# Facebook ads in Australia: GST, ABN, the under-16 rule and key dates > Facebook ads in Australia: GST on Meta's bill and how an ABN stops it, the under-16 account rule, Ad Library rules, time zones and summer selling dates. - **Author**: Marxx - **Published**: 2026-10-29 - **Category**: Oceania - **URL**: https://marxx.ai/library-markets/meta-ads-in-australia --- Facebook ads in Australia run in Meta Ads Manager, and Meta adds GST to your bill unless you add your Australian business number (ABN) to the ad account. Since 10 December 2025, Facebook and Instagram must take reasonable steps to keep under-16s from holding accounts, so do not plan around a teen audience. ## Facts that differ in Australia (checked 2026-10-20) | Fact | Australia | |---|---| | Ad transparency | The [Meta Ad Library](/glossary/meta-ad-library) shows every active ad. Ads about elections or politics need [advertiser authorisation](https://www.facebook.com/business/help/208949576550051?country_select=AU) and a "Paid for by" label, and they are added to the Library. | | Tax on Meta's bill | Since August 2018, for ads sold by Meta Platforms Ireland, Meta adds GST if your "Sold to" address is in Australia and you have not added your ABN ([Meta: Australian GST](https://www.facebook.com/business/help/312056985996758)). If your receipt names Facebook Australia, GST is added whatever your status ([Meta: taxes by country](https://www.facebook.com/business/help/133076073434794)). | | Main languages | Most people use English. The top languages at home after English in the 2021 Census were Mandarin 2.7%, Arabic 1.4%, Vietnamese 1.3%, Cantonese 1.2% and Punjabi 0.9% ([ABS](https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/people-and-communities/cultural-diversity-census/2021)). | | Popular platforms | Ad reach in late 2025: YouTube 21.0 million, Facebook 17.7 million, Instagram 15.2 million, TikTok 10.9 million (adults only) ([DataReportal](https://datareportal.com/reports/digital-2026-australia)). Ad reach is the audience each platform's ad tool reports, not active users. | | Payments Meta accepts | Amex, Mastercard and Visa cards, and PayPal ([Meta](https://www.facebook.com/business/help/753847331475277)). | | Time zone | Three standard times: UTC+8 in Perth, UTC+9:30 in Adelaide and Darwin, UTC+10 in Sydney and Brisbane. Sydney and Adelaide move clocks forward in summer, but Perth, Darwin and Brisbane do not ([IANA tz database 2026e](https://www.iana.org/time-zones)). | The under-16 rule is in the [eSafety Commissioner's guidance](https://www.esafety.gov.au/about-us/industry-regulation/social-media-age-restrictions), which names Facebook and Instagram among the age-restricted platforms. The law requires the platforms to act. ## Key selling dates (checked 2026-10-20) - **Black Friday:** Friday 27 November 2026, Cyber Monday 30 November ([plan](/campaigns/black-friday-ad-ideas)). - **Christmas Day:** Friday 25 December 2026. **Boxing Day:** Saturday 26 December ([ideas](/campaigns/christmas-ad-ideas)). - **New Year's Day:** Friday 1 January 2027. **Australia Day:** Tuesday 26 January 2027. - **Easter Monday:** 29 March 2027. Holiday dates are from the [NSW Government](https://www.nsw.gov.au/about-nsw/public-holidays). Other states can differ. ## What to run and when Say you plan AUD 20,000 for the Black Friday to Boxing Day stretch. You put AUD 4,000 into the two weeks before 27 November to test hooks and offers, AUD 10,000 into 27 November to 30 November, and AUD 6,000 into the last-order dates before Christmas. Christmas lands in summer here, so check that your creative looks right for the season. Looking at nearby markets? Compare [Singapore](/markets/meta-ads-in-singapore), where GST also applies unless you add your registration number. To see what rival brands run before you spend, search the Ad Library by hand. We make Marxx, which [tracks competitor ads](/features/competitor-tracking) on Meta and Google in one place. ## Common mistakes - Leaving the ABN off a GST-registered account, so Meta adds GST you could have avoided. - Planning a campaign that needs under-16s on Facebook or Instagram. - Scheduling in one time zone and reading reports in another. Australia has three. - Assuming one state's public holiday applies nationwide. ## FAQ ### Does Meta charge GST on ads in Australia? Yes, unless you add your ABN to the ad account. If the receipt says Facebook Australia, Meta adds GST regardless. ### Can I show Facebook ads to under-16s in Australia? Facebook and Instagram must take reasonable steps to stop under-16s holding accounts since 10 December 2025, so plan on a 16-plus audience. ### Which payment methods work in Australia? Amex, Mastercard and Visa cards, and PayPal in one of their accepted currencies. --- - [More Oceania articles](https://marxx.ai/library-markets/category/oceania) - [All articles](https://marxx.ai/library-markets)