What does registered for GST mean?
It means the business is registered with the ATO to charge GST, and an ABN result shows the date that started, so you can line it up with the GST on your invoice.
What registered for GST means for a sole trader, a company
The GST line reads the same on every result. What sits behind it depends on the kind of business you're dealing with.
How to read the GST line on your result
A result gives you more than a yes or no. These four details tell you whether the GST on an invoice lines up.
Registered or not registered: what it means when you're the one paying
Read across one row to see how each GST status changes what you should expect on the invoice in front of you.
Questions people ask about GST registration
Short answers to what people ask most often after seeing a GST line. Confirm anything you'll rely on with the ATO or your accountant.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Do all businesses need GST?
- No. The ATO says a business must register for GST once its GST turnover reaches a year, or for a non-profit. A business below that may show "Not registered for GST" on its result. What matters to you as a buyer is that its invoices don't add GST.
- What if a supplier charges GST but isn't registered?
- Then the invoice and the register don't match. First check the GST start date, as the supplier may have registered after the invoice date or before it. If it still doesn't line up, ask the supplier to explain, and talk to your accountant before you pay the GST part or claim anything for it.
- Does a sole trader need GST?
- A sole trader follows the same threshold as any other business. Once their GST turnover reaches a year, they must register. Below that, their result may say "Not registered for GST". If you're starting out as a sole trader, our sole trader guide covers the ABN side.
- What does "registered from" mean on a result?
- It's the date the business's GST registration started. Line it up with the date on your invoice. GST on an invoice dated before that start date doesn't match the register, so it's worth asking the supplier about it.
- Does being registered for GST mean I should pay?
- No. It's one fact, not a verdict. Before you pay, also check the ABN is active, the name matches the invoice, the invoice has the required details and the bank details haven't changed.
- Where does the GST information come from?
- It comes from Australian Business Register ABN data, released by the Australian Government under the Creative Commons Attribution licence. Each result names its source and the date it was retrieved. We're an independent site, not part of the ATO or the register.
See a supplier's GST status before you pay.
Type an ABN, ACN or business name and the result shows whether it's registered for GST and from what date.