Organisational search

On this page

You will receive either an exact match or a browse list of possible matches, showing:

  • organisation number
  • name
  • status
  • ABN
  • type
  • address and place of incorporation
  • charity or not-for-profit.

The search summary will show any available reports, for example:

  • Equifax company files
  • company extracts
  • business name extracts
  • relational extracts
  • charges extracts
  • company documents.

For more information on ASIC codes, refer to our support page.

What search criteria should I enter in the organisation field?

This search doesn’t incorporate ‘sounds like’ features. Avoid using common words wherever possible.

A maximum of 99 possible matches can return in the browse list. This is useful where a person holds multiple roles in companies.

How does the organisation name search work?

The search automatically considers the following when comparing your search criteria to the ASIC database:

  • definite (‘the’) or indefinite (‘a’, ‘an’, ‘any’, ‘some’) article as the first word in either name
  • ‘Proprietary’, ‘Pty’, ‘Limited’, ‘Ltd’, ‘No Liability’ or ‘NL’ in either name
  • plural or singular form in either name
  • letter case, spacing, accents or punctuation marks in either name
  • alternatives for the words Australian (Aust), company (Co/Coy), number (No), and (&), incorporated (Inc), corporation (Corp) and Australian company number (ACN)
  • numbers represented by numeric characters (1) or words (One).

What is the correct format for an ACN and ABN?

  • ACN – 9 digits
  • ABN – 11 digits

How far back do the online records go?

The ASIC online records date back to its inception in 1991. Before this, individual states and territories were responsible for registering companies, and they primarily stored information on microfiche.

You can retrieve all pre-1991 paper documents from NT, Tas, ACT and Qld online as images. Pre-1991 microfiche records from Vic, NSW, SA, WA and Qld can also be converted to images on request.

How do organisational searches differ from organisational extract searches?

Organisational search

This search allows you to use the search criteria:

  • organisation name
  • ABN
  • ACN
  • business registration number and the state.

Extracts and documents are available for the following:

Code Description
APUB Australian public company
APTY Australian proprietary company
BUSN Business name
FNOS Foreign company (overseas)
MISM Managed investment scheme
RACN Registered Australian body

You can order the following extracts and documents, where available:

  • current, historical, relational and satisfied charges extracts
  • company documents.

No satisfied charges extracts or relational extracts are available for organisation type MISM and BUSN.

Organisational extracts search

You can use the ACN or ABN as the search criteria for this search. Results are limited to current, historical or relational extracts for the following:

Code Description
APUB Australian public company
APTY Australian proprietary company
FNOS Foreign company (overseas)
MISM Managed investment scheme

For further information about organisational extract searches, refer to our support page.

What information will I get by ordering company documents?

Scanned images of all public documents registered with ASIC since 1 January 1991 are available.

The information in a company document depends on the document type. To see what documents are available for the subject organisation, choose ‘Order company documents’ from the dropdown list and specify a time frame.

A complete list of documents matching your criteria will display. You can select multiple documents from this list and submit them in a single order.

For more information about document orders, refer to our support page.

What information will I get from a current or historical business name extract?

Current extracts show current information while historical shows current and historical information. They include the following details:

Business name details

  • Business name
  • Registration date
  • Status
  • Status start date
  • Next renewal date
  • Cancel date
  • Regulator
  • Former state or territory of registration

Address details

  • Principal place of business
  • Address for service of documents

Business name holder details

A business name holder is an entity that owns a registered business name. They can be an individual, incorporated entity, partnership, joint venture, or unincorporated entity.

The holder details will include:

  • holder name
  • holder former name
  • holder’s ABN
  • holder’s ACN/ARBN
  • holder start date
  • partners and joint venture partners.

Business name representative details

Business name representatives are listed against a business name or business name holder. Business name representatives include notified successor, legal personal representative, principal contact, debtor representative, nominated manager for debtor representative and organisational representative.

The representative details will include name and start date.

View a sample:

What information will I get from an Equifax company file current or comprehensive?

A company file current will provide details which may include:

  • summary ABN information as provided by the Australian Business Registry, such as ABN number, trading name and status
  • yes/no flag indicating adverse information on the Equifax file, such as defaults, mercantile enquiries, judgements, writs, external administration or petitions
  • company details such as name, start date, ACN, type of company
  • registered office and principal place of business
  • current office holders (secretaries and directors) names, addresses, dates of birth and appointment dates
  • share structure and shareholders
  • documents lodged with ASIC.

View a sample company file current search result.

A company file comprehensive will provide the following additional details:

  • previous registered offices and principal places of business
  • previous office holders (secretaries and directors) names, addresses, dates of birth and appointment dates.

View a sample company file comprehensive search result.

Can’t find what you’re looking for?

Our Customer Service Centre is here to help you between 8:00 am – 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday.

Phone 1800 773 773
Email confirm@citec.com.au

For more information on how to search, view our ASIC and business name searches user guide.