ABR data

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ABR data explained

The ABR holds information for every business with an Australian business number (ABN). 

This information is classified as public and non-public data. 

Eligible government agencies can access non-public data for free. This includes:

  • business addresses 
  • industry type information (from 2022, ABN holders can register up to 4 additional ANZSIC codes)
  • ABN application received date (added in 2022) 
  • contact details (email addresses and phone numbers)
  • geocoded addresses for mapping 
  • list of associates.

Benefits of using non-public data

There are many benefits to using non-public data and each agency will have different needs. Some examples of how non-public data can be used are:

Compliance

  • Identify suspected fraudulent business activity to prevent unfair financial advantage and prevent ineligible grant payments from issuing
  • Integrate ABR data with the current agency database to enhance the agency’s data quality

Service your community  

  • Analyse industry sectors and businesses in your jurisdiction 
  • Make informed decisions for policy development for community support services
  • Engage with local businesses to promote business initiatives, workshops or provide welcome packs for new businesses

Disaster response and recovery 

  • Identify businesses located in a disaster area to provide timely and targeted support 
  • Identify businesses who can provide support to the community 
  • Help with the development of disaster management plans

Economic planning and development

  • Profile sectors of the economy to identify changes in business growth 
  • Map industry clusters with geocoded addresses 
  • Support infrastructure development and develop strategic plans to meet needs of the community

Procurement 

  • Validate suppliers’ ABNs and identify conflicts of interest
  • Identify local suppliers and trades for council initiatives 

How to access non-public data 

Check our list of partner agencies to see if your agency has a partnership agreement in place. If your agency is:

  • listed as a partner agency, determine which ABR products and services suit your needs and contact us to obtain access 
  • not listed as a partner agency, determine agency eligibility  

An eligible agency is defined as one of the below:

Commonwealth agencies

  • an agency within the meaning of the Public Service Act (1999)
  • a non-corporate Commonwealth entity within the meaning of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013.

State and Territory agencies

  • a Department of State of a State or Territory
  • a body established for a public purpose by or under a law of a State or Territory.

Local agencies

  • a body established for a public purpose by or under a law of a state or territory (including a local governing body).

If your agency is eligible, or you are unsure, email GovernmentAgencySupport@ato.gov.au and provide:

  • agency contact details, name of contact and phone number
  • the agency's ABN 
  • agency type.

We will contact you to discuss eligibility and the steps needed to complete a partnership agreement. 

Responsible use of non-public data 

It is important that ABR data is protected, and its integrity maintained. Agencies receiving and using data have an obligation to:

  • ensure that access to data is restricted to the functions of the agency as described in the Partnership Agreement
  • comply with the Australian Government Protective Security Policy and the Australian Government Information Security Manual as data is classified as For Official Use Only
  • tell us of any breach that results in the data being used inappropriately.

Before using data, be familiar with the A New Tax System (Australian Business Number) Act 1999 (ABN Act) and relevant privacy laws to your agency.



If you are considering providing ABR protected data to third parties who provide services to you – for example, data analysis or mailing services – be sure that doing so is lawful, that they maintain the security and privacy of the data and that they use, store and dispose of the data appropriately.

 

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