Company ABN Registration FAQs

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How long does it take to register an ABN?

If you choose to register your company ABN through eCompanies, your ABN will generally be issued on the spot within 15 minutes of the company being registered. This is assuming that:

  • All the information provided is correct and matches ATO records.
  • The ATO systems are available and running normally, with no disruptions.

However a small percentage (5%) of orders get flagged by the ATO for further checks which can take up to 28 days to perform. Common reasons for an application being held for further checks include, but are not limited to:

  • A similar or identical existing business name on the ABR register.
  • One of the associates has had their TFN hibernated, this could be due to not having lodged a tax return for previous years.
  • If a shareholder of the new company does not have a tax file number.
  • An identical deregistered company that has the same associates as the new company.

In the event that an application is held for further checks, eCompanies will then liaise with the ATO to attempt to resolve the situation and have the ABN issued as soon as possible. Please note the information detailed here is a guide only, as eCompanies cannot guarantee delivery of an ABN within a certain time frame.

Does my new company need to register an ABN?

If your company is carrying on a business then it needs an ABN.

Carrying on a business means that the company will be earning income by issuing invoices. In this case the company must register a new ABN, you cannot transfer or link an existing ABN to a new company.

If your company is going to be trustee of a trust, be it a Self-managed super fun (SMSF), family trust etc, then it most likely will not need an ABN for itself. The trustee will not carry out business activities in its own right, but in its capacity as trustee, which will be under the trust’s ABN.

Can I link an existing ABN to my new company?

No you can’t.

An ABN uniquely identifies a business, if you have an existing sole trader business or another company then you cannot use or link that existing ABN to
your new company. The new company must register a new ABN.

Can I register the company ABN myself?

Yes you can. We offer an ABN registration service for speed, convenience and clarity.