Updating or adding business details for Deduction and Confirmation programmes 103-09010070

A business must notify Services Australia (the agency) of any changes to the information it previously provided to the agency. Some of the changes include:

• ABN or ACN updates
• new business or trading name
• bank account details
• address details
• adding or changing Authorised/Contact Officers

The CRN Change Scenarios table provides a summary of the required actions when a business undergoes a change of structure, ownership or services.

All businesses with an Australian Business Number (ABN) must have the ABN recorded, unless the business is a private landlord.

ABN updates can only be made when the ABN has been coded incorrectly or if the Program Manager has approved a business to keep its Customer Reference Number (CRN) when its ABN has changed.

All businesses with a new ABN must complete and submit a new Business Application.

A business may request to update its business or trading name recorded on its business record at any time. However, the business name documented on the business record must match the entity name recorded for the business on the ABN lookup, unless the business is a trust. To code a trust, use the name of its trustee, for example Smith PTY LTD ATF the Smith Family Trust. The trading name is the name under which the business operates. See Legal entities information for more detail on correctly coding a Business name.

A business must provide written notification by an Authorised Officer of any changes to their bank account and should allow at least 5 business days for the change to take effect.

For the Rent Deduction Scheme (RDS), the Third Party Programs team must contact an Authorised Officer by telephone using the contact details recorded on the business’ record to confirm the legitimacy of the request before taking any action.

If a bank account is closed before the new details are updated on the business record, a payment may be returned or rejected by the financial institution. This will cause a delay in the payment being made into the business' correct bank account. See Returned or Rejected Centrepay payments.

There are two types of contacts a business can have:

Authorised Officer(s): must have the legal authority to act on behalf of the entity and enter into a contract with the agency. An Authorised Officer can only be nominated by an existing Authorised Officer or through the business application process.

Contact Officer(s): can’t legally bind the business or enter into a contract with the agency, but can be nominated as a contact for specific matters, such as system issues or reconciling accounts.

When a business completes a Business Application they will be asked to provide details for one or more Authorised Officers and if they wish, additional Contact Officers for any day-to-day general enquiries.

Anyone who is not listed as an Authorised Officer in the position field will be treated as a Contact Officer and will have limited ability to request updates to the business record. See Resources for a link to the Authorised Officer and Contact Officer roles and responsibilities.

See Billing at Source and Billing in Arrears for Centrepay businesses for details on adding an accounts payable ’Invoice’ contact.