ABN Lookup is the free public search of the Australian Business Register at abr.business.gov.au. Type an ABN, ACN or business name into the search box and you'll see whether the ABN is active or cancelled, the entity's legal name, its business and trading names, its state and postcode, and whether it's registered for GST. It never shows an address, phone number or email.
It's the quickest way to check that a supplier, contractor or new client is who they say they are. The tool is simple, but reading the results needs a bit of care, because a match on the name alone doesn't prove much.
How to do an ABN lookup
- Go to abr.business.gov.au.
- Use the search box at the top right of any page (the quick search).
- Enter an ABN, an ACN or a name. ABN Lookup works out which one you've typed, even with spaces in the number.
- Select Search, then select the ABN in the results to open its full details.
ABN Lookup's own advice is that searching by number is the most efficient way. An ABN search will generally return a single record. A name search returns a list scored by how closely each entry matches, so the more of the name you enter, the better: Department of Innovation beats Innovation on its own.
Searching by name
Name results appear on 2 tabs. The active ABNs tab lists matches where both the name and the ABN are current, and the all ABNs tab lists everything, including old records. Active ABNs carry a green dot.
The name search is forgiving. It picks up common spelling mistakes, abbreviations and nicknames, so Qld matches Queensland. That's handy, but it also means you can land on a similar-sounding business, so always open the record and check the details rather than trusting the top line.
For narrower results, use Advanced search to filter by state or territory, a single postcode, or name type. If you pick both a state and a postcode, the state filter is ignored.
What the results show
| You'll see | You won't see |
|---|---|
| ABN and whether it's active or cancelled | Street address |
| Entity name, business names and trading names | Phone number or email |
| State or territory and postcode of the main business location | Detailed contact information of any kind |
| ACN or other registration numbers, if there is one | Industry code |
| GST registration | Anything not public on the register |
| Charity, DGR and ACNC details where they apply |
ABN Lookup is clear on the contact details point: under tax law it only holds the public information a business gave when it registered, which is why you get a postcode but never an address.
Active vs cancelled
An active ABN means the registration is current. A cancelled ABN has been deactivated and is no longer current. If you're closing your own business, our guide on how to cancel an ABN covers the steps and what happens to the record afterwards.
Here's the part most people miss: a cancelled ABN doesn't disappear. It stays searchable on the all ABNs tab, so finding a record isn't proof the business is still trading. Check the status every time.
Entity name vs business name vs trading name
- Entity name: the name on official documents and legal papers. An entity only ever has one current entity name.
- Business name: a name registered for trading under.
- Trading name: a name the entity trades under or is known by. It can have more than one.
If a sole trader trades as Bright Spark Electrical, the entity name on ABN Lookup will usually be the person's own name. That's normal, and it's the entity name that tells you who you're dealing with.
How current is ABN Lookup?
ABN Lookup gets updates from the Australian Business Register every hour. But it's only as good as what businesses report, and the register says it can't guarantee the details are accurate, up to date or complete. If something matters, like confirming a contractor before a big job, check it against another source too.
Each record also carries the date it was last updated on ABN Lookup. A record that hasn't changed in years isn't a red flag on its own, but if the business has told you it recently moved states or changed its name and the record says otherwise, ask them about it before you go any further.
For company details beyond the ABN, ABN Lookup points you to ASIC's own registers, which hold basic information on registered companies.
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Dealing with New Zealand suppliers? The New Zealand business number is their equivalent.
Checking lots of ABNs at once
If you deal with dozens of suppliers, the free ABN Lookup tool is an Excel workbook that refreshes every ABN on your list with one button. You'll need Excel 2010 or later with macros enabled and an internet connection. Paste your ABNs or ACNs into column A (with or without spaces), and don't leave a blank row, because the lookup stops at the first empty row.
Each refresh pulls the current entity name, business and trading names, ABN status with its date of effect, GST registration and date, entity type and the date the record was last updated. Cancelled ABNs show up in red, which makes a supplier review fast.
If you don't have an ABN yet, my guide to applying for an ABN explains who is entitled to one and how to apply.
My advice
Search by number, not name, whenever you've got one, then check 3 things: the status says active, the entity name matches who you think you're dealing with, and the GST status matches what they've told you. It takes a minute and it's free. Keep your own record current too, because clients and platforms run the same check on you, especially around tax return time.
Frequently asked questions
Is ABN Lookup free?
Yes. ABN Lookup at abr.business.gov.au is a free public search of the Australian Business Register, and the bulk ABN Lookup tool for Excel is free too.
Can I find a business's address on ABN Lookup?
No. ABN Lookup only shows the state or territory and postcode of the main business location. It doesn't include the address, email, telephone or other contact details.
What does a cancelled ABN mean?
A cancelled ABN has been deactivated and is no longer current. It still appears in searches on the all ABNs tab, so always check the status.
How often is ABN Lookup updated?
ABN Lookup receives updates from the Australian Business Register every hour, but the details depend on businesses updating their own records.
Can I check if a business is registered for GST?
Yes. The ABN details page shows GST registration, and the ABN Lookup tool shows it as Registered, Cancelled or No GST registration with a date of effect.
