Automatic ABN and GST checks against the Australian Business Register
Written by Autonome. Updated 5 November 2026.
How do I check a supplier's ABN and GST registration?
Search the ABN on ABN Lookup, the Australian Business Register's free public search. It shows whether the ABN is active, the name it's registered to, and whether the business is registered for GST. If a supplier charges GST on a bill but isn't registered for it, you can't validly claim that GST back.
Doing that by hand on every bill is exactly the check that gets skipped when things are busy, which is when it matters most. So Autonome runs the lookup live inside its Gadgets. Every new supplier bill and every new lead is checked against the register, and the result sits beside it when you approve, so you can see why it passed or was held.
- ABN status and GST registration checked on the official register, every time.
- The result is shown beside each bill or lead before anyone approves it.
| ABR detail | Why it matters | Used by |
|---|---|---|
| ABN status | A cancelled ABN on an invoice needs a query | Supplier Invoice & ABN Triage |
| GST registration | GST should only be charged by registered suppliers | Supplier Invoice & ABN Triage |
| Entity name | Confirms who a new lead or supplier is | Inbound Lead & ABN Enricher |
Why it checks every time
The register changes. A supplier who was fine last year can have their ABN cancelled or drop their GST registration, and you'd only find out if you looked. Because the check runs on every bill, the first one after a change is the one that gets held. See it on a real bill: send supplier bills to Xero or MYOB, ABN checked.
Questions
Is ABN Lookup free?
Yes. The Australian Business Register provides ABN Lookup and its web services free of charge.
How often are ABNs checked?
Every time a Gadget runs, against the live register, so a supplier whose status changes is caught on their next bill.
What happens when an ABN fails the check?
The item is flagged with the reason and held. For bills, the Gadget drafts a query email to the supplier for you to approve.
Is an ABN the same as GST registration?
No. An ABN identifies the business. GST registration is separate, and only registered businesses can charge GST. ABN Lookup shows both.
Check your next supplier bill against the ABR.
14-day free trial. Your card is checked and nothing is charged for 14 days. Then A$193.50/mo ex GST for up to 50 people.
Look around first, no card