ABN for .au domains?

[Diev]

Hi Guys

I like what I have seen so far of the site, especially the fact that most of the regular posters are not into blatant self promotion unlike a couple of other forums I stumbled across before finding this one

I was hoping somebody could answer my questions regarding the registration of .au domains.

I have read that you need an ABN or BRN? to register a .com.au domain, is this true?

I did have an ABN from a previous job years ago but it was deactivated about 12 months ago as It was no longer needed at the time.

What is the reason behind needing to supply this information? Is GST payable on income derived from a website, sorry if this is a stupid question but so far most of the information I have read regarding affiliate marketing has come from U.S. based sites.

Thanks in advance.

[Tim]

Apparently so but .com.au domain names have also recently been deregulated so it should be much uch easier to purchase and own.

Tim

[restless]

yes it's true you need an ABN. when you try to register a domain in australia you will find they ask you for it, so you can't register without one.

I'm not sure if there's a work around, it's easy enough to get an ABN though.

[HarveyJ]

ABNs are free to get, and it only takes 20-30 minutes to apply for one online through the ABR website.
If you do any freelance work at all, you should have one anyway.

[Diev]

As stated in my OP I have had an ABN in the past, should be able to get it reactivated if needed.

I guess I was wondering why we need it? does income from affiliate marketing attract GST?

[leadegroot]

does income from affiliate marketing attract GST?

Affiliate income is just like any other - if you try to hide it from the revenooers, they will hunt you down and nail you to the side of the barn
'Needing' an ABN for a .com.au domain is a bit of a hangover from the old days, when a .au domain could only be gotten for a Real Australian Entity (whatever that means! ) I wonder how long it will stay that way, but as it is so easy to get around (20 minutes and you are good to go) it will probably stay - its not getting in anyone's way. :irony:

[jam]

Originally Posted by leadegroot

Needing' an ABN for a .com.au domain is a bit of a hangover from the old days

I'm glad you need an ABN, there are not enough .com.au domains still available...
I would hate the .au to be open to anyone to register.

[leadegroot]

Me too, its just - its so easy to get I wonder why they bother with the restriction, sometimes.

[Twinkle]

I too wondered why an ABN is necessary or not. Thank you for the clarification.

[Diev]

Originally Posted by leadegroot

Affiliate income is just like any other - if you try to hide it from the revenooers, they will hunt you down and nail you to the side of the barn

Ok this much is a given, however Income tax and GST are not the same, I understand you would have to declare income from affiliate marketing and pay income tax.

However I still don't feel my question has been answered so I will try to clarify it as I may have not asked it the right way.

Do you guys that are generating income from affiliate marketing pay Goods and Services Tax and file business activity statements? or do you just pay income tax on it?

[Tanooki]

Originally Posted by Diev

Do you guys that are generating income from affiliate marketing pay Goods and Services Tax and file business activity statements? or do you just pay income tax on it?

That will all depend on your business structure and whether you are registered for GST. If you are not registered for GST (I think turnover has to be less than $50k per annum to be not registered for GST - but that figure is a few years old. not sure if it's been updated) then you don't claim GST from the networks.

There are a couple of lengthy threads on the forum about GST. Most of the affiliate networks require you to invoice them for GST.

You pay income tax on your personal income, which everyone must do whether as a sole trader or as an employee of your own company. In my case I have a Pty Ltd and am an employee of the business. But each person's situation will vary in regards to business structure. Hope that helps.

[leadegroot]

Do you guys that are generating income from affiliate marketing pay Goods and Services Tax and file business activity statements? or do you just pay income tax on it?

Shorter answer - if you earn enough from affiliate marketing then you have to sign up for GST. I am not sure what the threshold is these days.

Yeah, poke around the forum - we had a good yack about it a while back.

Points to remember: if you invoice DGM for GST they will pay you it, so you get 10% more. CG and CM do it automatically (but never send you any Tax Invoices - weird!). Google doesn't pay you GST for Adsense because they is fureign

[Tanooki]

Originally Posted by leadegroot

Google doesn't pay you GST for Adsense because they is fureign

Google also doesn't charge GST on Adwords purcahses if you deal directly with them. (As you are dealing with Google Ireland for some reason??)

[Diev]

Thanks guys, that clears it up a bit.

Difficult to do a search for GST though as it's only 3 letters but I will dig the thread up somehow.

Thanks again

[newbie]

Originally Posted by Diev

Thanks guys, that clears it up a bit.

Difficult to do a search for GST though as it's only 3 letters but I will dig the thread up somehow.

Thanks again

Diev,

There is plenty to read...

GST - Google Search

Also suggest searching this forum for "GST" as it has been discussed a couple of times.

Your accountant should tell you this but if you are an Australian affiliate you should register for GST but you will not collect GST on all of your earnings. For example, a sale made for an overseas merchant is an "export" earning and not subject to GST.

If you are using the ClixGalore network, it is easier to manage if you have two affiliate accounts, one for Australian merchants and another for the rest.