If you carry on a business but have a GST turnover of less
than $75,000 (or $150,000 for non-profit organisations), you
can choose to register for GST. Generally you must then stay
registered for at least 12 months.

You register only once for GST, even if you operate
more than one business. For example, the company ABC
Pty Ltd operates two businesses: ABC Building Hardware
Supplies and ABC Plumbers. ABC Pty Ltd registers once
for GST. This registration covers the company’s two
businesses.

WORKING OUT YOUR GST TURNOVER
Your GST turnover is your gross business income (not your
profit), excluding any:
■ GST you included in sales to your customers
■ sales that are not for payment and are not taxable (for
example, some sales to associates)
■ sales not connected with a business you carry on
■ input taxed sales you make
■ sales not connected with Australia.
If you are not registered for GST, you must check each month
to see whether you have reached the GST turnover threshold.
If you reach the threshold, you must register for GST within
21 days.
You reach the GST turnover threshold if either:
■ your turnover for the current month and the previous
11 months is $75,000 ($150,000 for non-profits) or more
– current GST turnover, or
■ your turnover for the current month and the next 11 months
is likely to be $75,000 ($150,000 for non-profits) or more
– projected GST turnover.
However, if your current GST turnover reaches or exceeds the
GST turnover threshold, but we are satisfied that your projected
turnover will be below the threshold, you do not have to register
for GST.
In working out your projected GST turnover, do not include
amounts you received for the sale of a business asset
(such as the sale of a capital asset) or for any sale you made,
or are likely to make, solely as a consequence of ceasing
or substantially and permanently reducing the size of
your business.
If you are a member of a GST group, your turnover includes the
turnover of other group members (except supplies made from
one member of the group to another member of the group).
If you do not register for GST and you are required to
do so, you may have to pay GST on the sales you have
made since the date you became required to register – even
if you did not include GST in the price of those sales. Not
only will you be out of pocket for the amount of GST, but
you may have to pay penalties and interest.