How to Register a Company in Australia (2026): ASIC Fees, Director IDs, ACN and ABN

Registering a company in Australia is a one-form job that most founders finish in an afternoon — if they've done the groundwork first. This guide is for sole traders thinking about incorporating, partners setting up a new venture and overseas founders opening an Australian entity. It covers what a proprietary company is, the director ID you must have before you start, the information ASIC asks for, the 2026 fees, how the ACN and ABN fit together, and what the company owes ASIC every year after that — finishing with a worked first-year cost in Australian dollars.

Quick answer

Get a director ID for every director first, then register through the Business Registration Service (register.business.gov.au) or a private provider. ASIC charges A$636 to register a proprietary company with share capital (from 1 July 2026) and issues a 9-digit ACN and a certificate of registration. You can apply for the company's free ABN, GST and PAYG withholding in the same application.

• Director ID: free, through ABRS, required before registration

• Registration fee: A$636 (share capital) or A$524 (no share capital)

• Annual review fee: A$342 for a proprietary company, every year

• At least one director must ordinarily reside in Australia; a secretary is optional for a Pty Ltd

• Tell ASIC about changes within 28 days or pay late fees

What registering a company actually creates

When ASIC registers your company, it creates a separate legal person. The company owns its assets, signs its contracts, owes its debts and pays its own tax. That separation is the main reason people incorporate: if the business fails, shareholders' liability is generally limited to any unpaid amount on their shares. It is also why a company carries more paperwork than a sole trader — the law needs records showing who controls the entity and whether it can pay its debts.

Almost every small business company is a proprietary company limited by shares, the "Pty Ltd" at the end of the name. It can have up to 50 non-employee shareholders, cannot raise money from the public by issuing a prospectus, and must have at least one director who ordinarily resides in Australia. A secretary is optional. One person can be the sole director and sole shareholder, so a one-person company is common.

Registering a company is different from registering a business name. A company name is the legal name of the entity; a business name is a trading name. If your company is "Harbour Tiles Pty Ltd" and it trades as "Harbour Tiles", you don't need a business name, because the trading name is the company name minus "Pty Ltd". If it trades as "Coastal Bathrooms", you do.

Sole trader vs company — the practical differences

Point	Sole trader	Proprietary company
Legal status	You are the business	Separate legal entity
Set-up cost	ABN free; business name optional	A$636 ASIC fee + free ABN
Yearly government fee	Nil (business name renewal if used)	A$342 annual review
Income tax	Individual rates, up to 45% plus Medicare	25% for base rate entities, otherwise 30%
Liability	Personally liable for all debts	Generally limited to unpaid share capital (directors can still be liable)
Paperwork	Personal tax return with business schedule	Company tax return, registers, minutes, ASIC updates

Legal status

Sole trader

You are the business

Proprietary company

Separate legal entity

Set-up cost

Sole trader

ABN free; business name optional

Proprietary company

A$636 ASIC fee + free ABN

Yearly government fee

Sole trader

Nil (business name renewal if used)

Proprietary company

A$342 annual review

Income tax

Sole trader

Individual rates, up to 45% plus Medicare

Proprietary company

25% for base rate entities, otherwise 30%

Liability

Sole trader

Personally liable for all debts

Proprietary company

Generally limited to unpaid share capital (directors can still be liable)

Paperwork

Sole trader

Personal tax return with business schedule

Proprietary company

Company tax return, registers, minutes, ASIC updates

Before you start: the director ID

Every director must have a director ID — a unique 15-digit identifier kept for life — before the company is registered. If someone is appointed later, they must have one before their appointment takes effect. It's free and is issued by Australian Business Registry Services (ABRS), which sits within the ATO. ASIC enforces the rules.

Most directors apply online through ABRS in a few minutes using the myID app at a Standard identity strength. You'll need your tax file number and details the ATO can match, such as your residential address and two documents like a bank account record and a tax notice of assessment. Applications that match are usually issued immediately. People who can't use myID — often overseas directors — can apply by phone or on a paper form with certified identity documents, which takes much longer, so start that weeks before you plan to register.

The penalties are real. Failing to have a director ID when you need one carries a maximum of 60 penalty units for an individual, and applying for a second ID or misrepresenting your ID can lead to imprisonment. You only ever need one director ID, however many companies you sit on.

There's a change coming. Under the Treasury Laws Amendment (Business Registries Stabilisation and Uplift) Act 2026, from 1 July 2027 companies must give ASIC each director's ID through the annual review and when notifying changes to directors, and the companies register will over time show whether a company has done so. ASIC is already asking companies to check that director names and addresses on the register match what ABRS holds, because mismatches will cause problems once the two registers are linked.

