Moving a business takes weeks of planning. The trucks, the boxes and the new lease tend to get all the attention. The paperwork that follows is easy to forget. Yet several government records hold your address, and some of them come with a deadline.
This guide covers which records to update after a move and how long you have. It also lists the other people who need to know. Most of it can be done online in an afternoon. Doing it early saves lost mail, missed notices and late fees.
Why your address matters to government records
Your address is attached to more than your invoices. The Australian Business Register (ABR), the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) all keep business details on file. According to the business.gov.au guide to notifying business changes, the ATO, ASIC and the ABR require you to report changes within 28 days. That means the update is part of the move, not a job for some quiet week later in the year.
If you are still in the planning stage, our guide to preparing to move your business covers the bigger picture. Put the record updates on that same checklist. Give each one an owner and a date. A missed update can mean letters and notices go to an empty office.
Updating your ABN details
Your ABN record on the ABR holds your business addresses and contact details. The ABR says you must update your details within 28 days of becoming aware of a change. The fastest way is online, and changes made online take effect immediately. You can also update through your registered tax agent or BAS agent, or by lodging a paper form.
There is one detail that catches people out. The main business address on the ABR should be the physical street address of your business. It should not be a post office box or a tax or BAS agent address, unless you run a tax or BAS agent business yourself. The government uses that street address to work out which financial support you can access, so accuracy matters.
Some things cannot be changed through the ABN update service. Business names are one example. Company legal names are another, because those are held by ASIC. Name changes made through the ATO or ASIC flow through to the ABR, so you only need to make them at the source.
Telling ASIC about a company address change
If your business runs through a company, ASIC needs to hear about the move as well. Every Australian company must tell ASIC when its registered office or principal place of business changes. The company has 28 days to do this or a late fee applies. A contact address is optional, but if you have one it should also be kept current.
The change is made online through the ASIC company officeholder portal using Form 484. You will need the company’s ABN or ACN and its corporate key. The corporate key is printed on the company’s most recent annual statement. Once submitted, the change takes effect seven days later.
The registered office has an extra step. You must confirm whether the company occupies the new premises. If it does not, you need the occupier’s name and their agreement to the address being used. The ASIC page on changing company addresses sets out each step.
Business names are also registered with ASIC. Keep the postal, email and business addresses on your business name registration up to date. The same goes for the authorised contact person. Business name details are listed separately from company details, so check both if you have a company and a registered business name.
Other details to check with the ATO
The ATO holds your registration details as well. These include your postal, email and business addresses, your main business activity and your financial institution account. Your authorised contact person is on that list too. A move is a good time to check all of them while you are at it.
Bank details deserve a look if you change accounts as part of the move. The business.gov.au guide lists financial institution account information among the details to keep current with the ATO and the ABR. Check your main business activity too if the move comes with a change in what you do. Your registered tax agent or BAS agent may be able to help with these updates.
Everyone else who needs your new address
Government records are only part of the job. The business.gov.au site says you need to tell all the stakeholders in your business when your circumstances change. That usually means customers, suppliers and anyone who sends you invoices or deliveries. Moving interstate can add further steps, and our article on the challenges of an interstate office move looks at some of them.
A simple list helps you work through the rest in order. Start with the people who pay you or deliver to you. Tick each one off once it is done.
- Customers and clients, plus the address on your quotes and invoices
- Suppliers, couriers and freight providers
- Your bank and your insurer
- Your website, email signature and online business listings
- Any licence or permit issuers that hold your address
- Utility, phone and internet providers
Your website is the one people check first. Update the address in the footer, the contact page and any maps. Online directory listings should match it word for word. If your new office has different parking or access, say so on the contact page.
Physical moves bring their own list. Our tips on moving your office furniture and the things to keep in mind when moving to a new office building cover the practical side. Leave a little time in the first week to finish the admin. A redirect of your post can catch letters that still go to the old address.
A simple order of tasks
It helps to do things in a set order. Update the ABR first, because it is quick and changes made online apply straight away. If you run a company, lodge the ASIC address change next, keeping the 28 day limit in mind. Then check your ATO registration details and your business name records.
After the government records, move on to customers, suppliers and your website. Leave the less urgent providers until the end of the first week. Keep a note of the date each update was made. That record is handy if a question about timing ever comes up.
Frequently asked questions
How long do I have to update my ABN after moving?
The ABR says you must update your details within 28 days of becoming aware of a change. Changes made online take effect straight away. You can also update through a registered tax agent or BAS agent. A paper form is available if you cannot use the online service.
Can I use a post office box as my main business address?
Generally, no. The main business address on the ABR should be the physical street address of your business. It should not be a post office box or a tax or BAS agent address. The exception is when you run a tax or BAS agent business yourself.
When does a company address change take effect with ASIC?
A change lodged on Form 484 takes effect seven days after you submit it. You must still tell ASIC within 28 days of the change. Missing that window means a late fee applies. You will need the company’s corporate key to lodge the form online.
Do I need to update my business name registration too?
Yes, if you hold a registered business name. ASIC keeps postal, email and business addresses for business names. The authorised contact person should also be current. Check this record as well as your company and ABN details.
Rules and processes can change, so check the official pages before you lodge anything.
