# ABN Lookup API

> ABN Lookup returns Australian business identity, registration and location details as a workflow and API.

ABN Lookup finds Australian businesses by name or 11-digit ABN and returns identity, registration and location details. Search businesses requires a business name or 11-digit ABN; state and active-status filters are optional.

- Page: https://fous.com/tools/abn-lookup
- Handle: `@abn-lookup`
- Category: [Government](https://fous.com/tools/category/government)
- Source website: https://abr.business.gov.au
- Last verified: Sep 29, 2026

## Methods

### Search businesses

Operation `search_businesses`, version 1. 1 credit per completed call. Failed calls without a completed billing receipt are free; completed work can remain charged if delivery is interrupted.

Find Australian businesses by name or ABN, including ABN status, GST registration, business names and location. Name results follow the ABN Lookup relevance order; results are limited to the public search matches.

**Input**

| Field | Type | Required | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| `state` | string | no | `"VIC"` | Main business location state or territory, abbreviation or full name. Example: NSW. |
| `business` | string | yes | `"88 000 014 675"` | Business or company name, or an 11-digit ABN. Example: Woolworths. |
| `active_only` | boolean | no | `false` | Include only active ABNs. Example: true. |
| `max_results` | integer | no | `10` | Maximum number of distinct businesses to return, up to 50. Example: 10. |

**Input schema**

```json
{
  "type": "object",
  "required": [
    "business"
  ],
  "properties": {
    "state": {
      "enum": [
        "NSW",
        "VIC",
        "QLD",
        "WA",
        "SA",
        "TAS",
        "ACT",
        "NT",
        "New South Wales",
        "Victoria",
        "Queensland",
        "Western Australia",
        "South Australia",
        "Tasmania",
        "Australian Capital Territory",
        "Northern Territory"
      ],
      "type": "string",
      "description": "Main business location state or territory, abbreviation or full name. Example: NSW.",
      "examples": [
        "VIC"
      ]
    },
    "business": {
      "type": "string",
      "description": "Business or company name, or an 11-digit ABN. Example: Woolworths.",
      "examples": [
        "88 000 014 675",
        "Woolworths",
        "zzqxvkjvwvqxz"
      ]
    },
    "active_only": {
      "type": "boolean",
      "default": true,
      "description": "Include only active ABNs. Example: true.",
      "examples": [
        false
      ]
    },
    "max_results": {
      "type": "integer",
      "default": 10,
      "maximum": 50,
      "minimum": 1,
      "description": "Maximum number of distinct businesses to return, up to 50. Example: 10.",
      "x-fous-developer": true,
      "examples": [
        10,
        3
      ]
    }
  },
  "additionalProperties": false,
  "examples": [
    {
      "business": "88 000 014 675"
    },
    {
      "business": "Woolworths",
      "max_results": 10
    },
    {
      "business": "zzqxvkjvwvqxz"
    }
  ]
}
```

**Output**

| Field | Type | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `businesses` | array |  |  |
| `businesses[].abn` | string | `"88 000 014 675"` |  |
| `businesses[].acn` | string or null | `"000 014 675"` |  |
| `businesses[].state` | string or null | `"NSW"` |  |
| `businesses[].postcode` | string or null | `"2153"` |  |
| `businesses[].page_link` | string | `"https://abr.business.gov.au/ABN/View?abn=88000014675"` |  |
| `businesses[].abn_status` | string | `"Active"` |  |
| `businesses[].entity_name` | string or null | `"WOOLWORTHS GROUP LIMITED"` |  |
| `businesses[].entity_type` | string or null | `"Australian Public Company"` |  |
| `businesses[].trading_names` | array |  |  |
| `businesses[].business_names` | array |  |  |
| `businesses[].gst_registered` | string | `"Yes"` |  |
| `businesses[].abn_status_since` | string or null | `"1999-11-01"` |  |
| `businesses[].gst_registered_since` | string or null | `"2000-07-01"` |  |

**Example input**

```json
{
  "business": "88 000 014 675"
}
```

**Example output**

```json
{
  "businesses": [
    {
      "abn": "88 000 014 675",
      "acn": "000 014 675",
      "state": "NSW",
      "postcode": "2153",
      "page_link": "https://abr.business.gov.au/ABN/View?abn=88000014675",
      "abn_status": "Active",
      "entity_name": "WOOLWORTHS GROUP LIMITED",
      "entity_type": "Australian Public Company",
      "trading_names": [
        "WOOLWORTHS",
        "DICK SMITH ELECTRONICS",
        "BWS-BEER WINE SPIRITS"
      ],
      "business_names": [
        "Woolworths Business",
        "The Business Grocer",
        "Everyday Gifting"
      ],
      "gst_registered": "Yes",
      "abn_status_since": "1999-11-01",
      "gst_registered_since": "2000-07-01"
    }
  ]
}
```

