Director Identification Number

In order to prevent the use of false or fraudulent director identities, from November 2021, directors will need to verify their identity as part of a new director ID requirement.

A director ID is a unique 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.

Directors must apply for their director ID themselves because they need to verify their identity. No one can apply on their behalf.

You need a director ID if you’re a director or alternate director who is acting in that capacity of a company, a registered Australian body, a registered foreign company under the Corporations Act 2001 (Corporations Act) or an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporation registered under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (CATSI Act).

Transitional Arrangements (Corporations Act Director)

When you must apply for your director ID depends on the date you become a director.  We have set out below the transitional arrangements currently in place:

How to apply for your director ID

From 1 November, all directors need to apply for their own director ID. The fastest way to do this is to apply online. We have copied here the link to the ABRS website which sets out the steps involved: https://www.abrs.gov.au/director-identification-number/apply-director-identification-number

But by way of a summary, directors will need to:

1.     have a strong myGovID;

2.     gather your documents and information, including your tax file number, residential address and two forms of identification; and

3.     complete the application – which takes less than 5 minutes.

Penalties

The Australian Business Registry Services (ABRS) is responsible for the implementation and administration of director ID. ASIC will be responsible for the enforcement of associated offences. 

Directors who fail to obtain a DIN within the prescribed time frames can face criminal and civil penalties, including a civil penalty up to 5000 penalty units (currently over $1.1 million). The new provisions also create a number of additional offences, including: when a person knowingly gives false or misleading information, when a person knowingly applies for a new DIN when they already have a DIN; when a person intentionally misrepresents a DIN, or, when a person is involved in a contravention.