Guides for foreign companies in Australia
Registration, ASIC compliance, tax and employment, written and reviewed by a Chartered Accountant.
Withholding Tax in Australia: Dividends, Interest and Royalties Paid to Foreign Companies
Australian withholding tax on dividends, interest and royalties paid to foreign companies: the 30%, 10% and 30% rates, treaty reductions, exemptions and ATO reporting.
ACN vs ABN vs ARBN: What Each Australian Number Means
ACN vs ABN: an ACN is a 9-digit ASIC company number, an ABN an 11-digit tax number, and an ARBN the ASIC number for a registered foreign company. Comparison table inside.
ASIC Company Extract: How to Get an ASIC Extract and What It Costs
How to get an ASIC company extract online, what it costs in 2026-27 ($10 current, $21 historical), what it shows, and why banks use it as proof of good standing.
Foreign Resident CGT Changes from 1 October 2026
What changed for foreign investors from 1 October 2026: a wider definition of Australian real property, a 365-day principal asset test, and 15% withholding.
What Is a Pty Ltd Company? (And Is There an LLC in Australia?)
What "Pty Ltd" means, the rules for proprietary companies, why it is the closest Australian equivalent to an LLC, and how US owners can elect its tax status.
Buying a Business in Australia as a Foreign Company or Investor
How foreign buyers acquire an Australian business: share or asset purchase, 2026 FIRB thresholds, landholder duty, foreign resident CGT and next steps.
Canadian Company Expanding to Australia
How a Canadian company sets up in Australia: branch or subsidiary, resident director, the Canada-Australia tax treaty, foreign affiliate rules and FIRB.
Clinical Trials in Australia: R&D Tax Incentive for Overseas Biotechs
Why overseas biotechs run clinical trials through an Australian subsidiary: phase 0 to III trials count as core R&D, the 43.5% refund and overseas rules.
Converting an Australian Branch into a Subsidiary
How a foreign company moves its Australian branch into a Pty Ltd subsidiary: the ASIC steps, CGT rollover, stamp duty, GST going concern and employees.
Dormant Company in Australia: Keep It or Deregister It?
What it costs to keep a dormant Australian subsidiary (ASIC fee, resident director, tax returns) and when voluntary deregistration or liquidation is better.
Employing Staff in Australia Without an Australian Entity: WPN, EOR or Pty Ltd
Three ways a foreign company can employ people in Australia before setting up a company: a withholding payer number, an employer of record, or a Pty Ltd.
Financial Reporting for Foreign Companies in Australia (2026)
ASIC financial reporting for foreign companies: branch accounts (s601CK, Form 405), foreign-controlled subsidiaries, the new 2026/468 relief and deadlines.