What Is an ABN?
An Australian Business Number (ABN) is an 11-digit identifier for businesses in Australia. Learn what ABN records contain, who needs one, and how to read ABN data.
ABN Guides
Straightforward explanations of ABN records, status fields, entity types, and the changes this site detects each week. No jargon, no assumptions about what you already know.
These guides split into two sets. The first covers ABN fields, identifiers, and status values. The second walks through reading records and interpreting changes. All content draws on the same public dataset that powers ABN Signal.
Concept guides
What ABN fields, identifiers, and status values actually represent - explained without jargon.
ABN vs ACN
An ABN identifies any business entity in the Australian Business Register. An ACN is assigned only to registered companies by ASIC. Learn how they differ.
What Does ABN Status Mean?
ABN status shows whether a registration is Active or Cancelled. Learn what each value means on ABN Signal and how to interpret status on an ABN record.
What Does GST Status Mean on an ABN Record?
Understand what GST status means on ABN records — how to read active and cancelled registration dates, what changes signal, and how to interpret this field.
What Is an Entity Type on an ABN Record?
Entity type shows the legal structure behind an ABN — sole trader, company, trust, or partnership. Learn what each value means when reading ABN records.
What a Record Update Means
When ABN Signal says a record was updated, it means our weekly snapshot comparison found a difference. Learn how to read detection dates and timing.
How-to guides
Step-by-step walkthroughs for reading ABN records, checking current status, and understanding what a detected change means.
How to Read an ABN Record
Learn how to read the key fields on an ABN record — ABN status, entity type, entity name, GST registration — and understand what each field means.
How to Check If an ABN Is Active
Learn how to check whether an ABN is active by examining ABN Status, the effective date, and the record-last-updated field. A step-by-step guide to reading ABN records.
All guides are independently compiled from publicly available ABN data. For details on how this data is sourced and processed, see the methodology and data sources pages.