Do I need to register for GST in Australia?

GST (Goods and Services Tax) is a 10% tax on most goods and services sold in Australia. Whether your new business must register for GST depends on your expected turnover — and the rules are stricter than many founders realise.

The $75,000 threshold

You must register for GST if your business has a GST turnover of $75,000 or more in a 12-month period (or if you expect to reach this in the next 12 months). For non-profit organisations, the threshold is $150,000.

“GST turnover” means your gross business income (not profit) — the total amount you invoice or earn, before expenses.

Can I register voluntarily below the threshold?

Yes — if your turnover is below $75,000, you can choose to register for GST voluntarily. This is often beneficial if:

• Your customers are GST-registered businesses who can claim GST credits
• You make significant GST-taxable purchases and want to claim credits
• You want to appear more established when dealing with larger clients

What happens when you are registered for GST?

Once registered, you must:

1. Add 10% GST to your prices and show it clearly on your invoices (called a “tax invoice”)
2. Lodge a Business Activity Statement (BAS) with the ATO — typically quarterly or monthly — reporting the GST you collected and what you can claim back
3. Pay the net GST to the ATO: what you collected minus what you paid on business purchases (“Input Tax Credits”)

GST and the company registration process

When you register a new Pty Ltd company, you receive an ABN and ACN. GST registration is a separate step done through the ATO — but both can often be applied for at the same time using the ATO's online services.

After your company is registered through our platform, your Compliance Roadmap in the dashboard will guide you through your ABN application, GST registration (if applicable), and other critical first steps within your first 30 days.

Special cases

Taxi and ride-sharing drivers

If you provide taxi travel or ride-sharing services, you must register for GST regardless of your turnover — even if you earn less than $75,000.

Selling online internationally

If you sell goods or digital services to customers overseas, different GST rules may apply. Cross-border GST is a specialist area — consider speaking with a registered tax agent.

Key takeaways

• Mandatory GST registration at $75,000 turnover (or $150,000 for non-profits)
• Register within 21 days of exceeding the threshold
• Voluntary registration is available below the threshold
• GST registration is separate from ASIC company registration — you need an ABN first