Business loans and support in Canberra and the ACT

Canberra’s business economy looks different from other capitals. A large public service and the consultants, contractors, tech firms and professional practices around it sit alongside the usual cafés, trades and retailers. The ACT also runs its own tax playbook: it has been shifting away from duty for years, and from 1 July 2026 it reset its payroll tax settings. If your wage bill sits anywhere near $2 million, this year’s change matters.

What changed with ACT payroll tax on 1 July 2026?

The ACT Revenue Office lowered the tax-free threshold and moved to tiered rates:

	2025–26	2026–27 (from 1 July 2026)
Annual threshold	More than $2 million	$1.75 million
Rate for most employers	6.85%	6.75% on wages from $1.75m to $20m
Larger payrolls	Surcharges for very large employers	Higher tiered rates from $20m upward, no surcharges

Two groups feel the change most:

• Employers with wages between $1.75 million and $2 million. They were under the old threshold and are now over the new one. If that’s you, you may need to register.
• Employers just above $2 million. They lose $250,000 of threshold but gain a slightly lower rate on wages up to $20 million.

The usual rules hold: wages include super and some contractor payments, related businesses can be grouped, and employers with staff in NSW or elsewhere get a proportional ACT threshold. Many Canberra businesses employ across the border in Queanbeyan, so apportionment comes up often. Our payroll tax registration checklist covers what to do if you’ve just crossed the line.

How is commercial property taxed in the ACT?

The ACT charges no conveyance duty on commercial property transfers up to $2.1 million in 2026–27 (up from $2 million in 2025–26). Above that, duty is a flat $5 per $100 on the total transaction value — not just the part over the threshold. That creates a sharp step at the threshold, which is worth knowing when you’re negotiating on a property priced close to it.

A few other ACT features to keep in mind:

• Leasehold land. Almost all ACT land is held under Crown lease. Lenders accept it, but they check the lease’s permitted use and remaining term.
• Rates and holding costs. The ACT has moved much of its property revenue into general rates over time, so check the ACT Revenue Office for the ongoing charges on any premises you buy.

Our stamp duty comparison shows how the ACT compares with the states.

What free support is there for Canberra businesses?

• Canberra Business Advice and Support Service (CBASS) — up to four hours of free, tailored advice at any stage, plus webinars, workshops and events.
• Badji — the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Business Support Service, linking businesses with providers, mentoring and accelerator programs.
• Canberra Innovation Network — programs run by experienced founders for innovative and high-growth firms.
• Small Business Debt Helpline — free, confidential financial counselling for owners under pressure.

The ACT Government also lists territory and federal grants on its business pages, and the federal business.gov.au grants finder can be filtered for the ACT.

How do lenders look at Canberra businesses and property?

Canberra is a stable property market, and lenders are comfortable with residential and commercial security across the territory, including leasehold titles. Property in nearby Queanbeyan, Jerrabomberra and the surrounding NSW towns is assessed under NSW title but is part of the same local market; see our NSW guide.

For trading businesses without property, lenders focus on turnover and bank statements. Government contractors are a particular case: the income can be very reliable, but payment timing can stretch cash, especially when you’re carrying staff costs on a new contract before the first invoice is paid. An unsecured line of credit or a property-secured facility can smooth that gap.

What will a lender ask about a government contract?

Lenders like the reliability of government income but want to understand its shape. Expect questions about the contract’s length and value, whether it’s a panel arrangement or a firm order, how and when invoices are paid, and what happens if a project is paused. A copy of the contract or a purchase order, recent bank statements and a short cash-flow forecast make the conversation quicker.

Why Canberra owners come to us

• Carrying wages on a new government or defence contract before payments start.
• Payroll tax after the threshold dropped, or after fast growth.
• Buying premises — often priced around the duty threshold.
• Fit-outs for professional practices, clinics and hospitality venues.
• ATO debt clearance, looked at case by case.

Illustrative example: a Fyshwick IT services firm has ACT wages of $1.9 million. Under 2025–26 settings it paid no payroll tax; from July 2026 it’s over the new $1.75 million threshold. It registers, and draws on a line of credit to cover the first few monthly returns while it adjusts its contract pricing.

If the threshold change has caught you out, or you’re about to sign a lease or contract, see what your business could qualify for.

Let’s find the right fit in the ACT

Whether you’re in Braddon or Belconnen, tell us what you need, what it’s for and whether there’s property involved. It takes around a minute and there’s no credit check to enquire. Your details stay with our team rather than being sprayed across a list of lenders, and a real person calls you back to talk it through. Please fill the form in accurately so we can get you to the right option on the first go.

Start your ACT enquiry →