Quick answer
Moving a business interstate leaves your ABN, company and business name registrations in place, because they're national, but a company must update ASIC within 28 days of an address change. What changes is everything state-based: payroll tax registration and threshold sharing, workers compensation cover, occupational licences, vehicle registration, stamp duty and land tax on premises, and public holidays. Plan the overlap costs, because moving usually costs money before it saves any.
Key points
- ABNs, companies and business names are national — no need to re-register
- Companies must notify ASIC of address changes within 28 days or a late fee applies
- Payroll tax, workers compensation and many licences are state-based
- Employing in two states splits your payroll tax threshold between them
- Budget for overlap: two rents, removal, fit-out and lost trading days
Australian businesses cross borders all the time. A Sydney firm follows its clients to Brisbane. A Gold Coast café group opens in Tweed Heads. A Melbourne manufacturer moves production to a cheaper site in regional Victoria or across the Murray. A family relocates to Perth and takes the business with them. Most of the national paperwork travels with you. The state-based pieces don’t, and they’re where the surprises hide.
What stays the same when you move states?
Good news first. The core identity of your business is national:
- ABN — stays the same; update your address with the Australian Business Register.
- Company registration — a company registered with ASIC can operate anywhere in Australia. But if any company address changes, ASIC says the company must tell it within 28 days or a late fee applies.
- Business names — registered nationally with ASIC; update the address details.
- GST, BAS and PAYG withholding — federal, so nothing changes except your address.
- Most employment conditions — the Fair Work system and modern awards apply nationally to most private-sector employers.
What changes when you move or expand interstate?
Payroll tax
This is the big one. Payroll tax is charged by each state on wages paid there, with different thresholds and rates:
| Moving from → to | Threshold change (2026–27) |
|---|---|
| NSW → Queensland | $1.2m → $1.3m |
| Victoria → NSW | $1m → $1.2m |
| Queensland → Northern Territory | $1.3m → $2.5m |
| South Australia → Victoria | $1.5m → $1m |
| ACT → NSW | $1.75m → $1.2m |
If you move completely, you register in the new state and cancel in the old one once your last wages are paid there. If you expand and pay wages in both, each state gives you only a share of its threshold in proportion to where your wages are paid. A business can end up paying payroll tax in a state where its wages look small. Our payroll tax checker handles the apportionment, and the registration checklist covers the steps.
Don’t forget regional concessions. Moving from Brisbane to Townsville, or from Melbourne to Bendigo, can open up Queensland’s 1% regional discount or Victoria’s lower regional rate, provided you meet the tests. The payroll tax comparison explains both.
Workers compensation
Workers compensation is run by state and territory schemes, each with its own rules and premium setting. For staff based in the new state, you’ll generally need cover under that state’s scheme, in place before they start. If employees work across borders, the scheme that applies depends on where they’re connected to, so check with the insurers in both states.
Licences and permits
Many occupational licences — electrical, plumbing, building, security, real estate and others — are issued by state bodies. Some can be used interstate under automatic mutual recognition arrangements; others need registration or a new licence in the destination state. Business permits for food premises, signage, trading hours and environmental approvals are usually state or council matters. The business.gov.au licence finder is a good place to start.
Vehicles and equipment
Vehicle registration is state-based, so business vehicles that move permanently will need re-registering, which may involve inspections and fees. Heavy vehicle rules have national elements, but check registration and permits for your specific fleet.
Premises: duty, land tax and leases
If you’re buying premises in the new state, duty and land tax change completely. South Australia charges no duty on qualifying commercial land; the ACT charges nothing on commercial transfers up to $2.1 million in 2026–27; Victoria is moving commercial and industrial property to an annual tax. The stamp duty comparison and the land tax comparison set out the differences. If you’re leasing, retail lease laws vary by state too.
Public holidays and trading rules
The Fair Work Ombudsman notes that public holidays can be different depending on the state or territory you work in. That affects rosters, penalty rates and trading days. Retail trading hours and some industry rules also vary.
What does an interstate move really cost?
Moving usually costs money before it saves any. Budget for:
- Overlap rent — paying for old and new premises at the same time.
