official-information aggregation, not legal advice. Always verify on the authority's own site.
Government portals
- Australian Government — Australian Government's official entry point — quick access to all department services
- Dept of Home Affairs — Student/work visas, skilled migration (189/190/491 subclasses), and citizenship applications
- Australian Tax Office (ATO) — TFN application, tax refunds, GST, superannuation, and personal income tax lodgment