The decisions to make before you lodge

ASIC's form is quick, but each field reflects a decision that is hard to undo later. Make these choices before you open it.

Company name

You can choose a name or let ASIC use the ACN as the name ("123 456 789 Pty Ltd"). A chosen name must meet ASIC's rules: it can't be identical to a name already registered, it must end with "Pty Ltd" (or "Proprietary Limited"), and some words — "bank", "university", "trust" and others — are restricted. Check the name on ASIC's register, and check trade mark searches too, because ASIC registration does not give you trade mark rights. If you're not ready to register but want to hold a name, you can reserve it for two months for A$65. Most people skip the reservation and simply register.

State, registered office and principal place of business

You choose the state or territory of registration, which mainly affects which state's laws apply to some internal matters; the company can trade nationally regardless. The registered office is where ASIC sends official mail, including the corporate key and annual statements. If it isn't your own address — for example, your accountant's office — you need the occupier's written consent. The principal place of business is where the business is actually run from. Home addresses are allowed for both.

Officeholders and members

For each director (and secretary, if you appoint one), ASIC needs their full name including former names, residential address, and date and place of birth. These details appear on the public register, though a person with a genuine safety concern can apply to have their residential address suppressed — that can't be done through the online Business Registration Service. Each officeholder must give signed, written consent before they're named.

For each shareholder, ASIC needs their name and address, the class and number of shares, and the amount paid and unpaid. Each proposed member also needs to consent in writing. Many small companies issue a handful of ordinary shares at A$1 each — the number matters less than getting the split between owners right, because it drives dividends and control.

Replaceable rules or a constitution

A company needs rules for how it is run: how directors are appointed, how meetings work, how shares can be transferred. You can rely on the replaceable rules in the Corporations Act, adopt your own constitution, or use a mix. A sole director–sole shareholder company has its own simplified rules in the Act and often needs nothing more. Companies with several owners, or that act as trustee of a family trust, usually adopt a constitution, often supplied by a lawyer or registration provider. Two or more owners should also consider a separate shareholders' agreement covering exits, deadlocks and what happens if someone leaves.

Have these ready before you lodge

0/10

• A director ID for every proposed director
• Chosen company name (checked on ASIC's register) or a decision to use the ACN
• State or territory of registration
• Registered office address and occupier's consent if it isn't yours
• Principal place of business address
• Each officeholder's full name, former names, residential address, date and place of birth
• Each shareholder's name, address, share class, number of shares and amount paid
• Signed consents from every officeholder and member
• Decision on replaceable rules or a constitution
• Credit or debit card for the ASIC fee

Share Print

How to register a company, step by step

You have three routes. The government's Business Registration Service at register.business.gov.au lets you register the company and, in the same session, apply for the ABN, GST, PAYG withholding, fringe benefits tax and a business name. Private service providers — accountants, lawyers and online registration firms — lodge directly with ASIC using approved software and usually add a constitution and company registers. Finally, if you genuinely can't register online, ASIC can send you a paper form. Some cases, such as suppressing a residential address or registering certain special-purpose companies, can't go through the online service and need ASIC's help.

Registering through the Business Registration Service

1. 1

   Get director IDs

   Each director applies through ABRS and receives a 15-digit ID. Allow weeks if anyone must use the paper form.

2. 2

   Choose the new business form

   Open register.business.gov.au, choose to register a new business and tick Australian company plus any tax registrations you need, such as GST and PAYG withholding.

   Business Registration Service
3. 3

   Enter company details

   Name, company type (proprietary, limited by shares), state, registered office, principal place of business and governance rules.

4. 4

   Add officeholders and shareholders

   Enter each director's details and director ID, then the share structure and each member's shareholding.

   Tip: Names and dates of birth must match the director ID records exactly, or the application drops into manual review.

5. 5

   Pay ASIC and submit

   Pay A$636 by card. If the application passes ASIC's checks, you receive an email with the ACN and certificate of registration.

6. 6

   Watch for the corporate key

   ASIC posts the corporate key to the registered office. You'll need it to link the company to ASIC's online services and lodge changes.

Most clean online applications are processed straight away. When something doesn't match — a director ID detail, a restricted word in the name, an address ASIC can't validate — the application goes to manual review, which can take days. The usual fix is to correct the detail and resubmit rather than wait.

ACN, ABN and TFN: how the numbers fit together

The Australian Company Number (ACN) is the 9-digit number ASIC gives your company on registration. It identifies the legal entity on ASIC's register. The Australian Business Number (ABN) is an 11-digit number from the Australian Business Register that the company uses for tax and dealings with government and other businesses. A company needs its ACN before it can get an ABN, which is why the combined online form handles them in sequence.

