Do business in Australia. Without the mess.
Australia is the gateway to Asia-Pacific: stable English common law, 100% foreign ownership, and a Pty Ltd you can incorporate in under a week. Commenda handles ASIC registration, nominee directors, and compliance so you hit the ground running.
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Why Australia
Why Australia is the right base for Asia-Pacific expansion
Australia combines political stability, an English common law system, and deep trade ties across Asia with a straightforward company formation process. A Proprietary Limited Company (Pty Ltd) can be incorporated in 1 to 5 business days, accepts 100% foreign ownership, and requires only one Australian resident director, a requirement Commenda satisfies through its nominee director service. The corporate tax rate is 25% for base rate entities with annual turnover under AUD 50 million and 30% for larger businesses. Australia's R&D Tax Incentive delivers a 43.5% cash rebate on eligible R&D expenditure, a meaningful offset for technology and product companies. GST registration is required once revenue exceeds AUD 75,000 annually. For controllers evaluating a compliant, low-friction entry into Asia-Pacific, Australia is the benchmark jurisdiction.
Explore Australian incorporation options- 25%Corporate tax for SMEs25% for base rate entities under AUD 50M turnover; 30% for larger businesses.
- 10%GST rateGoods and Services Tax at a flat 10%. Registration required above AUD 75,000 revenue.
- AUD 75KGST registration thresholdAnnual revenue above AUD 75,000 triggers mandatory GST registration.
- 1-5Business days to incorporateASIC Pty Ltd registration is one of the fastest in the Asia-Pacific region.
Product Suite
One platform.
Every jurisdiction. No gaps.
Built for finance teams running international operations without a dedicated compliance function. This is the infrastructure you should have had from day one.
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Entity Management
Formation, maintenance, and oversight for subsidiaries across 70+ countries.
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VAT, GST, and sales tax obligations tracked, filed, and confirmed.
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Intercompany policy, documentation, and filing - built to OECD standards.
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Tax & Accounting
Consolidated financial reporting and local corporate tax filings. One audit trail.
Entity types
Choose the right structure for your business
Recommended
Proprietary Limited Company (Pty Ltd)
The Pty Ltd is Australia's standard private company structure and the default choice for foreign investors entering the market. It provides limited liability, 100% foreign ownership, and a straightforward ASIC registration process. A minimum of one Australian resident director is required; Commenda provides a nominee director for clients who do not have one locally.
Benefits
- Limited liability protects shareholders from company debts
- 100% foreign ownership permitted with no local equity partner
- Incorporated in 1 to 5 business days through ASIC
- English common law legal system with well-established commercial courts
- Eligible for the R&D Tax Incentive (43.5% cash rebate on qualifying R&D)
Key considerations
- At least one director must be ordinarily resident in Australia
- Annual ASIC review fee and financial reporting obligations apply
- GST registration required once annual revenue exceeds AUD 75,000
- Payroll tax obligations vary by state once wages exceed state-specific thresholds
How it works
From kickoff to open for business in Australia
Incorporating in a new country means unfamiliar filings, local requirements, and moving parts across multiple vendors.
We handle all of it so you don't have to.
Day 1
Onboarding
Your details submitted once. Entity name checked, documents collected, filings kicked off. No back-and-forth.
Days 1–3
Entity confirmed
Incorporation done. Formation documents, company number, and registered address live in your Commenda dashboard.
Week 1–2
Tax setup
Tax registrations filed, banking guidance underway. Compliance calendar set for your jurisdiction.
Week 2
Open for business
You're operational in a new market. Without a single trip to a government office.
G2 Reviews
Rated by the teams using it
Scores from finance and legal leads handling compliance globally.
Entity Management
#1 Ranked9.6/ 10Set up your entity and keep it in good standing. Filings, records, and renewals tracked in one place.
Corporate Tax & Compliance
Top Rated9.1/ 10Every tax deadline on one calendar. Corporate returns and statutory filings handled without the back-and-forth.
Sales Tax & VAT/GST
Commenda Leads9.4/ 10Register for VAT, GST, and sales tax in every country you operate in, and manage it all in one place.
Australia resources
Everything you need for your Australia operations
Detailed guides on tax, compliance, and business structure in Australia.
- Incorporation
How to Incorporate in Australia
A step-by-step guide to ASIC Pty Ltd registration, director requirements, and first-year compliance.
Read guide - Compliance
Australian Tax and GST Compliance
Corporate tax, GST registration, BAS lodgment, and payroll obligations for foreign-owned entities.
Read guide - Nominee Services
Australian Nominee Director Service
How Commenda's nominee director satisfies the ASIC residency requirement for foreign companies.
Read guide - Banking
Opening a Business Bank Account in Australia
What Australian banks require from foreign-owned Pty Ltds and how to accelerate approval.
Read guide
FAQ
Common questions
Yes. ASIC requires at least one director to be ordinarily resident in Australia. If you do not have a local director, Commenda provides a nominee director service. The nominee fulfills the statutory residency requirement while day-to-day control of the company remains with the overseas owner.
Yes. Australia places no restriction on foreign ownership of a Pty Ltd in most sectors. You can hold 100% of the shares as a foreign individual or corporate entity. Certain regulated industries (banking, media, defense) have separate foreign investment review requirements under the FIRB framework.
Base rate entities with aggregated annual turnover below AUD 50 million pay 25% corporate tax. All other companies pay 30%. The tax year runs 1 July to 30 June, and most companies lodge via a tax agent with an extended deadline. Australia also offers a 43.5% R&D Tax Incentive cash rebate for eligible research and development expenditure.
GST registration is mandatory once your annual turnover reaches or is expected to reach AUD 75,000. Below that threshold, registration is voluntary. Once registered, you must lodge Business Activity Statements (BAS) monthly or quarterly and remit 10% GST on taxable sales.
ASIC registration typically completes in 1 to 5 business days once all documents are submitted. Commenda prepares the company constitution, director consents, and shareholder register, then lodges directly with ASIC. You receive your ACN (Australian Company Number) and can begin trading as soon as the certificate of incorporation is issued.
Pty Ltds must pay an annual ASIC review fee, maintain a registered Australian address, keep financial records, lodge a company tax return each year, and notify ASIC of any changes to directors, shareholders, or registered address. Companies above certain revenue thresholds must also prepare audited financial statements. Commenda manages these filings on an ongoing basis.
Join hundreds of international businesses growing fast with Commenda
Tell us where you're expanding and we'll scope the requirements, handle the filing, and keep your entity compliant, usually within 24 hours of kickoff.
