Accountant for Darwin individuals and businesses
Top Accountants is a CPA-qualified Registered Tax Agent based in Docklands, Melbourne, working with Darwin individuals and businesses online. One team for tax, BAS, bookkeeping and company matters.
- Registered Tax Agent 25377345
- Registered ASIC Agent 38112
- CPA qualified
- Certified Xero, MYOB & QuickBooks Advisors
- 15+ years’ experience
Accounting services for Darwin
- Individual tax returns and sole trader, partnership, company and trust returns
- BAS & IAS and GST registration
- Bookkeeping in Xero, MYOB or QuickBooks, from $495/month
- Payroll, Single Touch Payroll (STP) and Payday Super
- Company set-up and ASIC secretarial, tax planning, ATO letters and payment plans
Payroll tax in the Northern Territory: what growing businesses should know
NT payroll tax is 5.5% on taxable wages above a $2.5 million annual threshold. From 1 July 2026, a higher 6.5% rate applies to employers and groups with Australia-wide wages of $100 million or more.
Once wages pass the threshold you register with Territory Revenue Office; the annual reconciliation is due by 21 July.
Running a business in the Northern Territory: the state obligations
Beyond the ATO, Darwin employers deal with state rules: workers compensation insurance through an approved insurer (the scheme is regulated by NT WorkSafe), payroll tax with Territory Revenue Office once wages pass the threshold and, in building and construction, portable long service leave through NT Build. Free help for small businesses is available from the NT Government’s business support services. We help you register, budget for each one and keep the paperwork straight.
Who we work with in Darwin
The Northern Territory’s economy is driven by mining and energy (including LNG), government and defence, construction, tourism, and pastoral (cattle) and agricultural businesses.
Northern Territory businesses often work on remote projects or stations, with freight, fuel and travel costs that need careful coding. Primary producers can also use ATO concessions such as farm management deposits and income averaging, which depend on clean, separated records.
How we work with Darwin clients
We don’t have an office in Darwin. Top Accountants is based in Docklands, Melbourne, and works with Darwin clients online, by phone and by video call. Documents come through our secure upload page, engagement letters are signed electronically, and lodgements are made electronically with the ATO.
Darwin doesn’t use daylight saving: it is 1.5 hours behind Melbourne from October to April and 30 minutes behind the rest of the year. We’re open 9am–5pm, Monday to Sunday (Melbourne time).
Frequently asked questions
Do you have an office in Darwin?
No. We are based in Docklands, Melbourne, and work with Darwin clients online, by phone and by video call. Everything from documents to signatures and lodgement is handled electronically.
Are you a registered tax agent?
Yes. Top Accountants is Registered Tax Agent 25377345 and Registered ASIC Agent 38112, and we are CPA qualified. You can check any tax agent on the Tax Practitioners Board register.
Which state agencies does a Darwin employer deal with?
Usually Territory Revenue Office for payroll tax once wages pass the threshold, an approved insurer (the scheme is regulated by NT WorkSafe) for workers compensation insurance and, in building and construction, NT Build for portable long service leave.
When does a Darwin business have to pay payroll tax?
When its taxable Australian wages exceed the the Northern Territory threshold. NT payroll tax is 5.5% on taxable wages above a $2.5 million annual threshold. From 1 July 2026, a higher 6.5% rate applies to employers and groups with Australia-wide wages of $100 million or more. Check Territory Revenue Office for your exact position, or ask us.
How much does it cost?
Individual tax returns start from $245, BAS from $295 for established businesses ($145 for rideshare and taxi drivers) and bookkeeping from $495 a month. Your exact fee is confirmed in a written fixed-fee quote before any work starts.
Sources
Payroll tax rates and thresholds (payrolltax.gov.au) · Territory Revenue Office: payroll tax · ATO: cost of managing tax affairs. General information only, checked 23 October 2026. Rules change, so confirm with the relevant agency or ask us about your situation.
Talk to a Registered Tax Agent
Free 15-minute call, then a written fixed-fee quote within 1 business day. Online, Australia-wide.