Director Identification Numbers - What you need to know

The Director ID information is held and managed by the Australian Business Registry Service (ABRS), and is designed to help prevent the use of false or fraudulent director identities.

What is Director ID?

Your Director ID confirms your identity, and the Registry’s role is to record all directorships held by an individual, including former appointments. Your Director ID is retained even if you stop being a company director, change your name or move interstate or overseas.

When is the deadline to apply for your Director ID?

Current directors have until November 2022 to obtain a Director Identification Number (DIN). However, if you have been recently appointed as a director, you are required to obtain a DIN within 28 days of your appointment. If you don’t meet your obligations to apply for a DIN, you may be issued with an infringement notice and/or a civil or criminal penalty.

The following table sets out the timelines for obtaining a DIN.

* Directors appointed under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (Cth) must apply for a Director ID before appointment.

How to apply for your Director ID?

There are three ways to apply for your Director ID as follows:

1. MyGovID (recommended by the ABRS)

a. Set up a myGovID on your smartphone.

b. Gather relevant documents.

c. Submit an application.

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2. By Phone

a. Quote an individual Australian tax file number (TFN). Providing a TFN is optional but it speeds up the process.

b. Provide your residential address as held by the AustralianTaxation Office (ATO).

c. Answer two questions based on details already documented by the ATO.

d. Two Australian identity documents – one primary and one secondary.

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3. With a paper form

a. Download the form at ABRS website.

b. Provide certified true copies of your identity documents.

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Once you have applied for your DIN, you will receive your 15 digit Director Identification Number. More information is available on the ABRS website.

How Sharrock Pitman can help?

As Accredited Commercial Law specialists, we can advise those considering an appointment as a director, as well as current directors, on matters relating to your obligation as a director and corporate governance. If specific advice is sought in relation to the information covered in this  article, or any other matters relating to corporations law, restructuring, trademarks, taxation or contracts feel free to contact us on 1300 205 506 or by email at sp@sharrockpitman.com.au.

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The information contained in this article is intended to be of a general nature only and should not be relied upon as legal advice. Any legal matters should be discussed specifically with one of our lawyers.

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