The company I need to search was registered pre the ASIC registry. ASIC advised that the ATO hold these records, but I cannot find on the website, nor can I get through to a human on the ATO phone number and I have been trying for months!
Hey @DIANALYON,
We're sorry but it's not something we at the ATO can provide you with. It is something that ASIC can get for you. You should be able to request from them a current and company historical extract.
Hi @DIANALYON,
Which website you are referring to? Sorry you haven't been able to get through to us.
To check for an ABN of a company we have the ABN Lookup on the Australian Business Register website free for the public to view.
Let us know if this isn't what you wanted.
Hi Wendy,
The ATO website is what I was referring to. I have searched and searched to no avail to find the help that I need. This is a copy of an email that I sent to @ato.gov.au" target="_blank" style="font-size: 11pt;">CopiesofTaxDocuments@ato.gov.au as one of many failed attempts to find the assistance that I need from the ATO:
"As per the attached letter from VCAT I am required to purchase a Current Company Extract for the company that we want VCAT to serve our VCAT application on. Our application is at a complete stand still until such time as I provide a paid Company Extract to VCAT.
I have contacted ASIC who advised that the ABN [Removed by moderator] 589 was registered prior to 2012, therefore the ATO held registry of ABN’s / Company Extracts prior to 2012. I have attempted to call the ATO a number of times over a number of weeks at various times of their business hours and every time I call I get the same response that I have called at “peak time” and that the ATO are “unable” to assist me over the phone.
I am extremely eager to provide the documentation that VCAT requires to attempt to resolve the dispute we have with Lee Motor Co and the proprietors David Thomas Lee & Mark Lee.
Can you please advise whether you are able to provide the Current Company Extract that VCAT requires us to provide? Of course, I am willing to pay for the extract if you can please provide a pathway to accessing the extract. I would greatly appreciate your assistance in this matter."
Hey @DIANALYON,
We're sorry but it's not something we at the ATO can provide you with. It is something that ASIC can get for you. You should be able to request from them a current and company historical extract.
Thank you. I will go back to ASIC again and see why they gave me the information that they did as they were very definite that their company register was onboarded from 2012 and that the ATO would be the holder of the company extract I needed. I sincerely hope you are correct and that I can eventually get the document that I need to complete my VCAT application.
2 Dec 2025 · 6 min read time
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4 replies