All company directors must apply for a Director ID by 30th of November 2022. It is a criminal offense not to and ASIC may enforce penalties.
If you are yet to apply, now is the time! This email has everything you need to know, and your accountant can help.
If you have already applied for a Director ID, please let your accountant or our support team know so we can update our records.
What is a Director ID?
A director ID is a unique 15-digit identification number a director applies for once and keeps for life. This director ID will confirm a director’s identity and will in future show which companies they are linked to.
Why have Director IDs been introduced?
The director ID scheme aims to increase the traceability and accountability of directors, to assist in addressing illegal phoenix activity including the use of false or fraudulent director identities.
Before these changes were made, directors were only required to provide their name, date and place of birth when becoming a director of a company. Small variations in any of these details meant that there would be multiple records with ASIC for the same person, which affected the ability to track an individual who was a director of multiple companies.
How to apply?
Applications for a Director ID are made through the new Australian Business Registry Services (ABRS) website www.abrs.gov.au using your myGovID and must be done personally. Unfortunately, we cannot apply on your behalf.
A Director ID is free and the fastest way to apply is online. The ABRS also have other options available if you cannot apply online. You can also apply over the phone or via paper application.
Follow these steps to apply online:
Step 1 – Set up your myGovID
You will need a myGovID with a Standard or Strong identity strength to apply for your director ID online.
Please note myGovID is different from myGov:
myGovID is an identity verification app. You download the myGovID app to your smart device. It lets you prove who you are and log in to a range of government online services, including myGov. If you don’t have the myGovID app you can set it up at www.mygovid.gov.au/setup
myGov is an online services account. Your myGov account lets you link to and access online services provided by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), Centrelink, Medicare and more.
Step 2 – Gather your documents
You will need to have some information the ATO knows about you when you apply for your director ID:
your tax file number (TFN)
your residential address as held by the ATO
information from two documents to verify your identity.
Examples of the documents you can use to verify your identity include:
bank account details
an ATO notice of assessment
super account details
a dividend statement
a Centrelink payment summary
PAYG payment summary
Step 3 – Complete your application
Once you have a myGovID with a Standard or Strong identity strength, and information to verify your identity, you can log in and apply for your director ID. The application process should take less than 5 minutes.
Step 4 – Provide confirmation of your Director ID
Once you have completed the application and received confirmation of your Director ID, please provide a copy to our office as this information is required in order for us to ensure maintenance of your corporate registers in accordance with ASIC requirements.
How can we help?
We are unable to apply for a Director ID on your behalf, however if you are having trouble applying and require assistance, please do not hesitate to contact our office. We would be happy to further explain and assist you through the application process.