## Quick start

Replace `YOUR_API_KEY` with a Fous API key. To create one, open Developers at the bottom of Fous Studio, turn on Developer mode, then go to API keys (https://app.fous.com/keys). Change the values in `input` to run the same tool on new data.

```bash
curl 'https://api.fous.com/v1/query' \
  --fail-with-body --silent --show-error --max-time 180 \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  --data-raw '{
  "api": "@abn-lookup",
  "visibility": "public",
  "operation": "search_businesses",
  "version": 1,
  "input": {
    "business": "88 000 014 675"
  },
  "response": {
    "format": "json"
  }
}'
```

```python
# Save as fous.py and run with python3 fous.py. No packages needed.
import json
import urllib.error
import urllib.request

api_key = "YOUR_API_KEY"

body = json.loads("{\n  \"api\": \"@abn-lookup\",\n  \"visibility\": \"public\",\n  \"operation\": \"search_businesses\",\n  \"version\": 1,\n  \"input\": {\n    \"business\": \"88 000 014 675\"\n  },\n  \"response\": {\n    \"format\": \"json\"\n  }\n}")
request = urllib.request.Request(
    "https://api.fous.com/v1/query",
    data=json.dumps(body).encode("utf-8"),
    headers={
        "Authorization": f"Bearer {api_key}",
        "Content-Type": "application/json",
    },
    method="POST",
)
try:
    with urllib.request.urlopen(request, timeout=180) as response:
        result = json.load(response)
except urllib.error.HTTPError as error:
    raise RuntimeError(f"HTTP {error.code}: {error.read().decode('utf-8', errors='replace')}") from error
if result.get("success") is False:
    raise RuntimeError(result.get("error", {}).get("message", "Request failed"))
print(json.dumps(result["data"]["output"], indent=2))
```

```typescript
// Save as fous.mts and run with npx tsx fous.mts.
const apiKey = "YOUR_API_KEY";

const response = await fetch("https://api.fous.com/v1/query", {
  method: "POST",
  headers: {
    "Authorization": `Bearer ${apiKey}`,
    "Content-Type": "application/json",
  },
  signal: AbortSignal.timeout(180_000),
  body: JSON.stringify({
  "api": "@abn-lookup",
  "visibility": "public",
  "operation": "search_businesses",
  "version": 1,
  "input": {
    "business": "88 000 014 675"
  },
  "response": {
    "format": "json"
  }
}),
});
type ApiResult = { success: boolean; data?: { output: unknown }; error?: { message: string } };
const result: ApiResult = await response.json();
if (!response.ok || result.success === false) {
  throw new Error(result.error?.message ?? `HTTP ${response.status}`);
}
if (!result.data) throw new Error("Missing API response data");
console.log(result.data.output);
```

## Use from an AI assistant

Connect this tool to Claude Code, Claude Desktop, Cursor, VS Code, Codex and any MCP client as its own MCP server. Each method is a typed tool whose arguments are the method’s input.

- Server URL: `https://api.fous.com/mcp/tools/abn-lookup`
- Authorization: `Authorization: Bearer <Fous API key>`

**Tools**

- `search_businesses`: Search businesses. 1 credit per completed call. Failed calls without a completed billing receipt are free; completed work can remain charged if delivery is interrupted.
- `fous_get_run`: the result of a run that was still going, by its `request_id`. Free.

Claude Code:

```bash
claude mcp add --scope user --transport http fous-abn-lookup https://api.fous.com/mcp/tools/abn-lookup --header "Authorization: Bearer ${FOUS_API_KEY:?Set FOUS_API_KEY to your Fous API key}"
```

To give the assistant every tool, connect `https://api.fous.com/mcp`: it finds one with `fous_search_tools` and runs it with `fous_run_tool`. Setup for other clients: https://fous.com/llms-full.txt.

## Use cases

- Check an ABN’s status before onboarding a supplier
- Find a business’s ABN, ACN and location
- Check whether a business is registered for GST
- Review trading names and business names linked to an entity

## FAQ

### Can I run it with my own inputs?

Yes. Change the inputs in Studio and press Run, or send new inputs from your code, or ask a connected AI assistant.

### Can I call this ABN Lookup tool as an API?

Yes. Send a POST request to /v1/query with your Fous API key and the inputs, and get JSON back.

### How much does it cost?

Each completed run costs 1 credit. Failed runs without a completed receipt are free; completed work can remain charged if delivery is interrupted. With pay as you go, a credit costs 1¢. Monthly plans cost less per credit.

### Do I need a ABN Lookup account?

No. You only need a Fous account.

### How current is the data?

Fous gets the data from abr.business.gov.au when you run it. Some results are reused for up to 24 hours, and results that use your account or key are never reused. It was last verified on Sep 29, 2026.

### Is an Australian business’s ABN active?

Search businesses using the business name or ABN; results include ABN status.

### Is a business registered for GST?

Search businesses using the business name or ABN; results include GST registration status.

### What business names are linked to an ABN?

Search businesses using the 11-digit ABN; results include entity and business names.

## Related

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- [All Government tools](https://fous.com/tools/category/government)