HOW-TO

How to check a supplier's ABN in IFS Cloud

Short answer

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

Last checked

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

The IFS Cloud way

Where to find it: Supplier > Address > Document Tax Information

  1. Enter the ABN in Supplier > Address > Document Tax Information, or in Association No
  2. Open the Supplier page and add the address details first: Address 1, Address 2, State, City and Zip Code. The same address feeds the payee record in the TPAR file.
  3. Enter the 11-digit ABN in Supplier > Address > Document Tax Information. If you do not use that tab, enter it in the Association No field on the Supplier page.

Limits in IFS Cloud

  • IFS does not check the ABN against ABN Lookup
  • If no ABN is given, the TPAR file zero-fills the field
  • The Australia country guide does not describe a format check on the ABN number, so a mistyped ABN is only caught when you compare it with ABN Lookup yourself.

Good to know in IFS Cloud

  • TPAR fills the ABN zero if missing
  • If both fields hold a value, IFS reads Document Tax Information first and Association No second.
  • Your own company works the same way with a different order: the Tax Office page first, then Company > Tax Control > Invoice tab > Tax Liability Countries, then the Company Association No field. If you have no branch number the TPAR file prints 001.
  • The bank side of the payee record comes from the supplier payment method. The Account Number and Branch in its electronic payment address print as the payee BSB and account number, and both are zero-filled when missing.
  • Phone and email come from the Communication Method sub menu on the supplier.

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 supplier record in IFS Cloud.
  4. Fix the supplier record or query the supplier, then approve.

Pulsify connects to IFS Cloud. 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

  • Leaving the ABN blank, so the TPAR file shows zeros.
  • Assuming the ABN is checked when you enter it.

More help

Sources

Last checked 2026-10-19. Confidence: confirmed.

Common questions

Where do I enter the ABN?

In Supplier > Address > Document Tax Information, or in Association No.

What happens if the ABN is blank?

The TPAR file zero-fills the ABN field.

Does IFS Cloud check the ABN against ABN Lookup?

IFS does not check the ABN against ABN Lookup. Check it outside the system.

What does Pulsify check?

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

Pulsify setup guides

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