How to legally sell in Australia while being based in another country?

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Topic summary

A first-time Shopify seller based in Mexico seeks guidance on selling products to customers in Australia while staying compliant with Australian tax rules.

  • Core issue: How to collect and remit taxes legally to satisfy the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) when the seller cannot obtain an Australian Business Number (ABN) due to living abroad.
  • Acronyms: ATO = Australian Taxation Office; ABN = Australian Business Number.
  • Questions posed: What registrations or steps are required for a foreign (non‑resident) seller? Are there established pathways to collect taxes without an ABN? How do others legally sell into Australia from overseas?
  • Context: Shopify store setup; focus is on tax compliance (tag: taxes). No images or attachments referenced.
  • Status: No answers yet; the request remains open with no resolutions or action items identified.
Summarized with AI on January 25. AI used: gpt-5.
1

Hello,

I am in the process of creating my first shop here in shopify.

I want to sell my product in Australia, however, I am based in Mexico.

Does anyone knows what do I need to do about tax collection so everything is legal and the Australian Taxation Office stays happy?
I have no way of getting an ABN (Australian Business Number) because I live in Mexico.

Surely there is people who sells in Australia and who lives in a country where getting an ABN is not possible.

Any ideas?

Thanks!
(Apologies if I chose the incorrect board to post this)