The Australian Business Number (ABN) was introduced on 1 July 2000 to enable businesses in Australia to deal with a range of government departments and agencies using a single identification number. The ABN is a public number which does not replace your tax file number.
ABN registration details become part of the Australian Business Register (ABR), which the ATO maintains on behalf of the Commonwealth. You can access the publicly available information contained in the ABR through the ABN Lookup web site.
An ABN:
An ABN is required if your business registers for GST - you must register for GST if your business has an annual turnover of $75,000 or more. If your business is a not-for-profit which records annual turnover of $150,000 or more you must register for GST.
You can apply for an ABN online.
You will receive on-line notification of your ABN upon completion of the application unless further verification is necessary. Under these circumstances your application will be processed manually by the ATO.
The ATO does not impose a fee for applying for an ABN online or by paper application.
Simply notify the ATO of changes to your business online ». This includes changes to your business structure, contact details or legal and trading names.
You must notify the ATO if you have ceased trading or your business has been sold. Further information on ending your business can be found at the following webpage »
You can reactivate your ABN via an online application or in writing:
You can replace an ABN under the following circumstances:
A request for a different number would only be approved where exceptional circumstances exist (e.g. for religious or cultural reasons) and the request must be in writing.
You can conduct any number of businesses/activities under the same ABN provided they all operate under the same business structure.
No, an ABN is not the same as a Tax File Number (TFN). A TFN is your personal number for dealing with the ATO. An ABN is a public number used in business dealings.
An ACN is an Australian Company Number - it is issued to an entity when it registers as a company under corporations law.
An ARBN is an Australian Registered Body Number - it is a nine digit number issued by the Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC).
For more information visit the ASIC website »
If you intend to register a company under the Australian Corporations Act 2001 you will need to obtain an ACN before completing your ABN application. To find out more about obtaining an ACN visit the ASIC website »
How you register your business name depends on the type of business you conduct - read more about registering your business name at business.gov.au »
If all businesses are conducted under the same business structure (e.g. same partners) you can use the existing ABN. To add additional trading names to your ABN you need to notify the ATO of changes to your business.
ABN Search is your free Australian Business Search powered by D&B Express. Access the ABN number and registered details of any business including information such as Business Name, ABN, ACN, Address and Registration Status.
Applying for an ABNWith immediate access to Australia's largest business database, ABN Search provides a gateway to D&B's Express credit reporting service offering you a range of reports for low, medium and high risk business decisions.
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