Register Company in Australia 2026

• Confirm availability through ASIC’s name-check tool and ensure the name is not identical or deceptively similar to an existing entity. 

• Most foreign founders select a Pty Ltd company, limited to 50 non-employee shareholders and unable to raise funds from the public. 

• Every director must secure this identifier through the Australian Business Registry Services (ABRS) before the application is lodged. 

• Satisfy the mandatory residency requirement through a locally based founder, business partner or nominee director service. 

• Both addresses must be physical Australian locations. 

• Submission through the Business Registration Service issues your Australian Company Number. 

• Register through the Australian Business Register (ABR) to obtain your Australian Business Number, which is required to invoice clients and claim GST credits. 

• Apply for a tax file number and, if projected turnover exceeds AU$75,000, register for GST with the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). 

• Most Australian banks require in-person verification or certified documentation for non-resident directors and shareholders. 

Founders comparing this process against other entity types should review our overview of the 6 types of business structures in Australia in 2026 before committing to a Pty Ltd. 

What documents do you need to register a company in Australia?

Having the right paperwork ready before you start reduces the most common cause of delay: back-and-forth requests from ASIC or your service provider after lodgment has already begun. 

For each proposed director and shareholder: 

• A valid passport or national photo identification 

• Proof of residential address, such as a recent utility bill or bank statement, typically dated within the last three months 

• A completed Director Identification Number application, or evidence of an existing DIN 

• Contact details, including a personal email address and phone number, since ASIC and the ABR communicate directly with officeholders 

For the company itself: 

• The proposed company name, along with one or two backup options in case the first choice is not available 

• Confirmation of the registered office address and principal place of business, both of which must be physical Australian addresses 

• Details of the share structure, including the number of shares issued and their allocation among shareholders 

• A company constitution, if the default replaceable rules under the Corporations Act 2001 are not being adopted 

If you are relying on a resident director service: 

• A signed nominee director agreement outlining the scope, duration and limits of the arrangement 

• Board resolutions or shareholder agreements confirming that beneficial control remains with the actual founders, despite the nominee’s formal officeholder status 

For bank account opening, often the most document-heavy step: 

• Certified copies of passports and proof of address for all directors and signatories 

• The company’s certificate of incorporation and ACN 

• A description of the business activity and expected transaction volumes, which banks use for anti-money laundering checks 

• In many cases, in-person verification at a branch, or a video call, for non-resident directors 

Practical takeaway: founders based overseas should start gathering certified identification documents and proof of address well before engaging a service provider, since certification requirements, such as a notary, an Australian consulate, or specific professional categories, vary and can take longer to arrange than the incorporation itself. 

What is the difference between ACN and ABN?

Understanding the distinction between these two identifiers is central to Australian company registration for foreigners. 

Identifier	Issued By	Purpose
ACN (Australian Company Number)	ASIC	Unique nine-digit number identifying the company as a legal entity
ABN (Australian Business Number)	Australian Business Register (ABR)	Eleven-digit number used for tax, invoicing and GST purposes; incorporates the ACN

Practical takeaway: a company must obtain its ACN from ASIC first, since the ABN application references the ACN as part of the eleven-digit structure. 

How much does it cost to register a company in Australia?

Company registration cost in Australia figures vary depending on whether you engage a professional service provider or self-lodge directly with ASIC. 

Item	Cost (AU$)	Notes
ASIC company registration (Pty Ltd)	636	From 1 July 2026
Director Identification Number	Free	Mandatory via Australian Business Registry Services
ABN registration	Free	Via Australian Business Register
Tax file number registration	Free	Via ATO
GST registration	Free	Mandatory above AU$75,000 turnover
ASIC annual review fee	342	Payable each year to maintain registration

Practical takeaway: government fees are modest, but founders without a resident director should budget for an ongoing nominee director service as part of their annual compliance cost. 

Can a foreigner register a company in Australia?

Register Company in Australia as a non-resident 

• Answer: Yes. Foreign individuals and companies can own 100% of an Australian Pty Ltd, since there is no residency restriction on shareholders. 

• Explanation: The only structural constraint applies to directors, where at least one must ordinarily reside in Australia. Certain regulated sectors, such as agricultural land or sensitive infrastructure, may also require Foreign Investment Review Board for clearance regardless of entity type. 

• Evidence: Non-resident founders commonly satisfy the resident director rule through a professional nominee director arrangement while retaining full control through shareholding and reserved matters in the company constitution. 

• Verdict: Register company in Australia as a foreigner is entirely achievable, provided the resident director requirement and any sector-specific approvals are addressed early in the planning process. 

Start a Company in Australia from Overseas 

• Best for: founders with an established product, service or customer base who need a credible local entity without relocating immediately. 

• Main challenge: sourcing a compliant resident director and navigating Director Identification Number verification, which can take longer for applicants without an Australian tax file number. 

• Verdict: engaging a corporate services provider to arrange the resident director and manage lodgement significantly reduces delays for founders based overseas. Our 4 things to know if you plan to register company in Australia guide covers additional planning considerations for non-resident founders. 

Ongoing compliance after you register a company in Australia

• Annual review: ASIC issues an annual review statement and invoices the annual review fee; details must be confirmed or updated within the required timeframe. 

• Financial records: Companies must maintain adequate financial records for at least seven years under the Corporations Act 2001. 