- Make-good on the old premises, which can be substantial for a fitted-out space.
- Fit-out, fixtures and signage at the new site.
- Bonds and bank guarantees for the new lease.
- Removal and freight, plus equipment reinstallation and testing.
- Recruitment and relocation for staff who move, or hiring locally.
- Lost trading days during the move.
- New registrations, licences and insurance in the destination state.
A simple month-by-month cash-flow forecast covering the three months before and six months after the move is one of the most useful things you can build. It shows the real size of the gap between spending and the new location paying its way.
If the forecast shows a gap, find out what your business could qualify for before you sign the new lease, rather than after.
A practical interstate checklist
Three to six months out
- Model payroll tax in both states, including any regional concessions.
- Check licences and permits for your trade in the new state.
- Get quotes for fit-out, removal and make-good.
- Build the cash-flow forecast and arrange any finance.
One to two months out
- Sign the new lease or contract, and settle premises finance.
- Arrange workers compensation cover in the new state.
- Register for payroll tax in the new state if required.
- Plan rosters around the new state’s public holidays.
Moving month
- Update ASIC within 28 days of any company address change, and the ABR.
- Update bank, insurers, suppliers, customers, website and Google listings.
- Re-register vehicles as required.
After the move
- Cancel payroll tax registration in the old state if you no longer pay wages there.
- Review cash flow monthly for six months.
Illustrative example: a Victorian landscaping business with wages of $950,000 opens a second crew in Albury, NSW, paying $250,000 in NSW wages. Total wages are now $1.2 million. Its Victorian share of the $1 million threshold is about $792,000, below its $950,000 of Victorian wages, so it must register in Victoria. Its NSW share of the $1.2 million threshold is $250,000, exactly its NSW wages. The owners fund the new crew’s ute, trailer and equipment with a property-secured loan and budget for the new payroll tax from the first month.
Telling customers, suppliers and staff
The paperwork is only half of a move. Tell key customers early, with dates and any changes to delivery or service. Confirm freight and supply arrangements into the new state, which may involve new suppliers altogether. For staff, be clear about who’s moving, who isn’t, and what support you’re offering. Losing experienced people is one of the hidden costs of a relocation, so it pays to plan it carefully.
How finance helps with a move
Common uses we see for interstate moves and expansions:
- Fit-out and equipment for the new site.
- Bonds, bank guarantees and overlap rent.
- Working capital to carry wages and costs until the new location is established.
- Buying premises in the new state, including duty.
Loans secured by property go from $20,000 up to $5,000,000 over residential or commercial property. Unsecured and line-of-credit options for trading businesses are usually between $5,000 and $500,000. Pick your destination on the interactive state map to see its taxes and support at a glance.
Crossing a border? Let’s plan the move together
A well-planned move sets a business up for its next stage. Tell us where you are, where you’re heading, and what the move involves. It is roughly a minute’s work and there’s no credit check to enquire. We don’t pass your details around a panel of lenders; a real person who knows both states’ rules calls you to talk through the numbers. Please fill in the form accurately so we can match you properly first time.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a new ABN if I move my business to another state?
No. ABNs are national, and so are company registrations and business name registrations with ASIC. You update your address details rather than re-registering.
How long do I have to tell ASIC about a new company address?
ASIC says that if any of your company addresses change, the company must tell it within 28 days or a late fee applies.
Does payroll tax change if I open a branch in another state?
Yes. Each state taxes wages paid there and gives you only a share of its threshold, based on the proportion of your total Australian wages paid in that state. You may need to register in the new state even if wages there are small.
Do I need new workers compensation insurance in the new state?
Generally, yes, for workers based there. Workers compensation is run by state and territory schemes, each with its own insurer arrangements and rules, so arrange cover in the new state before staff start.
Are trade licences valid in other states?
Some are, under automatic mutual recognition arrangements; others need a separate or registered licence. Check the licensing body in the destination state before you start work there.
Can I get finance for an interstate move or expansion?
Yes. Fit-outs, bonds, equipment, relocation costs and the working capital to cover the transition can be funded through property-secured loans or unsecured facilities, depending on your business and security.