As of November 2021 company directors must verify their identity with a Director ID number
The government has begun rolling out the Modernising Business Registers program as part of its Digital Business Plan. With this in mind, they are introducing Director Identification Numbers as part of this plan.
Further to this, the program will:
- establish the new Australian Business Registry Services (ABRS)
- streamline how you register, view and maintain your business information with government.
What is a Director Identification Number?
To clarify, the Director Identification Number (DIN) is a 15-digit identifier given to company directors. Consequently, it is unique to you and will be used to track and trace your relationships to companies. Further to this, the director ID will be used to prevent fraudulent or false director identities.
A Director ID:
- starts with 036, which is the 3-digit country code for Australia under International Standard ISO 3166
- ends with an 11-digit number and one ‘check’ digit for error detection.
Directors will only ever have one Director ID. They’ll keep it forever even if they:
- change companies
- stop being a director
- change their name
- move interstate or overseas.
You must apply for a director ID if you are an eligible:
- officer of a registered Australian body
- a registered foreign company under the Corporations Act 2001 (Corporations Act)
- an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporation registered under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (CATSI Act)
Deadlines to apply for your Director ID:
- If appointed from 1 November 2021 must apply within 28 days.
- Directors appointed on or before 31 October 2021 have until 30 November 2022 to apply.
- Future directors appointed from 5 April 2022 must apply before being appointed.
How do I apply for my director ID?
Applications for the Director ID opened on 1 November, 2021. Moreover, they are free to obtain and the fastest way to apply is online via ABRS at www.abrs.gov.au/director-identification-number
Further to this, you will be required to login to ABRS with your myGovID. Along with this, you will need:
- An individual Australian tax file number (TFN). Providing your TFN is optional but it speeds up the process.
- Also, your residential address, as recorded by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).
- Answers to two questions based on details we know about you from the following documents:
- bank account details
- super account details
- ATO notice of assessment
- dividend statement
- Centrelink payment summary
- PAYG payment summary
Phone and paper applications are also available for those who don’t wish to apply online. Different identification requirements will apply in each case, with the requirements surrounding the paper-based application further split between applicants within Australia and applicants outside Australia.
Using your Director ID
Most importantly, you must give your director ID to the record-holder of your company. This might be your company secretary, another director, a contact person or an authorised agent of the company such as an accountant.
Furthermore, you will be able to use MyGovID to log into ABRS to view your Director ID. You will also be able to update your details whenever you need to.
On the ABRS portal you can:
- confirm your director ID number and status
- view things to do, actions in progress and past activity
- edit your profile preferences and some of your personal details.
Penalties
Directors who do not apply for a Director ID before their deadline may face criminal or civil penalties. Penalties will also apply for activity that does not meet the new requirements, including providing false identity information to the registrar or intentionally applying for multiple Director IDs.
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