Introducing the new director identification number

A director identification number (director ID) is a unique identifier that a director applies for once and keeps forever.

You’ll need a director ID if you’re a director of:

• a company
• a registered foreign company
• a registered Australian body, or
• an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporation.

If you’re a sole trader you won’t need a director ID.

You can apply for your director ID at Australian Business Registry Services (ABRS).

The date you must apply depends on the date you became a director:

• Directors 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.

Director IDs will create a fairer business environment by improving data integrity and confidence in knowing who the directors of a company are.

You need to apply for your director ID yourself to verify your identity. No one can apply for you.

Who needs to apply and when

If you want to become a director or are already one, you’ll need a director ID. When you need to apply depends on the date you become a director.

Who needs a director ID

You need a director ID if you’re an eligible officer of:

• a company, a registered Australian body or 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).

An eligible officer is a person who is appointed as:

• a director
• an alternate director who is acting in that capacity.

You must apply for your own director ID to verify your identity. No one can apply on your behalf.

People who need a director ID

You need a director ID if you’re 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).

If your organisation has an Australian business number (ABN), you can use ABN LookupExternal link to find out if it is registered with ASIC as a:

• company, which will have an Australian company number (ACN)
• registered Australian body, which will have an Australian Registered Body Number (ARBN)
• registered foreign company, which will have an ARBN.

The Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations (ORIC)External link maintains a register of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporations. These corporations have an Indigenous Corporation Number (ICN) and may also have an ABN.

People who don’t need a director ID

You don’t need a director ID if you’re:

• a company secretary but not a director
• acting as an external administrator of a company
• running a business as a sole trader or partnership
• referred to as a ‘director’ in your job title but have not been appointed as a director under the Corporations Act or the CATSI Act
• a director of a registered charity with an organisation type that is not registered with ASIC to operate throughout Australia
• an officer of an unincorporated association, cooperative or incorporated association established under state or territory legislation, unless the organisation is also a registered Australian body.

When you need to apply

You can apply for a director ID now.

If you’re planning on becoming a director, you can apply before you’re appointed.

Corporations Act directors

When you must apply for your director ID depends on the date you become a director.

To be a director under the Corporations Act, you must:

• be an individual who is at least 18 years old
• not be disqualified from managing corporations, unless the appointment is made with the permission of ASIC or the Court.

For more information on the Corporations Act, visit the ASIC websiteExternal link.

CATSI Act directors

When you must apply for your director ID depends on the date you become a director.

To be a director under the CATSI Act, you must:

• be an individual who is at least 18 years old
• be a member of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporation and an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander person (unless the corporation’s constitution or rule book says otherwise)
• not be disqualified from managing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporation, unless the appointment is made with the permission of the Registrar of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporations or the Court.

For more information on the CATSI Act, visit the Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations (ORIC) websiteExternal link.

Meeting your obligations

Your director ID obligations include:

• applying for a director ID within the relevant timeframe for your situation
• applying for a director ID when directed by the Registrar to do so
• not applying for more than one director ID (unless directed by the Registrar to do so)
• not misrepresenting your director ID to a Commonwealth body, company, registered Australian body or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporation
• not being involved in a breach of the above director ID obligations.

If you can’t apply by the date you need to, you can complete an Application for an extension of time to apply for a director ID (NAT75390, PDF, 271KB). If you have issues completing the form, you can find help on our Accessibility page.

If you don’t meet your obligations:

• there may be civil or criminal penalties
• you may be issued with an infringement notice.

Help and support

Your authorised tax, BAS or ASIC agent can help you understand the new requirement.

Source: ATO and ABRS