Yes. GST registration is part of the same application, and doing both at once is one form rather than two. The real question is not whether you can, it is whether you should. Registering for GST before you have to means charging 10% more than you need to and lodging activity statements you did not have to lodge.
How the combined application works
The ABN application asks whether you also want to register for GST, and for PAYG withholding if you will be paying staff. Answer yes and the registrations are created together, with the ABN.
You can also add GST later. If you already have an ABN, you register for GST through ATO online services or through your agent, and nothing about doing it separately is worse. The only advantage of bundling is that it is one conversation instead of two.
| What it costs with us | |
|---|---|
| ABN registration | $99 inc GST, tax deductible |
| Add GST to the same application | $27.50 |
| Add PAYG withholding | $27.50 |
| Add both | $55 |
Doing it yourself at the ABR is free, and for a straightforward application that is a reasonable choice.
Should I register for GST at the same time?
Three answers, depending on which you are.
Yes, you have no choice, if you carry passengers for a fare. Taxi, limousine and ride-sourcing work requires GST registration regardless of turnover, so an Uber, DiDi or Ola driver registers from the first dollar. Food delivery does not: see DoorDash and Uber Eats.
Yes, probably, if you expect to reach $75,000 in your first year. business.gov.au says you should register if you expect your GST turnover to reach $75,000 in the first year, and you have to register within 21 days of becoming aware you will pass it. Registering upfront saves you watching the number nervously.
No, wait, if you are starting small and your customers are mostly the public. Below the threshold GST is optional, and taking it on early has real costs.
What registering early actually costs you
- You must charge GST on everything. business.gov.au is explicit that once registered, regardless of turnover, you include GST in the price of most goods and services you sell. If your customers are consumers, you are 10% more expensive than an unregistered competitor for no benefit to them.
- You have to lodge activity statements. Every quarter, whether or not there is anything to report. A nil BAS still has to be lodged, and forgetting is how penalties start.
- You cannot casually undo it. Cancelling a GST registration has its own rules and timing.
When registering early is the right call
- Your customers are businesses. They claim the GST back, so your price is effectively unchanged to them, and you get to claim credits on your own costs.
- You have large setup costs. Vehicle, equipment, stock, fit-out. Registration lets you claim the GST credits on them.
- You will pass the threshold soon anyway. Registering at the start avoids a mid-year change to your pricing and invoices.
Our GST turnover calculator works out where you sit against the $75,000 test.
What if you register before you were required to?
Nothing bad happens, but the obligations are real from the date of registration. You charge GST, you lodge, you claim credits. It is a choice with consequences rather than a mistake.
The genuine error is the other one: passing $75,000 and not registering within 21 days. GST is then payable on sales you made without charging it, which comes out of your margin.
Common questions
Can you register for an ABN and GST at the same time?
Yes. GST registration is part of the same application, alongside PAYG withholding if you need it. You can also add GST to an existing ABN later without any disadvantage.
Do I have to register for GST when I get my ABN?
No, they are separate. GST is compulsory once your GST turnover reaches $75,000 in a 12-month period, or immediately if you carry passengers for a fare. Below that it is optional.
Can I add GST to an existing ABN later?
Yes, through ATO online services or your agent. There is no penalty for doing it separately, as long as you register within 21 days of becoming aware you will pass the threshold.
What does it cost to add GST to the application?
With us, $27.50 on top of the $99 ABN registration, or $55 to add both GST and PAYG withholding. Registering yourself at the ABR and the ATO is free.
What happens if I register for GST before I am required to?
The obligations start from the registration date. You must include GST in your prices, lodge activity statements even when there is nothing to report, and you can claim GST credits on business purchases. It is a valid choice, not a mistake, but it is not free.
When do I have to register?
Within 21 days of becoming aware your GST turnover will go over $75,000. If you are new and expect to reach it in the first year, business.gov.au says you should register up front.
Need both? $99 plus $27.50.
ABN and GST in one application, agent-lodged. Free help on 1800 546 526.