What information can be accessed on the ABR?

The Australian Business Register (ABR) is an extensive database of identity information provided by businesses when they register for an Australian business number (ABN).

This registration information can be accessed by different groups, depending on their authorisation.

An entity can access its own ABN record provided that they hold a current AUSkey or ATO digital certificate.

To apply for an AUSkey, visit www.abr.gov.au/auskey

To find out how to upgrade your current ATO digital certificate to an AUSkey, go to http://www.ato.gov.au/upgradetoauskey

Under section 30 A New Tax System (Australian Business Number) Act 1999 (ABN Act), government agencies may access certain additional information provided by entities at the time of registration and in any subsequent updates. Each agency must properly justify the need for these details to the satisfaction of the Registrar.

The following table shows the different levels of access to ABR information. The ABR information available contains both current and historical data for the ABN record.

ABR information available (‘x’ means the information is viewable by the group).

ABR details	General public	ABN entity or their nominated tax agent	Government agency	Registrar - General staff
Australian business number (ABN)	X	X	X	X
ABN status	X	X	X	X
ABN date of effect	X	X	X	X
ABN date of cancellation	X	X	X	X
Entity type	X	X	X	X
Entity legal name	X	X	X	X
Business trading names	X	X	X	X
State of principal place of business	X	X	X	X
Postcode of principal place of business	X	X	X	X
ACN/ARBN	X	X	X	X
Goods and services tax (GST) status	X	X	X	X
GST date of effect	X	X	X	X
GST date of cancellation	X	X	X	X
Charity tax concessions	X	X	X	X
Charity tax concessions dates of effect	X	X	X	X
Charity tax concessions dates of cancellation	X	X	X	X
Deductible gift recipient (DGR) fund name	X	X	X	X
DGR effective from	X	X	X	X
DGR date of cancellation	X	X	X	X
Business address		X	X	X
Service of notice address		X	X	X
Entity email		X	X	X
Contact name and details		X		X
Entity’s tax agent number		X		X
Associate details		X	X	X
Expected end date		X	X	X
Own/controlled by government		X	X	X
Australian & New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC) code		X	X	X
Main industry description		X	X	X
Declaration details				X

ABR information available for suppressed records

ABR details	General public	Government agency	Registrar (via external view)
Australian business number (ABN)	X	X	X
ABN status	X	X	X
ABN date of effect	X	X	X
ABN date of cancellation	X	X	X
GST date of effect	X	X	X
GST status	X	X	X
Charity tax concessions	X	X	X
Charity tax concessions dates of effect	X	X	X
DGR date of effect	X	X	X
DGR fund name	X	X	X

An ABN entity or their nominated tax agent can view all ABR information on their suppressed record as per the first table.

The electronic version of this document is the only authorised version.
Last updated: 05/07/10

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