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How to close a sole trader's business after they die

A sole trader and their business are legally the same person, so when a sole trader dies, the business doesn't continue on its own. The executor steps in to either wind it down or hand it over. That means dealing with the business name, ABN and GST, bank accounts, customers, and the apps the business ran on, often while customers are still waiting on work.

Last changed: 19 October 2026

Step 1: Stabilise the business (first two weeks)

• Customers: contact anyone with work in progress, bookings or deposits paid. Decide whether jobs will be completed, handed to someone else or refunded.
• Suppliers: pause recurring orders and tell key suppliers.
• Employees: if there are any, they need to be paid what they're owed, including super. Get advice quickly, as payroll obligations continue.
• Website, email and phone: keep these running for now. They're how customers reach the business, and they hold records you'll need. See our domain name guide.

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Step 2: Business name (ASIC)

If the business traded under a registered business name, the executor or administrator must add themselves to the ASIC register as the legal personal representative, within 28 days of the grant, using ASIC's change-of-representative form with their grant of probate or letters of administration. The register then shows the name as held by the estate, and the executor can manage it with full authority. (ASIC)

• If no executor or administrator has been appointed yet, someone who expects to inherit the business can apply to be the notified successor. (ASIC)
• If someone is taking over the business, the executor must transfer the business name to them. (ASIC)
• If the business is closing, the executor cancels the business name.

Step 3: ABN, GST and tax (ATO)

A sole trader's ABN belongs to them personally, so it's cancelled after their death. The executor should:

• Lodge any outstanding BAS, including a final one, and pay any GST owed.
• Cancel GST registration and the ABN once business activity has stopped.
• Include business income in the deceased's date of death tax return.
• If the estate keeps trading for a while, get advice. The estate may need its own registrations.

When GST registration is cancelled, a GST adjustment can apply to business assets that are kept, unless the executor or a beneficiary immediately carries on the business and is registered for GST. This is an area where a tax agent is worth paying for. See our myGov, Centrelink and ATO guide for how the executor becomes the authorised LPR.

Step 4: Bank accounts, apps and services

• Business bank accounts in the sole trader's name are treated like personal accounts: frozen once the bank is notified, then closed or paid to the estate.
• Accounting software (Xero, MYOB, QuickBooks): export the books before cancelling. Business records generally need to be kept for five years, and some for longer, such as records for assets the business later sold.
• Payment apps and card terminals (Square, Stripe, Tyro): settle outstanding payouts and close the accounts.
• Telco: Telstra has a small-business bereavement process specifically for sole traders. (Telstra) Other providers handle it through their bereavement teams.
• Insurance, licences and memberships: notify insurers, licensing bodies and industry associations.

What you'll usually need

• Death certificate
• Grant of probate or letters of administration
• ABN and business name details
• Login details or recent statements for business bank accounts and apps

This guide is general information only, not legal, financial or tax advice. Providers change their processes, so always confirm the current steps on the linked official page. For advice on a specific estate, speak with a solicitor, accountant or licensed financial adviser.