What is an ACN?
An ACN is a nine-digit Australian Company Number issued by ASIC when a company is registered under the Corporations Act. It identifies the registered company itself. A company may also hold an ABN for tax and public business dealings, but non-company structures do not receive ACNs.
Full name: Australian Company Number
Short explanation
The Australian Company Number is assigned by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission to each registered Australian company. It is the company-register identifier, used on ASIC records and corporate documents. ACN should not be treated as a substitute for ABN: the ACN identifies the registered company, while the ABN identifies the wider business or organization for tax, invoicing, and government dealings.
Related platform: Entity graph - resolved organization records
How it’s used
- ASIC company register: ACN anchors the company record, including company name, type, class, status, and registration date.
- Australian entity matching: ACN separates registered companies from sole traders and other ABN-holding business structures.
- Fonteum stores ACN and ABN as separate identifier facts so cross-border matching can keep company-registration facts apart from tax-facing business facts.
Frequently asked questions
- How many digits are in an ACN?
- An ACN has nine digits and is issued by ASIC when a company is registered.
- Can a sole trader have an ACN?
- No. A sole trader may have an ABN, but an ACN is issued only to companies registered with ASIC.
- Can a company have both an ACN and an ABN?
- Yes. A registered company can have an ACN as its company identifier and an ABN for broader tax and public business dealings.
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