| name | australia-formation |
| description | > Use this skill whenever asked about forming, incorporating, or registering a company in Australia. Trigger on phrases like "set up a company in Australia", "Pty Ltd", "ASIC registration", "Australian company formation", "register a business Australia", "ABN", "ACN", "proprietary limited", "sole trader Australia", "partnership Australia", or any question about starting a business entity in Australia. Covers entity types (Pty Ltd, Ltd, sole trader, partnership, trust), registration process, costs, post-formation compliance, and bank account opening. ALWAYS read this skill before advising on Australian company formation. |
| license | AGPL-3.0-or-later (code) / OpenAccountants Guide License v1.0 (content) |
| metadata | {"source":"openaccountants","jurisdiction":"AU","category":"formation","quality":"source-cited draft","openaccountants_url":"https://openaccountants.com/skills/australia-formation","obligation":"FORM"} |
Australia Company Formation Skill v1.0
General reference only. This skill is general tax/accounting reference material for AI-assisted workflows. It has not been reviewed for any specific person's facts, documents, elections, deadlines, residency, filing status, or local procedures. Do not rely on it to file, pay, amend, or take a tax position without review by a qualified professional in the relevant jurisdiction.
Section 1 -- Quick Reference
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Country | Australia (Commonwealth of Australia) |
| Currency | AUD |
| Company registrar | Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) -- asic.gov.au |
| Key legislation | Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) |
| Typical formation time | 1--3 business days (online via BRS) |
| Corporate tax rate | 25% (base rate entities, turnover < $50M); 30% (all others) |
| Skill version | 1.0 |
Section 2 -- Entity Types Comparison
| Feature | Sole Trader | Partnership | Pty Ltd (Proprietary) | Public Company (Ltd) | Trust (with corporate trustee) |
|---|
| Legal personality | No | No | Yes | Yes | No (trustee is legal person) |
| Liability | Unlimited | Unlimited (joint and several) | Limited to share capital | Limited | Trustee liability (limited if Pty Ltd trustee) |
| Min. founders | 1 | 2 | 1 shareholder + 1 director | 1 shareholder + 3 directors + 1 secretary | 1 settlor + 1 trustee |
| Min. share capital | N/A | N/A | No minimum (commonly $1) | No minimum | N/A |
| Max. shareholders | 1 | N/A | 50 (non-employee) | Unlimited | N/A |
| Tax treatment | Personal income tax | Partners taxed individually | Company tax rate | Company tax rate | Trust distributions taxed in beneficiaries' hands |
| Admin burden | Very low | Low | Medium | High | Medium--High |
| ASIC registration | No | No (ABN only) | Yes ($611) | Yes | Only if trustee is a company |
| Audit required | No | No | Only if large proprietary | Yes | No (unless regulated) |
Recommended default: Proprietary company limited by shares (Pty Ltd) for most commercial purposes.
Section 3 -- Registration Process
Step 1: Choose Company Name
- Check availability on ASIC's company name check tool
- Must include "Pty Ltd" or "Proprietary Limited"
- Can reserve name for 2 months ($62 fee) or register directly
- Identical or near-identical names will be rejected
Step 2: Obtain Consent from Officeholders
- All proposed directors and secretaries must consent in writing before registration
- At least 1 director must ordinarily reside in Australia (for Pty Ltd)
Step 3: Prepare Company Details
- Registered office address (must be in Australia; can be accountant's or agent's office)
- Principal place of business
- Share structure (number and class of shares, rights)
- Details of shareholders, directors, secretary (if any)
Step 4: Register via Business Registration Service (BRS)
- Go to register.business.gov.au
- Can simultaneously apply for: company registration, ABN, TFN, GST, PAYG withholding
- Fee: $611 (Pty Ltd, 2025--26 financial year)
- ASIC processes and issues ACN (Australian Company Number) typically within 1--3 days
Step 5: Receive Certificate of Registration
- Certificate confirms ACN, company name, date of registration, type
- Company legally exists from date on certificate
Step 6: Apply for ABN (Australian Business Number)
- Free via Australian Business Register (ABR)
- Required for tax invoices, GST, and dealing with other businesses
- Can be applied for during BRS registration
Step 7: Register for GST (if applicable)
- Mandatory if annual turnover is or will be $75,000+ ($150,000 for non-profits)
- Voluntary registration permitted below threshold
Step 8: Register for PAYG Withholding (if employing)
- Required before paying employees or directors
- Register via BRS or ATO
Section 4 -- Capital Requirements
| Entity Type | Min. Share Capital | Min. Paid-Up | Payment Timing | In-Kind Contributions |
|---|
| Pty Ltd | No statutory minimum ($1 common) | No minimum | As specified in share terms | Permitted (no independent valuation required for proprietary companies) |
| Public Ltd | No statutory minimum | No minimum | As specified | Permitted (expert's report required for non-cash consideration over threshold) |
Australia has no minimum capital requirements for company formation.
