Country-specific guidance Current

Verifying a client company's registration details against BizFile

The registry, not the client's letterhead, is the independent source.

A client company's own paperwork tells you what it says about itself; ACRA's Bizfile registry tells you what's actually on the public record. This guide sets out a practical approach to checking a client's stated details against that record. It is general information, not legal or compliance advice.

Action plan

1 Search the entity on Bizfile by name or UEN A free entity search returns the basics you need for a first check.

Bizfile is ACRA's digital service portal for business registration, filing, and information. A free entity search by company name or Unique Entity Number (UEN) returns basic details such as registration status, registered address, and entity type, giving you an independent check against what the client has told you.

  • Search Bizfile by the company's name or its UEN
  • Note the entity's registration status, registered address, and entity type
  • Treat this as an independent check, not a duplicate of what the client provided

Done when: The client company was searched on Bizfile and its registration status confirmed

ACRA: Bizfile
2 Match the client's stated details against what Bizfile shows A mismatch between what you were told and what the registry shows is worth resolving before proceeding.

Compare the company name, UEN, registration status, and registered address the client provided against the Bizfile result. Where the details match, you have an independent confirmation; where they don't, resolve the discrepancy with the client before relying on the information further.

  • Compare company name, UEN, status, and registered address against Bizfile
  • Confirm the entity's status is current, not struck off or wound up
  • Resolve any mismatch with the client before proceeding

Done when: The client's stated company details were matched against the Bizfile record, and any mismatch resolved

ACRA: using Bizfile's search functions
3 Pull a fuller business profile where the relationship warrants it A basic search confirms the entity exists; a fuller profile shows who's actually behind it.

For a higher-risk or more significant client relationship, a fuller ACRA Business Profile extract adds detail such as directors, shareholders, and paid-up capital beyond what the free entity search shows. Reserve this step for relationships where the additional detail is proportionate to the risk, rather than requesting it as a matter of routine for every client.

  • Consider a fuller Business Profile extract for a higher-risk or more significant relationship
  • Use the additional detail to support, not replace, the basic entity check
  • Match the depth of the check to the relationship, not a fixed rule for every client

Done when: A fuller Business Profile check was used where the relationship's risk warranted it, not as a blanket default

See requesting beneficial ownership information from a corporate client