Compendium · Oceania · Australia
Australia: GST on digital services
Flag and locator map are self-hosted static assets (flag-icons MIT; Natural Earth public domain). Attribution.
Supported (free threshold) · Local term: GST
Last verified: 2026-10-29
Non-resident businesses supplying imported services and digital products to Australian consumers must register for GST once Australian GST turnover reaches (or is likely to reach) A$75,000 in 12 months. Simplified GST registration (ARN, quarterly, no GST credits) is available. Standard rate 10%
Spot a mistake in Australia’s rules?
Open a public correction issue on Gitea (sign in or create an account). The form is prefilled with this page’s URL and a short template, and asks for the correction label. Accepted corrections become a reviewed diff on the rules dataset — rule fixes belong in botchannels-app, not a silent change on this site.
Threshold and rates (GST)
- Free threshold?
- Yes — AUD 75,000 non-resident GST threshold
- Amount / measure
- AUD 75,000
GST turnover from sales connected with Australia (imported services / digital products to Australian consumers, and low-value imported goods) ≥ A$75,000 (A$150,000 for non-profits). Voluntary registration below the threshold is allowed - Window
- 12 months (current / projected GST turnover)
- Standard rate
- 10.0%
Standard GST 10% on taxable supplies of imported services and digital products to Australian consumers (ATO) - Who must register
- Non-resident businesses carrying on an enterprise with Australian GST turnover at or above A$75,000 from imported services/digital products (and low-value goods). EDP/marketplace operators may be responsible instead of the underlying merchant
- Evidence of location
- ATO GSTR 2017/1: use information from your usual business systems to form a reasonable belief whether the recipient is an Australian consumer. Accepted examples include billing/mailing address; banking or credit-card issuer location; payment-intermediary location data; mobile SIM or landline country code; country selection; IP / geolocation; place of establishment; recipient representations. Weigh conflicting signals; there is no rigid 'exactly two pieces' statutory formula, but systems evidence must on balance support the conclusion
- Invoicing
- Simplified (limited registration) entities receive an ARN, cannot issue Australian tax invoices, and cannot claim GST credits. Standard registration (ABN) is needed if you need tax invoices or GST credits
- Filing
- Simplified GST registration: lodge GST returns and pay quarterly by the quarterly payment date, electronically via Online services for non-residents. Currency: AUD
- Effective
- GST on imported services and digital products to Australian consumers
- Authority
- Australian Taxation Office (ATO)
What Botchannels returns
- Ruleset version
2026-10-22.v1- Decision summary
- Botchannels allows sales under a free threshold of AUD 75,000 (12 months (current / projected GST turnover)). Above that, destination tax and local registration apply.
- Product class
- Digital service
- Support status
- Supported (free threshold) — AUD 75,000 non-resident GST threshold
How to register
- Self-register online?
- Yes — Eligible non-residents self-register for simplified GST online (AUSid) and receive an ARN. No Australian resident representative required for simplified GST
- Resident representative / fiscal agent
- Not required for simplified GST registration for non-residents (ATO)
- Regime
- ATO simplified GST registration (limited registration entity / ARN) for non-resident digital supplies; standard GST (ABN) if outside simplified eligibility
Steps (in order)
- Confirm you are eligible for simplified GST (imported services / digital products to Australian consumers; not importing/warehousing goods in Australia) — https://www.ato.gov.au/businesses-and-organisations/international-tax-for-business/gst-for-non-resident-businesses/gst-registration-for-non-resident-businesses/simplified-gst-registration
- Create / use an AUSid account and apply for simplified GST via Online services for non-residents
- Submit GST simplified reporting registration; ATO emails a 12-digit ARN on success
- Charge, lodge, and pay GST under the simplified rules
Documents
- Online application particulars — ATO states identity proof is not required for simplified GST registration. Provide accurate business identity and contact details in the online form
- Official processing time
- Electronic; ATO does not publish a single SLA — unsuccessful applications are notified by email
- Official fees
- No ATO registration fee for simplified GST
- Portal
- https://www.ato.gov.au/businesses-and-organisations/international-tax-for-business/gst-for-non-resident-businesses/gst-registration-for-non-resident-businesses/simplified-gst-registration
- Local bank account
- Pay via ATO non-resident payment options after lodging
- Filing frequency
- As for simplified GST lodgment cycle (typically quarterly — confirm ATO)
- Payment currency
- AUD
- Input VAT recovery
- Simplified GST (limited registration) generally does not allow GST credits — confirm with ATO
- Portal language
- English
- Penalties
- ATO failure-to-register / late lodgment penalties
Firms offering this service
Non-exhaustive. Not an endorsement. Links checked live on 2026-10-29; confirm current offerings, licences, and fees directly with each firm before engaging
- KPMG Australia — Member firm
- Deloitte Australia — Member firm
- EY Australia — Member firm
Official sources
ATO — Non-resident businesses and GST
ATO — Simplified GST registration
ATO — GSTR 2017/1 (Australian consumer evidence)
Last verified: 2026-10-29.
FAQ
- What is the Australian GST threshold for overseas digital sellers?
- A$75,000 of Australian GST turnover in 12 months (A$150,000 for non-profits)
- Can simplified registrants claim GST credits?
- No. Limited registration entities cannot claim GST credits or issue tax invoices
- Is a local tax representative mandatory?
- No for simplified non-resident GST registration
- Is this tax advice?
- No. This page summarises official VAT/GST rules for foreign digital sellers. It is not tax or legal advice