DFK Gooding Partners
November 2, 2021
From 1 November 2021, current Australian company directors are required to apply for a Director Identification Number (director ID). This new statutory requirement is designed to ensure accurate tracing of directors across companies, while preventing the use of false or fictitious identities.
Applications are free, and will be processed via Australian Business Registry Services (ABRS), a new platform that aggregates the 31 business registers currently on ASIC, together with the Australian Business Register.
Current company directors will have until 30 November 2022 to apply for their director ID, while new directors appointed between 1 November 2021 and 4 April 2022 will have just 28 days following appointment to apply. Directors will be required to produce their myGovID alongside two identity documents in order to complete a director ID application.
Directors who do not apply for their director ID within required dates could face criminal or civil penalties of up to $1.11 million, so it is important to ensure you meet required deadlines.
To assist with applying for your Director ID, please see our summary guide below:
How to apply for your director ID online:
We have prepared an easy, step by step guide that takes you through all required steps to register your director ID with ABRS.
You can download our guide by clicking here
How to apply for your director ID without myGovID
We strongly recommend applying for your director ID with myGovID as this is the easiest and fastest way to complete the process. However, if you cannot get a myGovID, you can complete the director ID application over the phone or in paper form.
Foreign Directors: How to apply for your director ID
If you are an overseas director, please read our Foreign Director ID Guide here
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If you have any questions regarding your obligations as a company director under the new director ID requirements, please do not hesitate to get in touch with one of our team. Please note, due to identification requirements we are unable to process Director ID applications on behalf of our clients.
