How to check every supplier ABN in MYOB
MYOB keeps whatever was typed into a supplier card's ABN field. It does not tell you whether that ABN is still active, whether the supplier is registered for GST, or whether the registered name matches the card. Checking cards one by one on ABN Lookup takes hours, so most supplier lists are never checked.
1. Export your supplier cards from MYOB AccountRight
MYOB's help describes exporting cards with the Import/Export Assistant: open your company file, go to File, choose Import/Export Assistant, select Export data, pick Cards, then choose the type of cards (your suppliers). Leave the default format options.
On the Select Fields step, add at least Co./Last Name, First Name and A.B.N. Adding Addr 1 - Email, Addr 1 - City, Addr 1 - State and Addr 1 - Postcode makes the report easier to read. Save the export; MYOB writes it as a text file (.txt).
MYOB also lets you export a card report to Excel. An .xlsx report works too, as long as it has a name column and an ABN column.
2. Upload the .txt file as it is
There's no need to convert MYOB's tab-delimited text file to CSV. ClearABN reads it directly, recognises the A.B.N. and Co./Last Name columns, ignores A.B.N. Branch, and joins First Name and Co./Last Name for individual suppliers, so a card for Citizen, Jane is checked as Jane Citizen.
Older Windows exports that use accented characters (Café, Côté) are read correctly. The first 25 suppliers per check are free, with no account required.
3. Review the flagged suppliers
Each row gets the official ABN checksum, then a lookup on the Australian Business Register for ABN status, entity name, business names and GST registration.
Suppliers are flagged when the ABN is missing, fails the checksum, is cancelled, is not on the register, has no current GST registration, or the card name doesn't closely match the registered names. Each flag links to the ATO or ABR page that explains it.
4. Update the cards in MYOB
When you upload an MYOB export, the results page offers an MYOB import file. It is a tab-delimited text file with Co./Last Name, First Name, Card ID (when your export had it) and A.B.N., with each ABN written in MYOB's 11-digit format with spaces (for example 51 824 753 556). Suppliers whose ABN is missing or fails the checksum are left out, so the import never blanks a card that needs a person to look at it.
MYOB's help describes the import: back up your company file first, then go to File, Import/Export Assistant, choose Import data, pick Cards and the supplier card type, and browse to the file. On the Format step choose Tabs and Headers Or Labels, select Update existing data, and match cards using Card ID (or Co./Last Name if your export didn't include Card ID). Click Auto Match, then Import, and check the import log for any errors.
The audit CSV lists every supplier with the ABN you supplied, the normalised 11-digit ABN, and what the register showed on the day you checked. Use it for the cards that need a manual fix, such as a cancelled ABN or a supplier that isn't registered for GST.
Keep the PDF with the client file as a record of the check. ClearABN reports register information only; it isn't tax advice.
Check your supplier list now
Free for 25 suppliers per check. No account required.
Official sources
ClearABN shows Australian Business Register facts and the result of an ABN checksum. It does not provide tax, legal or financial advice. Links go to the ATO and the Australian Business Register so you can read their pages yourself.