Start your business
Start your business
Run your business
Run your business
Grow your business
Grow your business
Accountants and Bookkeepers
Accountants and Bookkeepers
- Accountants and Bookkeepers
  Learn how accountants and bookkeepers can be productive in these articles & guides
- Learning and Development
  A range of informative content to enhance your QuickBooks experience.
Updates
Updates
- Product Updates
  Watch this space for monthly product updates.
- Intuit News
  Latest news, articles & guides

Need help choosing a plan?

1800 917 771 Schedule a call

Schedule call

Running a business

Everything you need to know about Australia’s new .au domain names

By QuickBooks Australia

Published onJune 6, 20243 min read

headline

Australia launched the .au direct domain name on 24 March 2022, giving businesses the option to register a short, memorable .au domain name for websites and email addresses. The deadline to make a priority pre-registration for your business’ .au domain is 20 September 2022.

Here’s what you need to know about the new .au domain names in Australia: what they mean for your business, eligibility, benefits and how to apply.

Why is the new .au domain namespace being introduced?

Introducing the .au domain space offers more choice for businesses to register a short, localised domain name and grow their digital brand.

The new .au domain namespace is what’s known as the ‘country code Top Level Domain’ (ccTLD) for Australia. It is designed to complement the existing Australian domain namespaces, such as com.au, edu.au, gov.au and org.au.

Existing domain names in the .au will continue to operate, meaning you can own multiple domains (such as .com.au and .au) for your business website.

Who is eligible for an .au domain name?

.au domain names are available to any business with a current Australian presence. This includes:

Permanent Australian residents and citizens
Australian registered companies
Australian partnerships and sole traders
Owners of an Australian registered trademark
Australian registered charities
Australian registered political parties
Trusts where the trustee is an Australian citizen
Foreign companies licensed to trade in Australia

What are the benefits of an .au domain name?

The new .au domain names create many opportunities for small businesses. For example, they are shorter and easier to remember. They also signal to users that your business has a connection with Australia, helping you build a local and relevant online presence.

But most importantly, by shortening your business' domain name, you'll be able to further protect your business against cyber criminals. The Australian Cyber Security Centre has recommended that businesses register their business under the .au direct equivalent prior to the cut-off date, to prevent cybercriminals from impersonating their business.

In addition to the above, registering an .au direct domain name can be a great opportunity for existing Australian businesses and entrepreneurs to promote one-off events or campaigns. Examples include:

Registering a shorter domain for your existing business (yourbusinessname.au)
Registering your name in .au to create a professional online portfolio (yoursurname.au) and email address (yourfirstname@yoursurname.au)
Registering your marketing campaign name to launch a new product (yourcampaginname.au)

Grow Your Business with QuickBooks

30-day free trial

Buy now and save

How to apply for an .au domain name

If you want to register the .au version of your existing business’ domain name, you’ll need to make a priority application online with the .au Domain Administration Limited (auDA) on or before 20 September 2022.

1. Check your priority status

Use the auDA’s priority status tool to enter your existing business domain name and check if you’re eligible to make a priority application.

One thing to keep in mind is that you might hold the com.au domain for your business name but someone else might hold the corresponding .org.au or net.au domain. In these cases, the priority status tool will list the registered domain names in order of priority.

Find out more about the priority allocation process here.

2. Retrieve your priority token

If you’re eligible to make a priority application for your .au domain name, you’ll need to retrieve your priority token on the auDA website.

After entering your details, you should receive two numbers – your Priority Contact ID and Priority Authinfo – in your business’s email inbox. You’ll need to enter these two numbers in the next step.

3. Register your .au domain name

Once you’ve obtained your Priority Contact ID and Priority Authinfo, you can register for your .au domain name through your existing domain host (if they’re accredited) or another accredited domain host.

See the list of auDA-accredited domain hosts.

When registering, your chosen domain host will prompt you to provide your Priority Contact ID and Priority Authinfo.

4. Transfer or redirect your .au domain name

If you registered your .au domain name with your usual domain host, you’re all set up and ready to go.

If you registered with another domain host, you’ll need to either transfer your .au domain to your usual domain host, or redirect your .au domain to your usual business website address. You can do this via your .au domain host’s user dashboard.

What happens if you don’t register

If you don’t register, the .au version of your business’ domain name will become available for registration to the general public.

Even if you don’t plan to actively use your .au domain name, it’s a good idea to consider making a priority application to prevent others from registering your business name in the new .au format.

