# How to check a vendor's ABN in Business Central

Look up the vendor's ABN on ABN Lookup, then save it in Business Central. Check the status is active, the name matches and the supplier is registered for GST.

Checking an ABN means confirming the number on an invoice is valid, active and, if GST is charged, registered for GST.

## Before you start

- Vendor access

## The Business Central way

Where to find it: Vendor Card > Registration FastTab

1. Open the vendor card.
2. Enter the ABN and, if needed, the ABN Division Part No.
3. The page checks the number format.

## Limits in Business Central

- No live ABN Lookup check was found. The VAT number check service in the help is the EU VIES service.

## Good to know in Business Central

- With no ABN the vendor gets WHT calculated at the set rate when the invoice is over the threshold.

## The Pulsify way

1. Forward the supplier's invoice to Pulsify.
2. Pulsify checks the ABN against the ABR. It flags an invalid ABN, a missing ABN and an ABN not registered for GST when the invoice charges GST.
3. It also flags an ABN that differs from the one on the vendor record in Business Central.
4. Fix the vendor record or query the vendor, then approve.

Pulsify connects to Business Central. We set up the connection for you.

What Pulsify does not do here:

- If the ABN lookup is not available, Pulsify flags that it could not validate.

## Common mistakes

- Assuming the format check proves the ABN is active.
- Using the EU VAT number check service for an ABN. That service is VIES.

## Common questions

### Where is the ABN field?

On the vendor card, Registration FastTab. Enter the ABN and, if needed, the ABN Division Part No. The page checks the number format.

### Does it look up the ABN live?

No live ABN Lookup check was found. The VAT number check service in the help is the EU VIES service.

### What if a vendor has no ABN?

The vendor gets WHT calculated at the set rate when the invoice is over the threshold.

### What does Pulsify check?

Format, ABR status, GST registration and a match with the supplier record.

## Sources

- https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/business-central/localfunctionality/australia/how-to-enter-australian-business-numbers
- https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/business-central/localfunctionality/australia/how-to-set-up-vendors-without-abn-for-calculating-the-withholding-tax
- https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/business-central/finance-how-validate-vat-registration-number

Source: https://www.pulsify.tech/how-to/check-a-suppliers-abn-in-business-central/ (last checked 2026-10-19)