Section 5 -- Costs Breakdown
| Cost Component | Amount (AUD) | Notes |
|---|
| ASIC company registration | $611 | One-time (Pty Ltd, 2025--26) |
| Name reservation (optional) | $62 | Valid 2 months |
| Business name registration (if different from company name) | $45/year or $104/3 years | Only if trading under a different name |
| ABN registration | Free | Via ABR |
| GST registration | Free | Via ATO |
| ASIC annual review fee | $329/year | Pty Ltd (2025--26) |
| Total initial cost (government) | $611--$673 | Excluding professional fees |
| Legal / accountant setup fees | $500--$2,000 | Constitution, shareholder agreement, tax setup |
| Total with professional help | $1,100--$2,700 | |
Annual Maintenance
| Item | Cost (AUD) |
|---|
| ASIC annual review fee | $329 |
| Accountant / tax agent fees | $1,500--$5,000/year |
| Business name renewal (if applicable) | $45/year |
| Registered office service (if using) | $200--$600/year |
| ASIC late fees | $98 (≤1 month) / $411 (>1 month) |
Section 6 -- Post-Formation Compliance
| Obligation | Deadline | Authority |
|---|
| ASIC annual review | Annual (on registration anniversary) | ASIC |
| Company tax return | Due date varies (usually by 15 May via tax agent for 30 June year-end) | ATO |
| BAS (Business Activity Statement) | Quarterly or monthly (GST, PAYG, instalment) | ATO |
| PAYG summaries / STP finalisation | 14 July following the financial year | ATO |
| Superannuation guarantee | Quarterly (28 days after quarter end) | Super fund / ATO |
| Change notifications to ASIC | Within 28 days of change | ASIC |
| Financial records | Maintain for 7 years | Internal |
| Directors' duties | Ongoing (s180--184 Corporations Act) | ASIC |
Section 7 -- Bank Account Opening
Documents Typically Required
- Certificate of registration (ACN)
- Company constitution or replaceable rules
- ABN confirmation
- ID (passport / driver's licence) for all directors
- Proof of address for directors and shareholders
Typical Timeline
- 1--3 days (Big 4 banks and digital banks for Australian residents)
- 1--3 weeks (non-resident directors, enhanced KYC)
Common Banks
- Commonwealth Bank (CBA), Westpac, ANZ, NAB (Big 4)
- Macquarie, Bendigo (mid-tier)
- Airwallex, Wise Business (digital/international)
Section 8 -- Foreign Founder Considerations
| Question | Answer |
|---|
| Non-resident directors allowed? | Yes, but at least 1 director must ordinarily reside in Australia |
| Resident director requirement | At least 1 (for Pty Ltd); at least 2 of 3 for public companies |
| Nominee directors | Permitted (ASIC register shows actual director names) |
| Physical presence required? | No (online registration); resident director must be genuinely resident |
| Foreign ownership restrictions | Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) approval may be required for certain sectors and thresholds |
| ABN for foreign entities | Foreign companies can register an ARBN ($506) and apply for ABN |
| Tax treaty benefits | Australia has extensive DTA network; check withholding rates |
Section 9 -- Common Mistakes and Refusals
R-AU-F1 -- No Australian-resident director. "Every Pty Ltd must have at least one director who ordinarily resides in Australia. A company cannot be registered without this. Advise the client to appoint a local director or use a resident director service (with proper governance)."
R-AU-F2 -- Failing to pay ASIC annual review fee. "ASIC charges $329/year. If the annual review is not completed and fee is not paid, ASIC will deregister the company. Late fees apply: $98 within 1 month, $411 after 1 month."
R-AU-F3 -- GST threshold ignorance. "If annual turnover reaches $75,000, GST registration is mandatory. Failing to register when required results in penalties and backdated GST assessments."
R-AU-F4 -- Superannuation non-compliance. "Employers must pay at least 11.5% (2025--26) superannuation guarantee on top of ordinary time earnings. Non-payment results in the Superannuation Guarantee Charge (SGC), which is not tax-deductible."
R-AU-F5 -- Shell company without substance. "This skill will not assist in forming a company with no genuine business activity in Australia. ASIC and the ATO actively pursue sham structures."
Section 10 -- Timeline
| Step | Duration | Cumulative |
|---|
| Prepare documents and officer consents | 1--2 days | Day 1--2 |
| Register via BRS (ABN + company + GST) | 1 day | Day 2--3 |
| ASIC issues ACN and certificate | 1--3 days | Day 3--6 |
| Open business bank account | 1--3 days (resident) / 1--3 weeks (non-resident) | Day 4--27 |
| ATO registrations confirmed | 1--28 days | Day 4--34 |
| Ready to trade | | As fast as 3--5 days (Australian-resident founders) |
Disclaimer
This skill and its outputs are provided for informational and computational purposes only and do not constitute legal, tax, or financial advice. Open Accountants and its contributors accept no liability for any errors, omissions, or outcomes arising from the use of this skill. All outputs must be reviewed and signed off by a qualified professional before acting upon.
The most up-to-date, verified version of this skill is maintained at openaccountants.com.
Source: OpenAccountants — open tax Guides for AI, reviewed by named CPAs/CAs/EAs. Quality: source-cited draft. For always-current figures and named-accountant backing, connect the OpenAccountants MCP server (openaccountants-mcp).
