Supplier Watch
Check if a supplier's ABN or GST is cancelled before you pay
You can look up any supplier on ABN Lookup (abr.business.gov.au) right now. Supplier Watch then alerts you when a supplier's ABN or GST registration is cancelled or changes, so you check before the money goes.
Open a free account first, then add Supplier Watch when your payment runs need it.
Photo by Jan Andrea Lievens on Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)
An invoice can look right and still be wrong.
Invoice scams work because the paperwork looks familiar. The logo, the amount and the reference number all match what you expect.
Scammers copy a real supplier's invoice and change the bank details. Sometimes the email comes from the supplier's own hijacked mailbox.
A supplier's registration is one of the few things you can check against a public record. If the ABN is cancelled, or GST no longer matches the invoice, that is your cue to stop and ask.
What it means when a supplier's ABN or GST is cancelled
Each change has ordinary explanations and one or two that need care. Here is what each may mean, and what to do before you pay.
ABN cancelled
The business may have closed, sold or become a new entity. Someone may also be invoicing under an old ABN. Pause the payment, call on a number you already hold, and check the invoice against ABN Lookup.
GST registration cancelled
Turnover may have dropped, or the business restructured, while the ABN stays active. Hold unpaid invoices that still charge GST. Confirm by phone and ask for a corrected invoice. Your accountant or BAS agent can explain your records.
Details changed
A new name, entity type or location is often routine. Watch for a change followed by an email asking you to pay new bank details. Never update bank details from email alone, and check the sender for a lookalike domain.
Paying suppliers for clients
If you run payment runs for several clients, watch each client's regular suppliers in one place. Our page for accountants and bookkeepers shows how to watch client businesses too.
Keep checking supplier ABN and GST status without doing it by hand
A lookup tells you how a supplier stands today. Supplier Watch keeps that check running between payment runs.
Add the suppliers you pay
List the suppliers whose invoices go through on every payment run, the ones you would least expect to change.
We keep watching
Supplier Watch keeps an eye on each supplier's ABN and GST registration, so you are not relying on a lookup from months ago.
A plain-English alert arrives
When an ABN or GST registration is cancelled or changes, the alert explains what happened, why it matters and what to do next.
You check before you pay
Pause, confirm with the supplier on a number you trust, then pay or hold. The decision stays with you.
Questions bookkeepers ask before they pause a payment
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is ABN Lookup free to use?
- Yes. ABN Lookup at abr.business.gov.au is a free public search from the Australian Business Register. Search by ABN or business name to see ABN status, GST registration and the entity name as they stand when you search.
- Does a cancelled ABN mean the invoice is a scam?
- Not on its own. Businesses close, sell and restructure for ordinary reasons. It does mean you should pause, confirm with the supplier on a number you already have, and only pay once the details make sense.
- Why call a number I already have?
- If the invoice or email is fake, any phone number on it may reach the scammer. Use the number in your accounting software, on an older invoice, or on the supplier's website that you find yourself.
- Is Supplier Watch part of the free plan?
- No. Supplier Watch is a paid add-on, from a few dollars a month. The free plan covers other things, such as scam alerts for your country, bank and industry. Current prices are on our pricing page.
- Can you tell me how GST applies to an invoice?
- No. We alert you to registration changes and suggest checks, but we do not give tax advice. Ask your accountant, BAS agent or registered tax agent how a supplier's change affects your records.
- How does this help with invoice scams?
- Many invoice scams rely on a believable invoice with new bank details, often sent after an email account is taken over. A registration change gives you a reason to stop and call before you pay.
Know before you pay, not after.
Your free account opens in minutes. Add-on prices are listed on our pricing page.