Australia
Australia: 2 company types, its taxes, banking and business environment, and what it is known for.
Forming a company
Company types in Australia
The 2 forms a founder can choose here, each with its own figures. Open one for its sources.
What it is known for
Where Australia is in the world’s top 10 on a measure anyone can check, the best rank first. Only the top is shown; a low rank is never stated.
- World’s1stWorld-leading exports Iron oreIron ores and concentrates, including roasted iron pyritesUS$87.4 bn · 54.8% of world exports of 130 exporters · 2024 CEPII BACI, January 2026 release See the top 10
- World’s1stWorld-leading exports Coal and coal briquettesCoal; briquettes, ovoids and similar solid fuels manufactured from coalUS$61.7 bn · 34.5% of world exports of 123 exporters · 2024 CEPII BACI, January 2026 release See the top 10
- World’s3rdWorld-leading exports Petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbonsUS$49 bn · 10.3% of world exports of 150 exporters · 2024 CEPII BACI, January 2026 release See the top 10
- World’s9thForeign investment Foreign direct investment received, a year on averageUS$42.3 bn of 182 economies · 2023–2025 World Bank, World Development Indicators See the top 10
A rank is among everything the source reports for that year, so it moves when the source adds or drops economies. Exports include goods passing through for re-export. Nothing here is a recommendation.
Doing business here
Business accounts
Providers whose own published list of countries names Australia. A listing means a company formed here may apply, not that it will be accepted.
Not in our records No provider's country list has been read for Australia.
EU listings
Two lists a bank checks when it opens an account for a company or its owner.
- EU high-risk third countries (AML)
- Not listed
- EU non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes
- Not listedOfficial EUR-Lex, 52026XG01465, Annex I as of 2026-02-17
Official sites
The authorities’ own sites for Australia: where to register, file and check.
Blocs and agreements
The trade arrangements Australia belongs to, as each arrangement’s own texts state them: since when, and what each covers. What a membership means for a business is for you to judge.
- Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership
- Free trade area · since 1 January 2022
Covers goods, services, investment.
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1 January 2022 Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, Japan, Lao PDR, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand, Viet Nam
- Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership
- Free trade area · since 30 December 2018
Covers goods, services, investment, public procurement.
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any State or separate customs territory may accede to this Agreement, subject to such terms and conditions as may be agreed between the Parties and that State or separate customs territory.
- Australia–New Zealand Closer Economic Relations
- Free trade area with New Zealand · since 1 January 1983
Covers goods, services, investment.
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the entry into force on 1 January 1983 of the Australia New Zealand Closer Economic Relations Trade Agreement (ANZCERTA).
Regional and customs arrangements only, 36 of them; bilateral trade agreements are not yet in our records.
Tax
Company tax
Tax, and what the company owes the registry each year.
- Corporate income tax
- 30%
- Distributions
- Not in our records
- Audit
- Not in our records
- Small-company relief
- Not in our records
- Annual obligations
- Not in our records
- Annual registry fee
- AUD 342Official The registry or ministry page as of 2026-10-10
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The annual review fee for a proprietary company will increase from $329 to $3 42
GST
The tax on what the company sells in Australia, and when it must register, as the tax authority states it.
- Standard rate
- 10%
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Goods and services tax (GST) is a tax of 10% on most goods, services and other items sold or consumed in Australia.
- Other rates
- Not stated
- Registration threshold
- AUD 75,000 · about €46,960
GST turnover (business income excluding certain sales, not profit); A$150,000 for a non-profit organisation; year
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your business has a GST turnover of $75,000 or more
- Voluntary registration
- Yes
If GST turnover is below the A$75,000 threshold a business may choose to register; if it does, it must include GST in prices, claim GST credits and lodge activity statements.
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Otherwise, registration for GST is optional.
- A foreign company
- The same threshold applies
An overseas business must register for GST if its GST turnover from sales connected with Australia is A$75,000 or more; this applies to imported services, digital products and goods worth A$1,000 or less sold to consumers, and a business whose only sales go through an electronic distribution platform may not need to register. Whether a representative must be appointed is not stated on the pages read.
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You must register for GST if your overseas business has a GST turnover of A$75,000 or more from sales connected with Australia and made in the course of your business.
- Returns filed
- Depends on the business
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whether you’re completing a monthly or quarterly BAS.
- Tax authority
- Registration page read 2026-10-23
Tax calendar
When the main returns and payments fall due in Australia, tax year 2025–26, as the tax authority states it.
- Corporate tax return
- 8 months after the end of the accounting period · each year
a company that lodges its own return has a lodgment and payment date generally of 28 February for small companies — eight months after a 30 June balance date. If any prior-year return is outstanding the due date is 31 October, and larger/medium taxpayers and non-full-self-assessment companies have earlier dates (15 January, 1 December); companies using a tax agent lodge later under the agent lodgment programme. The due date for an entity's first return is set by the ATO.
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If you lodge the company tax return yourself, you need to check the due date. Generally, the lodgment and payment date for small companies is 28 February. If there are any prior year returns outstanding, the due date will be 31 October.
