Registration and Licence Finder

You may require an Australian Business Number (ABN) if you are carrying on an enterprise in Australia or if you produce supplies such as goods, services, livestock or provide advice or information that are connected with trade in Australia. The ABN is a unique identifying number designed to simplify business dealings with most government agencies and the Australian Taxation Office. Applying for an ABN is not compulsory. However, if you are required to register for the goods and services tax ... Read more

Forms

• Application for ABN Registration for Individuals (Sole Traders)
• ABN Registration - Change of Details
• Application for ABN Registration for Companies, Partnerships, Trusts, etc

If you have employees, you are required to withhold tax from payments you make to them. You may also have to withhold tax from payments to other workers such as contract workers. You also need to withhold an amount from payments to other businesses if they don't quote their Australian Business Number (ABN) to you on an invoice or other document if required. You must register for PAYG withholding as soon as you know that you need to withhold. This could be when you engage workers or when you ... Read more

Forms

• Application Forms to Register as a PAYG Withholder

You will require this registration if you intend to conduct a business using a business name other than your personal name (or your company name registered with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC)). Business names that contain a personal name with additional wording (for example, & Co, Group, Motors) must also be registered. The availability of a proposed business name can be obtained through a free search of the Victorian Names Register which is administered by Con... Read more

Forms

• Factsheet: What is a Business Name?  (PDF 67 KB)
• Factsheet: Choosing a Business Name  (PDF 56 KB)
• Business Name Application  (PDF)
• Factsheet: What is an Authorised Person?  (PDF 62 KB)
• Business Name Application - Online
• Factsheet: Business Name Registration  (PDF 68 KB)
• Details of Resident Agent  (PDF 65 KB)
• Authorisation for Person to Sign on Behalf of Business Owners  (PDF 22 KB)
• Smartform: Change of Business Details
• Smartform: Cease Business under a Business Name

Related Resources

• Factsheet: What to do after Registration  (PDF 72 KB)
• Factsheet: Business Names Rights and Disputes  (PDF 63 KB)

As an employer you have an obligation to pay superannuation contributions on behalf of all your eligible employees, in addition to their wages and salaries. Most of your employees, whether full-time, part-time or casual, will be covered by the superannuation guarantee legislation. This compulsory contribution is called the superannuation guarantee and it requires you to: - Pay superannuation for all your employees; - Contribute to the correct super funds; and - Pay the contributions by the cu... Read more

Forms

• Superannuation Guarantee - A Guide for Employers

You will require these approvals if you intend to export certain goods. The appropriate approvals or permits are determined by the type of goods being exported and must be issued by the appropriate authority or agency. Without these approvals or permits, goods will be refused Export Clearance. The export of goods from Australia is controlled by laws and Government policies to: - prohibit the export of certain goods either absolutely or conditionally; and - adequately record Australia's int... Read more

Forms

• Export Controls - Forms

You will require this registration for the Goods and Services Tax (GST) if you are an entity that is carrying on an enterprise which has an annual turnover of $75 000 or more, or you supply taxi travel as part of carrying out your enterprise. In order to register for GST, entities will require an Australian Business Number (ABN). Entities conducting an enterprise with an annual turnover of less than $75 000 may choose to register for GST. By registering for GST you can claim input tax credi... Read more

Forms

• Apply Online (Electronic Applications)

You will require an APRA licence if you intend to play APRA's copyrighted music via radio, television, CD, DVD, live performers or through the telephone as music on hold. An APRA licence legally authorises the public performance or communication of copyright music within the APRA repertoire. Please consult the Contact Officer for further details. Read more

Forms

• APRA Licence Application - Background Music - Retail and General  (PDF)
• APRA Licence Application - Live Performances  (PDF 164 KB)
• APRA Licence Application - Music on Hold  (PDF 135 KB)
• APRA Licence Application - Music for Other Purposes

You will require this permit if you intend to export uranium, monazite and tantalum ores and concentrates. Due to the sensitive security nature of this approval please consult the Contact Officer for further details in the first instance. Read more

Forms

• Mineral Export Permit: Uranium, Monazite and Tantalum Ores and Concentrates

You will require this permit if you intend to display, hand out or distribute handbills, notices, pamphlets, flyers or any other form of advertising or promotional material to persons or premises. Read more

You will require this licence if you intend to erect, place or remove an advertising sign or notice on a building, road or footpath. For example, approval may be required for the placement of A-frame sandwich boards, business signage on a building, or temporary or movable signs. Signs also include, banners or flag-like materials and signs affixed to buildings, fences, trees and other Council property. Approval may also required for the use of commercial signage mounted on vehicles and/o... Read more

You will require this permit if you intend to export general industrial equipment including high precision machine tools, computer equipment, chemicals and biological toxins and telecommunications equipment. The purpose of this permit is to regulate the international exchange of equipment that can be used in the development and manufacture of military systems and the production and delivery of weapons of mass destruction. You may also require other export permits - please consult the Agency fo... Read more

Fringe benefits tax (FBT) is paid on those fringe benefits which are provided in place of, or in addition to, the salary or wages of employees. FBT may be payable in circumstances including, but not limited to, the following: - a car which is owned/leased by an employer which is made available for the private use of an employee; - an employer who provides a loan to an employee interest free or at a rate lower than the statutory rate; - an employer who releases an employee from an obligation t... Read more

Forms

• Fringe Benefits Tax - A Guide for Employers

You will require this registration if you are an employer who pays wages in Victoria (and interstate, if applicable) that exceed $45,833 monthly or $550,000 annually. If you are an employer who is a member of a group, the total Australian wages paid or payable by all members of the group determines whether you should register for payroll tax. Payroll tax is a State tax and exemptions (subject to qualifications) may apply in relation to: - Wages paid in certain circumstances by specifi... Read more

Forms

• Pay-roll Tax Registration

You will require this registration if you intend to run a business which employs workers, or contractors, and you pay (or expect to pay) more than $7500 a year in rateable remuneration, or if you engage apprentices or trainees. WorkSafe is the public operation of the Victorian WorkCover Authority (VWA), and it administers this compulsory insurance scheme. The scheme provides businesses with insurance coverage for the cost of benefits if any of your workers are injured or become ill because... Read more

Forms

• Application for a WorkCover Insurance Policy  (PDF)
• Smartform: Registration for Workcover
• Applying to Add a Workplace to an Insurance Policy  (PDF)

Related Resources

• WorkSafe/WorkCover Insurance Policy  (PDF)
• If You Are Injured  (PDF)