OFFICIAL PAYMENT PARTNER OF UEFA EURO 2024™

Earn a AUD200 bonus on your supplier payments

World Account

The all-in-one account to help your business grow internationally.

Featured Products

WorldTrade

Integrated payment and order solution

World Card

Lorem ipsum dolor sit dolor sit dolor sit amet.

Pay to wholesale marketplace effortlessly

User Guides

Partners

Partner Acquisition

Partner Directory

Better connecting the world
with WorldFirst

One-stop digital payment services platform for cross-border SMEs.

About WorldFirst

Asia

中国

简体中文

繁体中文

English

대한민국

한국어

English

Malaysia

English

Việt Nam

Tiếng Việt

English

Singapore

English

Indonesia

English

English

日本

日本語

English

Thailand

ภาษาไทย

English

Philippines

English

English

Oceania

Australia

English

New Zealand

English

Europe

United Kingdom

English

Deutschland

Deutsch

English

Nederland

Nederlands

France

Français

Europe

English

North America

México

Español

Other regions

Including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Morocco and 100+ other countries across 6 continents.

Do  you need an ABN for dropshipping?

 

If you’re looking to sell on eBay, Shopify, Amazon or your own website via dropshipping, it’s important to comply with local tax regulations in Australia.

 

 

Dropshipping is a relatively new concept in eCommerce and has changed the logistical chain between manufacturer, seller and buyer. It minimises overheads such as warehouses, staffing and inventory management, making it more difficult to pinpoint exactly what type of business dropshipping is.

As a dropshipper, you’re not a traditional bricks-and-mortar store but neither are you a traditional eCommerce store managing and fulfilling orders with pre-purchased stock. It can therefore be confusing to determine whether you need an ABN and are required to pay GST as a dropshipper.

In this article, we’ll look at what dropshipping is, what an ABN is, who requires one and whether, as a dropshipper in Australia, you should have one.

 

What is dropshipping?

Dropshipping has greatly lowered the cost of entry into eCommerce. You’ll no longer have to deal with minimum order quantities, inventory costs or shipping logistics. When a customer places an order with your store, whether this is an online marketplace, Shopify site or your own website, you simply pass the order onto your dropshipping supplier, who prepares, packs and ships the order directly to your customer.

Open a World Account for free
  • Open 10+ local currency accounts with local account details
  • Direct CNH payments to 1688.com
  • Pay suppliers, partners and staff in 40+ currencies and 130+ destinations
  • Collect secure payments from 100+ marketplaces and payment gateways, including Amazon, AliExpress, Paypal and Shopify
  • Lock in currency conversion rates for up to 24 months

What is an ABN?

An Australian Business Number (ABN) is an 11-digit number provided by the Australian Business Register. It’s unique to your business and helps identify it with the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), other businesses and the general public.

 

Who needs an ABN to sell online?

Not everyone who sells online requires an ABN. If, for example, you sell items online as a hobby or don’t intend to make a profit from selling, then you may not require an ABN. 

However, if you intend to set up your dropshipping activity for profit, with a registered domain name and/or paid advertising and marketing, then you should consider it a business and you will likely need an ABN, if not now then in the future. The ATO has a handy guide to determine whether you’re carrying on or intend to start a business.

 

The benefits of having an ABN

Aside from identifying you with the government, having an ABN has several advantages.

 

You can get an Australian domain name

With an ABN, you can register your business name and purchase a .au domain name. This will allow customers and suppliers to identify you and increase your trustworthiness.

 

Open more opportunities

There are suppliers who will only work with registered businesses as the risk is otherwise too high. If you want to open a business account with financial institutions, you may also be required to have an ABN.

 

Tax deductions and tax credits

Without an ABN, you can’t apply for tax deductions related to running a business. You also aren’t able to charge GST.

 

How to register for an ABN

You can register for an ABN with the government’s Business Registration Service.

 

 

Disclaimer: These comments are the views and opinions of the author and should not be construed as advice. You should act using your own information and judgement. Whilst information has been obtained from and is based upon multiple sources the author believes to be reliable, we do not guarantee its accuracy and it may be incomplete or condensed. All opinions and estimates constitute the author’s own judgement as of the date of the briefing and are subject to change without notice. Please consider FX derivatives are high risk, provide volatile returns and do not guarantee profits.

WorldFirst
cover_img

Do you need an ABN for dropshipping?

Whether you’re looking to use dropshipping to sell on eBay, Shopify, Amazon or your own website, it’s important to comply with local tax regulations in Australia.

Sep / 2022
cover_img

eCommerce trends and statistics in 2022

We’ve all heard that Ccommerce is booming, especially after the coronavirus pandemic but exactly what is happening? Find out the latest industry insights.

Aug / 2022
cover_img

Applying for an EIN from overseas

If you want to do business in the USA, you’ll need an EIN. Learn what an EIN is and how to apply for one from overseas.

Aug / 2022
You might also like

Choose a category below for more business, finance and foreign exchange support from WorldFirst.

Businesses trust WorldFirst
  • Almost 1,000,000 businesses have sent USD$150B around the world with WorldFirst and its partner brands since 2004
  • Your money is safeguarded with leading financial institutions