- Corporate tax, final payment
- 8 months after the end of the accounting period · each year
for small companies the lodgment and payment date is the same day, 28 February (eight months after a 30 June balance date); the payment is due on the lodgment due date. Companies that are not full self-assessment taxpayers pay as per the notice of assessment.
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If you lodge the company tax return yourself, you need to check the due date. Generally, the lodgment and payment date for small companies is 28 February. If there are any prior year returns outstanding, the due date will be 31 October.
- Corporate tax, instalments
- 28 days after the end of the quarter · each quarter
PAYG instalments are due generally 28 days after the end of each quarter (28 October for July–September, 28 February for October–December, 28 April for January–March, 28 July for April–June); most taxpayers pay quarterly. Businesses with instalment income of more than $20 million must pay monthly (due the 21st day of the following month); two-instalment and annual options exist. The rule is the general 28-days-after-quarter basis; quarter 2 carries a one-month extension to 28 February.
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Due dates for pay as you go (PAYG) instalments are generally 28 days after the end of each quarter.
- Personal income-tax return
- 31 October · each year
an individual lodging their own return must lodge it by 31 October each year; if 31 October falls on a weekend the due date is the next business day. Individuals using a registered tax agent lodge later under the agent's lodgment programme and must engage the agent before 31 October.
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If you’re lodging your own tax return, you need to lodge it by 31 October each year.
- Personal income tax, final payment
- 21 November · each year
if a self-lodged return is lodged between 1 July and 31 October and results in a tax bill, payment is due by 21 November; if the assessment issues after 31 October, payment is due 21 days after the assessment is issued. The ATO page read does not state what happens when 21 November is a non-working day, so the shift is unstated.
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If you lodge your own tax return between 1 July and 31 October and it results in a tax bill, payment is due by 21 November.
- Personal income tax, instalments
- 28 days after the end of the quarter · each quarter
PAYG instalments are due generally 28 days after the end of each quarter (28 October, 28 February, 28 April, 28 July); most individual taxpayers pay quarterly. Individuals with instalment income of $20 million or more pay monthly.
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Due dates for pay as you go (PAYG) instalments are generally 28 days after the end of each quarter.
- VAT return
- 28 days after the end of the quarter · each quarter
a business must lodge its activity statement quarterly if its GST turnover is less than $20 million and the ATO has not required monthly reporting; quarterly statements are due on the 28th day of the month following the reporting period (28 October, 28 February, 28 April, 28 July), quarter 2 already including a one-month extension to 28 February. Businesses with GST turnover of $20 million or more (or directed by the ATO) lodge monthly, due the 21st day of the following month. If the due date is a weekend or public holiday the business has until the next business day to lodge and pay.
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You must lodge your BAS quarterly if your GST turnover is less than $20 million and we haven't told you that you must report monthly.
- Payroll withholding
- Day 21 of the following month · each month
an employer's withholding cycle depends on the annual amount withheld: $25,000 or less (small withholder) means notifying and paying quarterly; more than $25,000 up to $1 million (medium withholder) means notifying and paying monthly; more than $1 million (large withholder) means paying electronically within 6 to 8 days of each withholding event. The record takes the monthly case used by medium withholders; the monthly activity statement is due on the 21st day of the following month, and the shift to the next business day where the due date is a weekend or public holiday applies to the statement.
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Small withholders are those who withhold $25,000 or less per financial year.
Running the company
Running a company here
Not in our records The authorities’ pages on running a company have not been read for Australia yet.
Economy and trade
What it exports
Goods Australia exported, by product, as a share of its goods exports each year. Exports include goods passing through for re-export. A share describes Australia’s own trade; it does not compare places.
| Product (HS heading) | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | Value, 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iron ores and concentrates, including roasted iron pyrites HS 2601 | 21.6% | 23.9% | 24.5% | US$87.4 bn |
| Coal; briquettes, ovoids and similar solid fuels manufactured from coal HS 2701 | 23.0% | 19.5% | 17.3% | US$61.7 bn |
| Petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons HS 2711 | 15.8% | 14.4% | 13.7% | US$49 bn |
| Gold (including gold plated with platinum), unwrought or in semi-manufactured forms, or in powder form HS 7108 | 5.3% | 6.0% | 8.5% | US$30.3 bn |
| Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, crude HS 2709 | 1.9% | 1.8% | 1.9% | US$6.7 bn |
| Artificial corundum, whether or not chemically defined; aluminium oxide; aluminium hydroxide HS 2818 | 1.6% | 1.4% | 1.7% | US$6.1 bn |
| Wheat and meslin HS 1001 | 2.5% | 2.5% | 1.6% | US$5.7 bn |
| Meat of bovine animals, frozen HS 0202 | 1.1% | 1.2% | 1.6% | US$5.7 bn |
| Copper ores and concentrates HS 2603 | 1.1% | 1.00% | 1.3% | US$4.6 bn |
| Unwrought aluminium HS 7601 | 0.94% | 0.90% | 1.1% | US$3.8 bn |
Total goods exports, 2024: US$357.4 bn. The ten largest headings are shown.