← All postsAustralia · 8 min read · 2 October 2026

GST and BAS for first-time business owners

What to collect, when to lodge, what to keep. Plain English, with a checklist.

The Cashier teamGeneral information, not financial or tax advice

GST & BAS

Do you need to register?

In Australia you must register for GST when your GST turnover reaches $75,000 a year, or $150,000 for non-profits. Taxi and ride-share drivers must register regardless. You can choose to register earlier.

Check the ATO website for the current thresholds and rules before you rely on them.

What GST and BAS are

GST is a 10% tax on most goods and services. Once registered, you add it to your prices, collect it, and pay it to the ATO. You claim back the GST you paid on business purchases. You report all of this on your Business Activity Statement, the BAS.

Rule of thumb: set aside one eleventh of every GST-inclusive sale. That is the GST portion you will owe.

How often you lodge

TurnoverUsual BAS cycleNotesUnder $20 millionQuarterlyMost small businesses$20 million or moreMonthlyRequiredAny sizeMonthly by choiceCan help cash flow if you get refunds

What to keep

Tax invoices for purchases over $82.50 including GST.

Records of every sale and the GST charged.

Bank statements that match the two.

Keep records for five years.

Doing it in Cashier

Turn on the Australia country pack. The Bookkeeper agent reads receipts as they arrive, checks the GST, flags missing tax invoices, and prepares draft BAS figures for you or your accountant to review. You or your accountant still lodge.

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