• Tax lodgment: Companies lodge annual returns with the Australian Taxation Office and pay company tax at 30%, or 25% for eligible base rate entities with turnover under AU$50 million. 

• Register of members and officeholders: Companies must keep registers up to date and notify ASIC of any change in director, shareholder or registered office details. 

• Takeaway: Consistent compliance protects your company’s good standing and avoids ASIC penalties for late lodgment. 

What are the tax and accounting obligations after you register company in Australia?

• Obtaining your ACN and ABN is only the beginning. Once your Pty Ltd is trading, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) expects it to meet a recurring set of tax and reporting duties, while the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) oversees important corporate compliance obligations. Getting these requirements wrong is one of the common reasons foreign-owned companies face penalties or compliance issues in their first year. 

What corporate tax rate will my company pay?

Quick Answer: Australian companies pay either 25% or 30% company tax, depending on turnover and the proportion of income that is passive. 

A company qualifies as a “base rate entity” and pays the lower 25% rate if: 

• Its aggregated turnover is under AU$50 million, and 

• No more than 80% of its assessable income is passive (interest, dividends, rent and similar sources) 

Companies that do not meet these tests pay the standard 30% rate. 

Practical takeaway: most early-stage foreign-owned trading companies fall into the 25% bracket, but this should be confirmed with an accountant each financial year, since turnover and income mix can shift the rate. 

Do I need to register for GST?

• Yes. Once your projected or actual turnover passes AU$75,000 in a 12-month period, GST registration with the ATO becomes compulsory. Below that threshold it is optional, though many B2B companies register voluntarily so that they can claim GST credits on business expenses from day one. 

What is a Business Activity Statement (BAS), and how often do you lodge one?

Once registered for GST, your company reports and pays GST, and usually PAYG withholding, through a Business Activity Statement. Key points to note: 

• Most small and mid-sized companies lodge quarterly 

• The ATO can require monthly lodgment for larger businesses or those with a history of late payment 

• Missing a BAS deadline triggers penalties that scale with how overdue the statement is, so this is worth building into your calendar from the outset 

Do you need to run payroll and pay superannuation if you hire staff? 

If your company employs anyone in Australia, the following obligations apply: 

• Registration for Pay As You Go (PAYG) withholding is required 

• Payroll must be run through Single Touch Payroll (STP), which reports wage and super information to the ATO each pay run 

• Superannuation guarantee contributions must be paid on top of salary, currently set at 12% of an eligible employee’s ordinary time earnings 

• From 1 July 2026, “Payday Super” rules take effect, requiring employers to pay superannuation at the same time as wages rather than quarterly, so companies planning to hire staff should factor this tighter payment cycle into their cash flow planning 

What records do you need to keep, and for how long?

• Companies must maintain accurate financial and business records, including invoices, receipts, bank statements, payroll records and supporting documentation. 

• For tax purposes, records generally need to be kept for at least five years, although certain corporate records and documents may be subject to longer retention requirements. Companies should therefore establish a proper record-keeping system from the beginning. 

• The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) also imposes corporate reporting obligations on certain companies. Larger proprietary companies that meet applicable size thresholds may have additional ASIC financial reporting and audit requirements. 

Do you need a registered tax agent or an accountant?

It is not legally mandatory for every company, but in practice, most foreign founders engage a local accountant or registered tax agent to handle: 

• BAS preparation and lodgment 

• Annual company tax returns 

• Payroll and PAYG compliance 

• Superannuation obligations 

• Financial reporting requirements 

• ASIC annual review and corporate compliance obligations 

Beyond avoiding penalties, a local accountant is often essential simply to interpret ATO correspondence and deadlines correctly, particularly for directors who are not based in Australia year-round. 

Using professional accounting support can also help foreign directors understand ATO and ASIC correspondence, reporting deadlines and ongoing compliance requirements, particularly when the company’s directors or owners are based outside Australia. 

Practical takeaway: budgeting for ongoing accounting support alongside your ASIC annual review fee gives a more realistic picture of your true cost of maintaining an Australian company, rather than treating incorporation as a one-off expense. 

How can Tetra Consultants help you register a company in Australia?

Tetra Consultants supports founders through every stage of Australian company registration for foreigners, including: 

• Offshore company incorporation: Our team manages end-to-end offshore company incorporation, including ASIC lodgment, ACN and ABN applications and registered office arrangements. 

• Corporate bank account opening: We coordinate corporate bank account opening with banks experienced in serving non-resident directors and shareholders. 

• International trademark registration: Protect your brand before you launch through international trademark registration, securing your intellectual property across your target markets. 

• Resident director and compliance support: Our specialists arrange compliant resident director solutions and manage ongoing ASIC and ATO obligations, so your company remains in good standing year after year. 

Founders evaluating whether incorporation is worthwhile should also review the benefits of registering a company in Australia and our successful case study of Australia company setup, which illustrates a real engagement from planning through to an operational entity. 

Conclusion

• Australia offers a stable, well-regulated environment for founders who want to establish a credible local presence, provided the resident director requirement and ASIC compliance obligations are planned for from the outset.  

• Whether you are a first-time founder or expanding an existing international business, working with an experienced corporate services provider removes much of the administrative friction from the process.  

• Contact us and we will revert within 24 hours. 

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