What is a Director ID and when is it required?
A director identification number (otherwise known as a "Director ID") is a unique 15-digit identifier given to a director once, irrespective of the number of companies they are a director of now or in the future.
All new Directors (and alternate directors) must apply and obtain a director ID prior to their appointment as a director of any Company.
All current directors (and alternate directors) appointed under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) must have applied and obtained a Director ID by 30 November 2022.
A person who wishes to set up a new company must have director ID’s for each person who will be appointed as a director before the new company can be registered by ASIC.
Please note that directors appointed under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (Cth) have different timelines. For further information, please visit https://www.abrs.gov.au/director-identification-number/who-needs-apply-and-when
Why is a Director ID Required?
To prevent the use of false and fraudulent director identities and involvement in unlawful activities, the Australian Government via Australian Business Registry Services has introduced the requirement for all directors, including directors of corporate trustees of self-managed super funds, to apply for a director ID.
How to apply for a Director ID
Applications must be made by the individual director via the myGovID App, and cannot be undertaken by anyone else on their behalf. Please note that “myGovID” is a different App to “myGov”. Telephone and paper form options are available if the App cannot be downloaded.
Please visit https://www.abrs.gov.au/director-identification-number/apply-director-identification-number for further details on how to set up your myGovID Account.
To apply for a director ID the director will require his or her:
- Tax file number;
- Residential address as held by the ATO; and
- Information from two documents to verify the director’s identity – e.g. bank account details, ATO notice of assessment, super account details, dividend statement, Centrelink payment summary and/or PAYG payment summary.
The director ID is an important identifier and should be provided to the company secretary (or other recordholder) for each of the companies of which the director has been appointed as director.
A person keeps their Director ID irrespective of whether the director changes companies, stops being a director, changes their name or moves interstate or overseas.
If applications are not made within the relevant timeframe, directors may be liable for civil or criminal penalties and/or infringement notices.
For further information ABRS can be contacted via this link https://www.abrs.gov.au/contact-us