Growing a business

Grow your business with the help of a QuickBooks certified ProAdvisor

August 2, 2022

taxes

Small Business Tax Guide - Australia

May 7, 2024

Running a business

4 ways QuickBooks allows small business owners to focus on their craft

June 20, 2024

Looking for something else?

Get QuickBooks

Smart features made for your business. We've got you covered.

See how it works

Help Me Choose

Use our product selector to find the best accounting plan for you.

Choose your product

QuickBooks Support

Get help with QuickBooks. Find articles, video tutorials, and more.

Start learning

A computer screen showing a picture of a computer.

TAKE A NO-COMMITMENT TEST DRIVE

Your free 30-day trial awaits

Our customers save an average of 9 hours per week with QuickBooks invoicing*

No credit card needed

Cancel anytime

Unlimited support

By entering your email, you are agree to our Terms and acknowledge our Privacy Statement.

- - QuickBooks reserves the right to change pricing, features, support and service at any time. Prices are in AUD and include GST. See our Terms of Service for further information.
  - Pricing: All prices are in AUD and include GST.
  - ProAdvisor Program: Please find the terms of our ProAdvisor program here.
  - 50% off for 3 months: For new subscribers, enjoy a 50% off price subscription on QuickBooks Online Simple Start, QuickBooks Online Essentials or QuickBooks Online Plus for the first 3 months of your subscription (Offer). The discount will applied from the date of your enrolment and will continue for 3 months. From month 4, you will be charged the then current monthly retail price for your subscription. See current prices here. QuickBooks Payroll and QuickBooks Time prices are not eligible for any discount and will be invoiced separately according to your usage on a monthly basis during your subscription. Intuit reserves the right to request information to verify the eligibility of a purchaser of the Offer. Acceptance of such verification information is at the reasonable discretion of Intuit, which may revoke the Offer and impose a monthly cost for the subscription at the then current retail prices, at any time if it considers the purchaser is ineligible for the Offer.
  - 50% off for 12 months: For new subscribers, enjoy a 50% discount off the current monthly retail price for QuickBooks Self-Employed, QuickBooks Online Simple Start, QuickBooks Online Essentials or QuickBooks Online Plus for the first 12 months of your subscription (Offer). The discount will applied from the date of your enrolment and will continue for 12 months. From month 13, you will be charged the then current monthly retail price for your subscription. See current prices here. QuickBooks Payroll and QuickBooks Time prices are not eligible for any discount and will be invoiced separately according to your usage on a monthly basis during your subscription. Intuit reserves the right to request information to verify the eligibility of a purchaser of the Offer. Acceptance of such verification information is at the reasonable discretion of Intuit, which may revoke the Offer and impose a monthly cost for the subscription at the then current retail prices, at any time if it considers the purchaser is ineligible for the Offer.
  - 50% off for 3 months (existing subscribers): For existing QuickBooks subscribers who upgrade to QuickBooks Online Essentials, Plus or Advanced, enjoy a 50% discount off the current monthly retail price for 3 months of your subscription (Offer). The discount will be applied from the date you upgrade in-product and will continue for 3 months. From month 4, you will be charged the then current monthly retail price for your subscription. See current prices here. QuickBooks Payroll and QuickBooks Time services and prices are not eligible for any discount and will be invoiced separately according to your usage on a monthly basis during your subscription. Intuit reserves the right to request information to verify the eligibility of a purchaser of the Offer. Acceptance of such verification information is at the reasonable discretion of Intuit, which may revoke the Offer and impose a monthly cost for the subscription at the then current retail prices, at any time if it considers the purchaser is ineligible for the Offer.
  - Free Trial: First thirty (30) days of subscription to QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Self-Employed and QuickBooks Payroll (including QuickBooks Advanced Payroll), starting from the date of enrolment, is free. During the free trial, you may pay any number of employees using QuickBooks Payroll free of charge. To continue using QuickBooks after your 30-day trial, you'll be asked to present a valid credit card for authorisation and you'll be charged monthly at the then-current fee for the service(s) you've selected.
  - QuickBooks Payroll powered by Employment Hero: Payroll services are offered by a third party, Employment Hero. QuickBooks Payroll is only accessible via QuickBooks Online subscriptions. You will be charged $6.00 (incl. GST) per month for each ‘active employee’ paid using QuickBooks Payroll. An ‘active employee’ is one who has been paid at least once in the billing month. For Advanced Payroll, there is an additional monthly subscription fee of $10 (incl GST). Pricing, terms and conditions, including service options, are subject to change.