A company's ABN is normally its ACN with two check digits in front — ACN 123 456 789 becomes ABN 36 123 456 789. When that's the case, the company can quote the ABN wherever the law requires the ACN. Our ABN registration guide explains the ABN entitlement test and what the ABR publishes about you.

The company also needs its own tax file number. You don't apply for it separately: the ATO issues one automatically when the company applies for its ABN. If the company expects GST turnover of A$75,000 or more, it must register for GST — see our GST guide — and if it will pay wages, including to you as a director, it must register for PAYG withholding before the first payday.

Where the ACN must appear

The company's full name and ACN (or qualifying ABN) must appear on the first page of documents the company signs, issues or lodges — invoices, receipts that aren't machine-produced, order forms, letterhead, cheques and documents lodged with ASIC. Business cards, envelopes, vehicles, packaging and TV ads are exempt. If you're setting up invoices now, our invoice generator lets you add the company name and ABN in the header.

ASIC fees for 2026

ASIC fees are indexed every 1 July. The figures below apply from 1 July 2026 and are the amounts ASIC publishes for the 2026-27 year.

The lower special purpose review fee applies only to companies whose sole purpose is narrow — the common example is a company acting solely as trustee of a self-managed super fund. A trading company can't use it.

Private providers charge their own fee on top of ASIC's — for the lodgement, a constitution, a company register and minutes. Those fees vary widely between providers and are not set by government, so compare what is included; you can't avoid ASIC's fee by using a provider, and you can't get a "cheaper" ASIC fee through one either.

Worked example: first-year and second-year cost

Mia is leaving a sole-trader structure to run her bathroom renovation business through a company, "Coastal Wet Areas Pty Ltd". She's the sole director and sole shareholder, her accountant's office is the registered office, and she'll trade under the company name. She registers in October 2026.

Coastal Wet Areas Pty Ltd — government costs

A$636

ASIC registration

Paid on lodgement

A$0

Director ID, ABN, TFN, GST

All free

A$342

Annual review

Due about 2 months after the October anniversary

A$428

Late fee risk

If the review fee is paid more than a month late

In year one, Mia's government costs are just the A$636 registration fee. She doesn't need a name reservation because she registers straight away, and she doesn't need a business name because she trades as "Coastal Wet Areas", which is the company name without "Pty Ltd". Her ABN, the company's TFN and GST registration cost nothing.

In October of the following year, ASIC sends the annual statement. She pays A$342 by the due date about two months later, so her second-year government cost is the review fee alone. Had she also wanted to trade as "Coastal Bathrooms", she would add a business name for A$47 for one year or A$108 for three. Anything her accountant charges for the constitution, registers and the company tax return sits on top of these amounts and is a private cost, not an ASIC one.

The bigger cost differences show up in tax, not fees. Once incorporated, the business profit belongs to the company, taxed at 25% if it qualifies as a base rate entity. Mia only gets money out as salary (taxed to her and subject to PAYG withholding and super), dividends or a properly documented loan. Taking cash out casually can be treated as an unfranked dividend under the Division 7A rules, so set up the payment method with your accountant before the first withdrawal.

Obligations after registration

Registration is the start, not the finish. The obligations below apply every year, and missing them costs money quickly.

The company's yearly cycle

Review date (registration anniversary)

ASIC issues the annual statement; check every detail

Within 2 months of the review date

Pay the annual review fee and pass the solvency resolution

Within 28 days of any change

Notify ASIC of changes to officeholders, addresses or shares

From 1 July 2027

Provide director IDs to ASIC through the annual review and change notices

Each income year

Lodge the company tax return; keep records for 7 years

The annual review and solvency resolution

Each year on the registration anniversary, ASIC sends an annual statement listing the company's details. If anything is wrong, update it. The fee is usually due two months after the review date. Within the same two months, the directors must pass a solvency resolution — a decision about whether there are reasonable grounds to believe the company can pay its debts as they fall due. A positive resolution just goes in the company records; a negative one, or failing to pass one at all, must be reported to ASIC within seven days. If you want to avoid annual reminders, ASIC lets you prepay ten years of review fees at a discount, but prepayments aren't refundable if you close the company early.

Keeping details current

Changes to directors, secretaries, addresses, shareholders or share structure must reach ASIC within 28 days. Late notices attract the same two-tier late fee — A$102 if up to a month late, A$428 after that. Keep company records — the members register, minutes and financial records — for at least 7 years.

