Type of applicant
A list of the categories of applicant or entity (also known as business structure) is provided below.
Selection or answers must relate to the applicant or entity and do not relate to the person completing the form.
Your choice of business structure may affect your tax responsibilities, ongoing costs and liabilities as a business owner. You should choose a structure that will be an advantage to the way you want to operate your business. You can cancel an existing business structure online at www.abr.gov.au or phone 13 28 66.
If the applicant requires further information on any of the categories and/or sub-categories listed, they can click on the blue link to view the definition.
Individual or sole trader
Company – this includes:
Partnership – If you operate your business as a partnership, you're carrying on your business with one or more other people as partners in receipt of income jointly with a view to a profit.
Partnerships are inexpensive to set up however you must share the profits with the other partners and you and your partners are responsible for the debts of the partnership, even if you do not directly incur or cause the debt.
The partnership has joint ownership business assets and partners are entitled to share the net profits. However, in most circumstances any partner will be liable for any liabilities incurred by the partnership.
Trust – There are a number of different trusts. When you operate your business as a trust you become a trustee who is responsible to hold property or income for the benefit of others who are known as beneficiaries.
If a trust is carrying on a business, each year all income earned by the trust and deductions claimed for expenses incurred in carrying on that business must be shown on a trust tax return. The tax return also shows the amount of income distributed to each beneficiary.
A revocable trust is a normal trust which has specific details in its trust deed to indicate that it can be altered or revoked so that the settler may acquire a beneficial interest in the trust. Select the relevant trust type from information contained in the trust deed.
A testamentary trust is a trust established by instructions in a will, and does not come into effect until after the death of the person making the will. It may last for many years after the deceased estate has been fully administered and distributed. The trust deeds will show the type of trust i.e. fixed trust, unit trust, etc.
Charitable trust applicants should select Fixed trust for registration.
Other organisation – this includes:
Superannuation – this includes:
Government – A Government entity is a department or agency set up by a particular tier of government to administer a particular legislation. For example, Australian Customs Service, Australian Taxation Office or a State Department of Finance.
Note: Government entities are not able to apply for either an Australian business number (ABN) and/or tax file number (TFN) using this website at this time. A paper application needs to be completed and sent to the Registrar for processing. Should you require further information, please refer to Contact Us.
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