An Australian Business Number (ABN) and a business name serve different purposes and are distinct identifiers for a business. An ABN is a unique 11-digit number that identifies your business to the government and community and is necessary for various tax and business purposes.
On the other hand, a business name is the name under which your business operates and is known to the public. It's possible to have multiple business names linked to a single ABN if the business activities are the same. This distinction is crucial because while a business name reflects your brand or trading identity, an ABN is primarily a registration requirement that allows you to interact with the Australian Tax Office and other government entities.
It's also worth noting that since 28 May 2012, the Australian Business Register (ABR) stopped collecting or updating trading names, and all business name registrations are now managed by the Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC). If your business operates under a name that is not your own name or the entity's legal name, you must register a business name and link it to your ABN. The ABR and ABN Lookup will automatically update with this information once you register a new business name.
For further guidance, contact Namecorp’s Support and Compliance Team either by phone on 1300 006 263 or via email at support@namecorp.com.au.