ATO on Trading Names
The Australian Business Register (ABR) is working with Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC) in preparation for the retirement of trading names.
To continue trading under a specific name, you need to register it as a business name. After a business name is successfully registered it will appear on ASIC's business names register and the ABN Lookup.
From November, all trading names will be removed from ABN Lookup. Only registered business names will continue to be listed, so check you have registered your trading name as a business name with ASIC by then.
From 31 October 2018, the only names displayed on ABN Lookup will be:
an entity's legal name
an entity's business name registered with ASIC.
From 31 October 2018, if you continue to use a trading name for business purposes, rather than your legal name, or a business name registered with ASIC, the entities you deal with will be unable to use ABN Lookup to verify your identity or GST registration status.
Source: ATO website
Need help to ensure that you can continue to use your business name?
Contact Bruce
e: bruce@grangepark.com.au
m: 0410 481 954