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New Director Identification Number (Directors ID) Information

The Australian Government recently passed legislation containing an initiative which will require all directors to obtain a director identification number (director ID). The director ID initiative is part of the Government’s Modernising Business Registers (MBR) program, all in aid of building a fairer business environment by preventing the use of false or fraudulent director identities.

Learn more about the MBR program

A director ID is a unique 15-digit identifier that a director will apply for once and keep forever, even if they change companies, stop being a director, change their name, or move interstate or overseas.

Who needs a director ID

You need a director ID if you are a director of a:

  • company
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporation
  • corporate trustee (for example, of a self-managed super fund)
  • charity or not-for-profit organisation that is a company or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporation
  • registered Australian body (for example, an incorporated association that is registered with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and trades outside the state or territory in which it is incorporated)
  • foreign company registered with ASIC and carrying on business in Australia (regardless of where you live)

When do you need to apply?

The director ID deadline depends on the date you first become a director. We have summarised these dates in the below table.

Date you become a director Date you must
On or before 31 October 2021 By 30 November 2022
Between 1 November 2021 and 4 April 2022 Within 28 days of appointment
From 5 April 2022 Prior to your appointment

 

If you were already a director on or before 31 October 2021, you have until 30 November 2022 to apply. That’s still the case even if you become a director of another company after 31 October 2021.

Learn more about who needs to apply and when

How to apply for a director ID

The fastest way to receive your director ID is to apply online. To complete your online application, there are 3 key steps:

Step 1:

Set up myGovID — If you do not already have a myGovID, you will need to set this up before you can apply for your director ID. Please note, this is different to a myGov account.

Learn more about how to set up myGovID

Step 2:

Gather your documents — You will need to have some information that the ATO knows about you when you apply for your director ID, including:

  • your tax file number (TFN)
  • your residential address as held by the ATO
  • information from two of the following documents:
    • bank account details
    • an ATO notice of assessment
    • superannuation account details
    • a dividend statement
    • a Centrelink payment summary
    • a PAYG payment summary (this is different to your income statement, and/or your PAYG instalment activity statement)

Step 3:

Complete your director ID application through the Australian Business Registry Service (ABRS)

Apply for your director ID now

If you are unable to obtain a myGovID with a Standard or Strong identity strength, you can also apply for a director ID over the phone or by using a paper form.

1. Apply by phone — you can apply by phone if you have

2. Apply with a paper form — if you cannot apply online or over the phone, you can apply using a downloadable form. This is a slower process, and you will also need to provide certified copies of your documents to verify your identity.

Further information on how to contact the ABRS

Once you have received your director ID, please notify Rawson Verco Need as we will also need to update our ASIC records.

If you have any queries or would like further information on the director ID requirements, our team at Rawson Verco Need are ready to assist you.