  * Employment Hero was voted the leading payroll solution for SMBs <50 employees (Australian Payroll Association 2021 Payroll Benchmarking Study)
  - Customer support: Call or chat to an expert for QuickBooks Online Accountant, QuickBooks Simple Start, Essential, Plus, and Advanced or use in-product QB Assistant and chat for QuickBooks Self-Employed. You'll also find useful resources in the QuickBooks Community.
  - Compatible Devices: QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Self-Employed and QuickBooks Payroll require a computer with Internet Explorer 10, Firefox, Chrome, or Safari 6 and an Internet connection (a high-speed connection is recommended). The QuickBooks Online mobile app works with iPhone, iPad, and Android phones and tablets. QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Payroll are accessible on mobile browsers on iOS, Android, and Blackberry mobile devices. Devices sold separately; data plan required. QuickBooks Payroll cannot be used on the mobile apps. Not all features are available on the mobile apps and mobile browser. QuickBooks Online mobile access is included with your QuickBooks Online subscription at no additional cost. Data access is subject to cellular/internet provider network availability and occasional downtime due to system and server maintenance and events beyond your control. Product registration required.
  - Get paid faster: Get paid 2.5x faster invoicing with PayPal
  * PayPal and QuickBooks customers get paid on average in less than 5 days, which is over 7 days faster than the average for invoices that get paid with other payment methods. Data is for paid invoices that were created in QuickBooks in Australia between 23.05.22 and 23.11.22
  - Tax deductions: Tax deductions not guaranteed due to being subject to user data entry errors. Mileage calculation provided by the Australia Taxation Office - 85 cents per kilometre for the 2023-2024 income year. To a maximum of 5,000 business kilometres per car (Deductions are only applicable to cars)
  - Customer Service Awards: Excellence in Customer Service Award at the CX Australia Awards 2022
  - Multiple file discount: Multiple file discount applies to QuickBooks Australia customers only and valid when signing up for more than one QuickBooks Online subscription in one order. Further terms and conditions available here. Not applicable to QuickBooks Self Employed.
  - Reviews: GetApp, Capterra, Google Play Store, Apple App Store reviews as at date 08/01/24.
  - Cost per day claim (annual): Based on a QuickBooks Simple Start plan at its regular retail price of $313 per year and a 365 day year.
  - Annual Billing: You may pay for your QuickBooks Online subscription on an annual, upfront basis to enjoy a discount on the current fees. If you use QuickBooks Payroll powered by Employment Hero, your payroll costs will still be charged monthly to your nominated payment method in accordance with your usage as set out here. If you cancel your QuickBooks Online subscription within the pre-paid 12 month period, you will not be eligible for a refund, but will retain full access to your QuickBooks Online subscription for the remainder of the 12-month period. Unless cancelled by you prior, your annual subscription will auto-renew on the 12 month anniversary of your sign-up date using the billing details you have given us. Discounts, prices, terms and conditions are subject to change.
  - Over 7 million customers: Based on number of global QB customers (ecosystem) (7.1m) worldwide as of October 2022.
  - Free Onboarding: Applicable to Buy Now subscriptions on QuickBooks Simple Start, Essentials and Plus plans. Not available for QuickBooks Self-Employed.
  - Save Hours: Save up to an average of 29 hours per month with QuickBooks.
  - * Based on a survey conducted by Intuit Australia Pty Ltd in September 2022. Time saving is in comparison to previous accounting method, based on 184 responses from customers that saw time savings.
  - Get access to QuickBooks Tax: ***Access QuickBooks Tax, powered by LodgeiT, by becoming a member of the QuickBooks ProAdvisor Program (it’s free to join). Find out more about the ProAdvisor Program here, including the terms of the QuickBooks Tax offer in the Program here.
  - QuickBooks Time Disclaimers & Offers for Australia: For Important pricing offers and disclaimers with further information, please see here.
  - *Full terms and conditions for access to QuickBooks Tax, powered by LodgeiT as part of the the Proadvisor Program can be found here. QuickBooks reserves the right to change pricing, features, support and service at any time.
  - **Intuit conducted a study involving 56 interviews with accountants and bookkeepers who used Books Review for BAS preparation between March to December 2021 and found that when using Books Review, participants reduced the time spent preparing their clients BAS Reports by around 40%.
  - Our Terms of Service apply to all QuickBooks Online subscriptions. Please review them carefully.

Intuit helps put more money in consumers’ and small businesses’ pockets, saving them time by eliminating work, and ensuring they have confidence in every financial decision they make.