When applying for an Australian Business Number (ABN), it's essential to be prepared with the necessary information to ensure a smooth application process. You will need to provide your Tax File Number (TFN) and the TFNs of any associates, such as partners, directors, and trustees. If you're using a registered tax or BAS agent, their registered agent number will also be required. In case you're utilizing the services of a professional adviser, their license number, like the Australian Financial Services license, should be included.
For entities such as companies, an Australian Company Number (ACN) or Australian Registered Body Number (ARBN) is needed, which can be obtained through the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). The date from which you require your ABN should reflect the commencement of your business activities and cannot be more than six months in the future at the time of application.
Your entity's legal name, as it appears on all official documents or legal papers, must be provided along with the details of any authorized contacts who can make changes or update information on behalf of the entity. This could be a registered tax or BAS agent if they are authorized to do so.
Furthermore, you'll need to furnish details about your business, including contact information such as an address, postal address, email address, and phone number. Ensure that the email address complies with specific requirements, like being between 5 to 200 characters, containing no spaces, and not starting with certain prefixes like 'support@', 'sales@', or 'info@'.
Your main business activity, which is usually the primary source of income for your enterprise, must be specified. This could range from agriculture to construction, investment, or manufacturing. Additionally, the physical locations of all premises operated by your enterprise must be listed unless disclosing them poses a risk to the safety of individuals.
Providing accurate and complete details in your ABN application will help avoid any delays in the processing of your application. It's important to note that not everyone is entitled to an ABN, and there are consequences for applying without entitlement, such as prosecution or criminal charges. Therefore, ensure you're eligible before applying and be prepared to provide evidence of your business activities if required.
Please see below quick overview of what you’ll need:
Companies:
If you have already registered your company and are about to complete the ABN application, you will be required to provide the following additional information about your companies associates:
- Full name
- Date of birth
- Gender
- Tax file number
- If you’ve nominated an authorised contact – Their phone number and email address
- Sole trader or partnership:
If you are applying for an ABN for a sole trader or partnership, you will be required to provide the following information about each associate:
- Full name (including any former names)
- Date of birth
- Country of birth
- Suburb of birth if Australia
- Gender
- Tax file number
- Residential address – cannot be a PO Box
- Phone number
- Email address