How the Director ID works
A Director ID is a 15-digit identifier given to a Director (or someone who intends to become a Director) who has verified their identity with the Australian Business Registry Services (ABRS).
Directors need to apply for their own Director ID. It’s free to apply.
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, or
- move interstate or overseas.
Why you need a Director ID
Shareholders, employees, creditors, consumers, external administrators and regulators are entitled to know the names and certain details of the Directors of a company.
All Directors are required by law to verify their identity with the ABRS before receiving a Director ID. This is important because it will help to:
- prevent the use of false or fraudulent director identities,
- make it easier for external administrators and regulators to trace directors’ relationships with companies over time, and
- identify and eliminate director involvement in unlawful activity, such as illegal phoenix activity.
Illegal phoenix activity is when a company is liquidated, wound up or abandoned to avoid paying its debts. A new company is then started to continue the same business activities without the debt. When this happens:
- employees miss out on wages, superannuation and entitlements,
- suppliers or sub-contractors are left unpaid,
- other businesses are put at a competitive disadvantage, and
- the community misses out on revenue that could have contributed to community services.
Who needs a Director ID
You need a Director ID if you’re an eligible officer of:
- a company, registered Australian body, or 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).
An eligible officer is a person who is appointed as either:
- a Director,
- an alternate director who is acting in that capacity.
You will only ever need one Director ID. You don’t have to apply for another one if you become a Director of other companies or corporations.
Remember – you must apply for your own Director ID to verify your identity. No one can apply on your behalf.
When you need to apply
You can apply for a Director ID now. When you need to apply is determined by when you were first appointed, and under which Act. If you plan to become a Director, you can apply before you’re appointed.
Existing Directors are strongly encouraged to apply now, ahead of the 30 November 2022 deadline.
How to apply for your Director ID
The fastest way to do this is online using the myGovID app to log in to ABRS online.
Help and support
Trade Guardian can help you decide if you need to apply, but we can’t apply on your behalf. For advice reach out to us at Trade Guradiain on 02 6162 1928.
For more information from the ABRS have a look at the following links: