Do I need to register for GST as a new business?
Written by Jack Harrington and Gabriel Pozo, the founders of Urban Media, Melbourne. Updated .
GST catches new founders out because it is about turnover, not profit, and because it changes how you price. This guide covers the rule and what it means for your website and quotes.
General information, not tax advice, checked against business.gov.au and the ATO on 11 October 2026. Thresholds can change, so confirm on the ATO page.
The rule
You must register for GST if your GST turnover is $75,000 or more. The threshold for non-profits is $150,000. Taxi and ride-sourcing providers must register regardless of turnover.
Turnover is not profit
business.gov.au gives the example of a business that sells $80,000 of clothes in a year. It must register even if its profit is only $40,000. The ATO tests both your current turnover (this month plus the previous 11) and your projected turnover (this month plus the next 11).
The deadline
You have to register within 21 days of becoming aware that your turnover will go over the threshold.
Registering early
If you are under the threshold you can still choose to register. Doing so means you include GST in your prices and lodge activity statements. Ask an accountant whether it suits you.
What it changes on your website
- Decide whether the prices you show include GST or not, and say which.
- Make quotes and invoices show GST correctly once you are registered.
- Keep your ABN on invoices.
Where Urban Launch fits
Registration is for you and your accountant. Urban Launch prices are shown ex GST, so you can compare them straight away.
Official sources
This guide was checked against these official pages on 11 October 2026. Rules change, so confirm on the source before you rely on a detail.
More guides for new businesses
- Logo or website first for a new business
- What to do after registering an ABN
- New business launch checklist, Melbourne
- How to name a business in Australia
- Business name vs company name in Australia
- Do I need a website for a small business
- What is a brand identity for a small business
- Brand guidelines for a small business
- How to get your first customers as a new business
- Google Business Profile for a new business
- How much a new business should spend on ads
- Website checklist before you launch a small business site
- What photos a new business needs
- Landing page or website for ads
- Social media profiles for a new business
- How to start a business in Melbourne
- How to start a clothing brand in Australia
- How to register a brand name in Australia
- Do I need an ABN to start a business in Australia
- Sole trader or company in Australia
- How to choose a .com.au domain name
- How to get a logo for a new business
- Business email for a new business
- Privacy policy for a small business website in Australia
- What to post on social media when you start a business
- Setting up a business in Victoria
All of them are on the guides page.
Who is behind this
Urban Launch is built and run by Urban Media (ABN 28 169 446 902), a Melbourne studio founded by Jack Harrington and Gabriel Pozo. Urban Media makes video, design and websites for clients including Box Hill United, Brighton Grammar and Porsche Club Victoria.
If you want to talk to the people doing the work, call 0456 785 904. More about who we are, and how to check us, is on the About page.
Common questions
- What is the GST registration threshold?
- $75,000 GST turnover for most businesses, and $150,000 for non-profits. Confirm the current figure on the ATO website.
- How long do I have to register once I pass the threshold?
- Within 21 days of becoming aware that your GST turnover will go over the threshold.
- Is GST turnover the same as profit?
- No. It is based on sales, not profit, so a business can need to register even when its profit is below the threshold.
- Can I register for GST before reaching $75,000?
- Yes. Voluntary registration is allowed below the threshold, but you then have to include GST in prices and lodge activity statements.
Start with a Launch Call
Live and generating enquiries within 45 days, or we keep working at no extra cost until you are. The Launch Call is where we check it is the right fit before we book anything in. For a real example, read the Airwize case study (12 conversions, meaning leads that became sales, in the first month of Google Ads from $70 of ad spend, our figures). You can also read how a launch package compares with hiring separately, or go to the packages and prices on the homepage.
More: Brand and website package, Melbourne, Startup package for a new business, Melbourne, Branding, website and photography package, Melbourne.