Understanding ABN and ACN Requirements for .com.au Domains

When registering a .com.au domain name, you need to provide a valid Australian Business Number (ABN), Australian Company Number (ACN), or other eligible identifier. These requirements aren’t just bureaucratic red tape — they’re part of Australia’s effort to ensure the trustworthiness of its digital space.

Why Are ABNs or ACNs Required?

The .com.au extension is intended for commercial use by Australian entities. The governing body, auDA (Australian Domain Administration), requires domain holders to prove they’re a legitimate business, sole trader, or registered organisation operating in Australia.

This helps:

• Protect consumers from scams

• Prevent domain squatting

• Ensure local businesses are fairly represented

What Are the Accepted IDs?

To register a .com.au domain, you must supply one of the following:

• ABN (Australian Business Number) – for sole traders and small businesses

• ACN (Australian Company Number) – for registered companies

• ARBN – for registered foreign companies operating in Australia

• State business number – if applicable

• Trademark number – for IP owners not yet trading under an ABN

What If My ABN Is Cancelled?

If your ABN becomes inactive or is cancelled, your domain can be suspended or deleted. It’s important to keep your business registration up to date to avoid losing your domain name — and possibly your website and emails with it.

How Does This Affect Startups?

If you’re a new business and don’t yet have a registered ABN or ACN, you’ll need to complete that step beforeregistering a .com.au domain. The good news? You can apply for an ABN online through the Australian Business Register (ABR) and often receive it the same day.

Registering with iWebHost

At iWebHost, our domain registration platform checks your eligibility against auDA’s requirements. If something’s missing or not valid, we’ll let you know before the domain is registered — saving you headaches down the track.

Start your domain search today at iWebHost.com.au/domains.