Written byThe Australian Business Register (ABR) is the national register, run by the ATO, that records the identity details of every entity that holds an Australian business number.
Also known as: ABR, Australian Business Register, ABN register
Key points
- The public part of the register is searchable through ABN Lookup, which shows an ABN's status, entity type, GST registration and business names.
- Government agencies use ABR data to pre-fill forms, check suppliers and deliver services; lenders use ABN Lookup to verify a business before they lend.
- ABN holders must keep their ABR details current, including address, contact details and main business activity, and cancel the ABN if they stop trading.
- The ABR is not ASIC's company register: it covers every entity with an ABN, from a sole trader to a trust or government body.
What the ABR holds
When a business, trust, partnership, company or non-profit applies for an ABN, the details it supplies go onto the ABR: legal name, entity type, the date the ABN took effect, whether and when it registered for GST, the main business activity, the state and postcode where it operates, any registered business names and, for companies, the ACN. Some of that is public; contact details and full addresses are not.
The public slice is what you see on ABN Lookup, the free search run alongside the register. Agencies and software providers can also plug into ABN Lookup web services, which is why an accounting package or a government form can fill in a supplier's name and GST status from the ABN alone.
Why lenders and brokers use it
A business loan or equipment finance application starts with an ABN, and the ABR is where that ABN gets checked. The lender confirms the number is active, that the legal name and entity type match the applicant, and reads the ABN and GST registration dates as a proxy for trading history. It is a routine part of know your customer checks.
The register catches the things that stall applications: an ABN that was cancelled after a quiet year, a sole trader ABN quoted for a business that now trades through a company, or a business name that belongs to a different entity. Checking ABN Lookup before you apply avoids most of them.
Keeping your details current
ABN holders must update the register within 28 days of a change to their details, which you can do online through the ABR using your myID login, or through a registered tax or BAS agent. The ATO also reviews the register and cancels ABNs where it sees no sign the entity is still carrying on an enterprise, so a business that has gone quiet can lose its number without asking for it.
If that happens and you are still trading, you reapply and explain the activity; the ATO can reinstate the same number. Cancelling the ABN yourself when you close is the cleaner path, because it stops the register showing you as active when you are not.
Example
A broker in Perth is packaging ute finance for a plumber who has been in business for six years. ABN Lookup shows the plumber's old sole trader ABN as cancelled and a company ABN registered ten months ago, because he restructured last year on his accountant's advice. The broker uses the company ABN on the application, attaches the accountant's note explaining the change and the earlier trading history, and picks a lender comfortable with a newer entity behind an established business. Without the ABN Lookup check the mismatch would have surfaced at assessment instead.
Not to be confused with
- Australian business number (ABN)
- the ABN is the 11-digit number, while the ABR is the register that issues and holds it
- ASIC
- ASIC keeps the company and business names registers, which the ABR links to but does not replace
Frequently asked questions
Is ABN Lookup the same as the ABR?
Not quite. The ABR is the full register the ATO maintains, including non-public details. ABN Lookup is the free public search built on top of it, showing the parts anyone is allowed to see: ABN status, entity name and type, GST registration, business names and the state and postcode of the main business location.
How do I update my details on the ABR?
Log in to the ABR online using your myID and Relationship Authorisation Manager, or ask your registered tax or BAS agent to do it. You can change addresses, contact details, business activity and authorised contacts, add or cancel GST registration and cancel the ABN itself. Changes must be made within 28 days.
Why was my ABN cancelled?
The ATO periodically reviews the register and cancels ABNs where there is no sign the holder is still running an enterprise, for example no activity statements, no income reported and no updates. If you are still trading you can reapply and, once the ATO is satisfied, it will usually reinstate the same number.
What does a lender check on ABN Lookup?
That the ABN is active, that the legal name and entity type match the applicant, when the ABN was registered, and whether and when the business registered for GST. Those dates are a quick read on trading history, which influences the finance options and documents a lender will ask for.
Related terms
Australian business number (ABN)
An Australian business number (ABN) is the unique 11-digit identifier the ATO issues to a business or other entity through the Australian Business Register.
Read definitionAustralian company number (ACN)
An Australian company number (ACN) is the unique nine-digit number ASIC issues to every company at registration, shown on its invoices, contracts and other public documents.
Read definitionATO
The ATO is the Australian Taxation Office, the national tax authority that collects income tax, GST and PAYG, administers superannuation rules, issues rulings and enforces compliance.
Read definitionGoods and services tax (GST)
Goods and services tax (GST) is a broad-based 10% tax on most goods and services sold in Australia, which registered businesses collect on sales and pay to the ATO.
Read definitionSole trader
A sole trader is the simplest Australian business structure: one person owns and runs the business, keeps the profits, and is personally liable for its debts.
Read definitionCompany
A company is a separate legal entity, formed under the Corporations Act 2001, that can own property, borrow and be sued in its own name, independently of its shareholders.
Read definitionGo deeper
Sources
This article is general information only and is not financial advice.