These requirements impact all company Directors including those of private companies and corporate trustees of family trusts, not just Directors of large or listed entities.
Set out below is a summary of everything you need to know, including the steps you need to take to apply for your Director ID.
Do I need to apply for a Director ID?
You will be required to obtain a Director ID if you are a director or alternate director of:
- a company, a registered Australian body or a registered foreign company under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) (Corporations Act), or
- an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporation registered under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (Cth) (CATSI Act).
Under what circumstances is a Director ID not required?
A Director ID is not required if you are:
- 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, or
- 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 do Corporations Act directors need to apply for a Director ID?
| Date you are appointed as a director of a specific company | Date you must apply by for your Director ID |
|---|---|
| On or before 31 October 2021 | By 30 November 2022 |
| Between 1 November 2021 and 4 April 2022 | Within 28 days of appointment |
| From 5 April 2022 | Before appointment |
When do CATSI Act directors need to apply for a Director ID?
| Date you are appointed as a director of a specific company | Date you must apply by for your Director ID |
|---|---|
| On or before 31 October 2022 | By 30 November 2023 |
| From 1 November 2022 | Before appointment |
From 5 April 2022, anyone proposing to become a company Director must first obtain a director identification number.
How do I apply for a Director ID?
In order to apply for a Director ID, you can follow the steps below.
Step 1: Set up myGovID
You will require either a standard or strong identity strength myGovID. If you do not have a myGovID account, you can find information on How to set up myGovID.
Note that a myGovID is different to standard myGov account which links to online services such as the ATO or Centrelink.
Step 2: Gather your documents
You will need the following information:
- your tax file number (TFN)
- your residential address as held by the ATO, and
- information from two documents to verify your identity such as bank account details, an ATO notice of assessment, super account details, a dividend statement, a Centrelink payment summary or a PAYG payment summary.
Step 3: Complete your application
After completing steps 1 and 2, you can apply for your director ID through the Australian Business Registry Services Website.
Please note: only you can lodge your application and not anyone on your behalf as you will be required to verify your identity.
If you cannot get a myGovID
You can apply by phone or lodge a paper application. You can find more information on these options on Verify Your Identity.