Directors' duties

As a director you must act with care and diligence, in good faith, for a proper purpose and not misuse your position. You can be personally liable if the company trades while insolvent, and directors can be personally liable for certain unpaid PAYG withholding, GST and super through the ATO's director penalty regime. Limited liability protects shareholders; it does not protect directors who let tax debts pile up.

Common mistakes and how they get fixed

Starting before the director ID is issued. The application can't proceed. Fix: get every director's ID first — especially for overseas directors on the paper process.

Details that don't match ABRS. A middle name missing on one record and present on another sends the application to manual review. Fix: copy names and dates of birth exactly as they appear on the director ID record.

Using an accountant's address without consent. The occupier must agree in writing to the registered office being at their premises. Fix: get the consent before lodging.

Forgetting the corporate key. Without it you can't update details online, and changes become late. Fix: when ASIC posts it to the registered office, store it with the company records.

Ignoring the annual statement. Unpaid fees lead to late fees, and long-unpaid fees can lead ASIC to deregister the company. Fix: diarise the review date and set up payment in advance.

Mixing personal and company money. Paying household bills from the company account creates Division 7A problems and muddles your records. Fix: open a separate company bank account on day one and pay yourself in a documented way. Our bookkeeping guide shows a simple setup.

Official links

• Business Registration ServiceRegister a company, ABN, GST, PAYG and business name
• ASIC — Register a companyWhat you need and what happens after
• ASIC — Fees for commonly lodged documentsCurrent registration, review and late fees
• ASIC — Director IDsWho needs one and penalties
• ABRS — Director IDApply for or manage a director ID
• ASIC — Company annual reviewReview date, fee and solvency resolution

What to do next

If you haven't settled on a structure yet, compare the company route with staying a sole trader and read our guide to starting a business in Australia. If you're ready, get each director's ID today, then budget the setup with our startup cost calculator — remembering the A$342 review fee that recurs every year.

This is general information, not legal or tax advice — confirm on the official source or with a professional.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to register a company in Australia in 2026?

ASIC's fee to register a proprietary company with share capital is A$636 from 1 July 2026. A director ID and an ABN are free. After that, the company pays an annual review fee of A$342 each year on its registration anniversary. Anything a private provider charges on top — a constitution, registers, a company kit — is their fee, not a government fee.

Do I need a director ID before registering a company?

Yes. Every proposed director must have a director ID before the company is registered, and anyone being appointed later must have one before their appointment. You apply free through Australian Business Registry Services using the myID app. Failing to have one when required carries a maximum penalty of 60 penalty units.

What is the difference between an ACN and an ABN?

The ACN is the 9-digit number ASIC gives your company when it is registered; it identifies the company as a legal entity. The ABN is an 11-digit number from the Australian Business Register used for tax and dealing with government. If your ABN is the ACN with two extra digits in front, you can quote the ABN wherever the ACN is required.

How long does it take to register a company in Australia?

Online applications through the Business Registration Service that pass ASIC's automated checks are usually processed straight away, and you get an email with the ACN and certificate of registration. Applications that need manual checking, or paper applications, take longer. The usual hold-up is a director who hasn't yet got a director ID or whose details don't match.

Can a foreigner register a company in Australia?

Yes, a non-resident can own shares in and be a director of an Australian proprietary company. But the company must have at least one director who ordinarily resides in Australia. Each director, including overseas directors, needs a director ID, and overseas directors without Australian identity documents usually apply by paper form, which takes longer.

What happens if I don't pay the ASIC annual review fee?

The fee is usually due two months after your review date. Paying up to a month late adds A$102; paying more than a month late adds A$428. If fees stay unpaid, ASIC can start deregistering the company, which ends its existence and can leave assets with the Commonwealth.

Sources & verification

Figures on this page were checked against the sources below when it was last reviewed on 9 October 2026. Each rate and limit is stored once with its own official source and review date, and official update channels are monitored daily so changes are picked up. How we verify

1. 1.Fees for commonly lodged documents — Australian Securities and Investments Commission · accessed 9 October 2026
2. 2.Register a company — Australian Securities and Investments Commission · accessed 9 October 2026
3. 3.Company annual review — Australian Securities and Investments Commission · accessed 9 October 2026
4. 4.Director identification numbers (director IDs) — Australian Securities and Investments Commission · accessed 9 October 2026
5. 5.Get ready for new director ID requirements from 1 July 2027 — Australian Securities and Investments Commission · accessed 9 October 2026
6. 6.Australian Company Number (ACN) — Australian Securities and Investments Commission · accessed 9 October 2026
7. 7.Business Registration Service — Australian Government (business.gov.au / ABRS) · accessed 9 October 2026
8. 8.Tax registration for your business — business.gov.au · accessed 9 October 2026