How to check an ABN before you pay anyone
Type the number into our free checker, then read six lines on the result and match them to the invoice or quote in your hand.
Read the next guide for what you found
Each result raises its own question. Go straight to the page that answers yours.
Every field on a result
What each line on an ABN result means, from the status date to the source line.
What a cancelled ABN tells you
Active and cancelled explained, plus what the date beside the status means.
Find an ABN by business name
How to narrow a common name by postcode, state, status, entity type and GST.
Check a supplier before paying
A short checklist covering the ABN, the name, GST, the invoice details and bank details.
How to check an ABN, one line at a time
Type the ABN into the search box. The checker tests the check digits as you type and tells you if the number can't be a real ABN. Then read these six lines in order.
Read the status and its date
The status line says Active or Cancelled, with the date that status took effect. A cancelled ABN on a fresh invoice is worth a question before any money moves.
Check GST and its start date
You'll see the date GST registration started, or the words Not registered for GST. If the invoice adds GST, that start date should sit before the invoice date.
Note the entity type
This tells you whether the ABN belongs to a sole trader, a partnership, a trust or a company. It should fit how the business describes itself to you.
Look at the location
The result shows where the business is located on the register. Compare it with the address on the invoice, the quote or the website you found them on.
Scan the business names
One ABN can hold several registered business names. The trading name on your invoice should appear in this list or match the legal name shown.
What three common results tell you
Most checks land on one of these three. Scan across a row to see what each result says and the sensible next step.
Photo by Brian Robert Marshall on Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Questions people ask when they verify an ABN
This is general information only. Confirm with the ATO or your accountant before you rely on it.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Where do I find a business's ABN?
- Look on the invoice first, since a tax invoice must show the seller's ABN. Quotes, receipts and email signatures often show it too. If you can't find it, ask the business, or search their business name in our checker and narrow the results by state or postcode.
- What if there is no ABN on the invoice?
- Ask the supplier for it before you pay. According to the ATO, if a supplier doesn't give you an ABN and the payment is more than excluding GST, you generally must withhold 47 per cent and pay it to the ATO, unless an exception applies. Confirm the details on the ATO website.
- How often should I check a regular supplier?
- Check when you take on a new supplier and again before the first payment. Check again whenever their details change, such as a new name or new bank details, and once more before the financial year ends. A status can change between checks.
- Does an active ABN mean I should pay?
- Not on its own. Active means the number is registered on the register. It doesn't confirm the bank details on the invoice or that the invoice came from that business. Match the name, state and GST too, and confirm any changed bank details on a phone number you already have.
- Is this the government's ABN Lookup?
- No. ABN Checker is an independent website. We show Australian Business Register ABN data and ASIC company and business names data, released by the Australian Government under the Creative Commons Attribution licence. Each result names its source and when it was retrieved.
Got the invoice in front of you? Check the ABN.
It takes one search box and six lines on the result. You'll know what the register says before you pay.