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ACN lookup: find the company behind the number

Type the nine-digit company number from your contract or invoice and we'll show the company's ABN, its status, GST registration and where it's located.

A signed contract page lying on a timber desk with a pen resting across it, the printed company details softly out of focus

Look up an ACN

Compare ABN and ACN

  1. Where an ACN usually appears, and what you'll see once you s
  2. What this ACN lookup guide covers
  3. From ACN to ABN in six steps
  4. Questions people ask about an ACN search

Companies usually print their ACN close to their name. Once you've found it, a search turns those nine digits into a full ABN record you can match to your paperwork.

On a contract, look in the parties section near the start or in the signature block at the end. On an invoice or quote, check the header beside the company name or the footer with the other business details.

Search the ACN and the result shows the formatted ABN, ABN status with the date it took effect, and GST registration with the date it started, or Not registered for GST. You'll also see the entity type, location and any registered business names.

A line at the bottom names the source and when it was retrieved. Each result can open a fuller record if you need more detail.

See what ABN status means

The signature block of a printed contract with two signatures and a pen, the company details beside them blurred

Photo from Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

What this ACN lookup guide covers

Jump to the part you need: what an ACN is, how it differs from an ABN, where to find it, and the steps from a company number to a full ABN record.

From ACN to ABN in six steps

Here's the routine we'd follow with a company number from a contract or invoice. It takes a minute and leaves you with a record you can keep.

Search a company number

Free to use, no account needed.

  1. Find the nine digits

    Copy the company number exactly as it's printed. One wrong digit can point to a different company, or to no company at all.

  2. Type it into the checker

    We check the check digits as you type. If the number can't be a real ACN, we tell you straight away, so you can recheck the document.

  3. Read the ABN on the result

    A company's ABN usually contains its ACN as its last nine digits. That's the rule from the ATO and the Australian Business Register, so confirm it on their websites.

  4. Check the status and its date

    See whether the ABN is active or cancelled and the date that status took effect. A recent change is worth a question before you pay.

  5. Match it to your paperwork

    Compare the business names, location and GST line with the contract or invoice. If something doesn't match, ask the company using contact details you already have.

  6. Note the source line

    Each result names its source and when it was retrieved. Write both down with the date you checked, so your records show what you saw.

Short, general answers. For the rules themselves, ASIC and the Australian Business Register have the final word, so confirm on their websites.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is an ACN printed?
Companies usually show it near their name, on documents such as contracts, invoices and quotes. If you can't find it, ask the company for it, or search its business name on our checker instead. ASIC sets the rules on where a company must show its ACN, so check ASIC's website for the detail.
Does every business have an ACN?
No. An ACN belongs to companies registered with ASIC. A sole trader or a partnership isn't a company, so it won't have one. It may still have an ABN, which you can search in the same box.
Why might an ACN have no ABN?
An ACN comes from ASIC and an ABN comes from the Australian Business Register. They're separate registrations, so a company can hold one without the other. If our search finds no ABN, confirm with ASIC and the Australian Business Register before you rely on that.
What does deregistered mean?
In general terms, a deregistered company has been removed from ASIC's register and no longer exists as a company. Its ABN may also show as cancelled. Check the company's details with ASIC before you sign anything or make a payment.
Is this ACN search free?
Yes. The checker is free to use and you don't need an account. Type the nine-digit company number into the search box and the result loads on the same page.
Is this ASIC's own search?
No. ABN Checker is independent and isn't part of ASIC, the ATO or the Australian Business Register. We show public register data released under the Creative Commons Attribution licence, and every result names its source and the date it was retrieved.

Got the company number in front of you? See which company it

Type the nine digits and read the ABN, status, GST registration and location in one result.

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