Troubleshooting

If you can't log in, it may be that you have not yet created an account. The first time you use ABS Business Reporting you will need to click on 'Sign up'.

If you have already created an account but still can't log in, please contact us on 1800 735 060 (+61 2 6252 8814 outside Australia) Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm AEST.

High volumes of traffic may cause issues accessing the ABS Business Reporting webpage. Please wait and try again later.

We recommend accessing ABS Business Reporting using the latest version of the following compatible browsers:

• Microsoft Edge
• Google Chrome
• Mozilla Firefox
• Safari

If you still have problems, please call us on 1800 735 060 (+61 2 6252 8814 outside Australia) so we can assist you.

If the business you are reporting for uses Xero, cloud-based MYOB or QuickBooks Online accounting software, you can choose to connect to your accounting software to help you report. 

If you choose to connect, you will see information from the business’ accounts on the screen as you answer questions. You’ll be able to select which accounts or categories you want to include for each question, and a total amount will be calculated from the selected accounts. 

Once you’ve worked through all the questions, you’ll see a report with a total amount for each question, which you can review and submit to the ABS. 

When you connect to accounting software in ABS Business Reporting, the businesses displayed depend on your accesses within your accounting software. If you can’t see the business you are looking for, check your accounting software permissions. 

If the business you are reporting for uses QuickBooks, you may need to reauthorise the business if another user with access to the business has connected to ABS Business Reporting. From the dashboard, press 'Manage connections', then 'Add business', then select QuickBooks and follow the prompts to reauthorise the business.  

If you are unable to resolve this issue through your accounting software or managing connections in ABS Business Reporting, please contact us on 1800 735 060 (+61 2 6252 8814 outside Australia).

Your reference number is shown on correspondence you receive from the ABS. It has two letters (AT or MU) followed by eight numbers such as 'AT12345678'.

If you choose to report without your accounting software, you will be prompted to enter your reference number.

The name displayed in the top right of screen may not be updated to reflect recent changes provided within ABS Business Reporting. The name displayed will be the name you provided when you created an account, or the name associated with your Xero account if you logged in with Xero. Changes you have made to contact details will still be received by the ABS.

When you connect to accounting software, being able to authorises a business depend on your accesses within your accounting software. For example, QuickBooks requires either ‘Admin’, ‘Primary Admin’ or ‘Accountant’ level of access to connect to apps. 

If you are unable to authorise a business, check your accounting software permissions and speak with the business’ admin or accountant to discuss you access level.  

Currently ABS Business Reporting allows connection to Xero, cloud-based MYOB and QuickBooks Online accounting software. If the business you are reporting for uses other accounting software, you will need to ‘Continue without accounting software’ 

Currently, eligible small businesses selected for Quarterly Business Indicators Survey can submit a report through ABS Business Reporting. These businesses will receive an email or letter with instructions on how to report using ABS Business Reporting. 

Small businesses selected for other surveys may be asked to report using other platforms. We are working to expand the use of ABS Business Reporting to other surveys in future. 

Items on the report may not line up exactly with your accounts, and you may have an account that needs to be split across multiple parts of the report. To do this leave the account from your accounting software unallocated, and add a manual entry to each of the report items with the value required.

If you connect to accounting software, you can still report information that is different to what is in your accounting software. This may be useful if accounts are not finalised at the time of reporting to the ABS. Press ‘Manual entry’, add a description and a value and press ‘Save’.

You won’t be able to edit previously submitted reports through ABS Business Reporting. If you need to make a change to information you have provided previously, please call us on 1800 735 060 (+61 2 6252 8814 overseas).

You will be able to download a copy of previous reports submitted through ABS Business Reporting by using the ‘Past reports’ tab found on the Dashboard.