Checking an ABN means confirming the number on an invoice is valid, active and, if GST is charged, registered for GST.
Before you start
- Permission to edit contacts
The Xero way
Where to find it: Contacts > All contacts > open the supplier > Edit > Contact details > ABN
- Look up the ABN on the ABN Lookup website (abr.business.gov.au). Check the name, status and GST registration.
- Open the supplier in Xero, click Edit and enter the ABN in the ABN field under Contact details. You can also enter the ACN.
- Choose the tax rate on bills to match their GST status.
- If a supplier has no ABN, you may need to withhold 47% from the payment. See the Xero article and the ATO.
Limits in Xero
- Xero Central does not describe any ABN check inside Xero. The ABN field is for the contact record and shows on the PDFs you send them.
- Xero does not report no ABN withholding in any ATO report or activity statement. You add it by hand.
The Pulsify way
- Forward the supplier's invoice to Pulsify.
- 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.
- It also flags an ABN that differs from the one on the supplier record in Xero.
- Fix the supplier record or query the supplier, then approve.
Pulsify connects to Xero in one click. Approved bills are created in Xero with the source file attached.
What Pulsify does not do here
- If the ABN lookup is not available, Pulsify flags that it could not validate.
Common mistakes
- Assuming the ABN field checks the number against the ABR. Xero Central does not describe that.
- Forgetting to add no ABN withholding to the activity statement by hand.
More help
- How to check a supplier card's ABN in AccountRight
- How to check a supplier's ABN in MYOB Business
- How to check a supplier's VAT number in Sage 50
- How to control supplier bank detail changes in Xero
- How to report contractor payments for TPAR from Xero
- How to check GST coding on bill records in Xero before you lodge your BAS
- All Xero how-to guides
- Pulsify setup guides
Sources
Last checked 2026-10-19. Confidence: confirmed.
Common questions
Does Xero check an ABN for me?
Xero Central does not describe an ABN check inside Xero. Look the ABN up on ABN Lookup (abr.business.gov.au) first and then enter it on the contact.
Where does the ABN go on a supplier?
Contacts > All contacts, open the supplier, click Edit, then Contact details > ABN. You can also enter the ACN.
What if a supplier has no ABN?
You may need to withhold 47% from the payment. See the Xero article and the ATO. Xero does not report no ABN withholding in any ATO report or activity statement, so you add it by hand.
What does Pulsify check?
Format, ABR status, GST registration and a match with the supplier record.
Pulsify setup guides
Want this done for you?
Book a call to see how Pulsify handles supplier bills in Xero.