Director ID – CALL TO ACTION
Welcome to our latest newsletter, Director ID Edition, in which we remind you of an important deadline coming up.
About Director ID
All company directors are now required to apply for a Director ID.
A director identification number (‘Director ID’) is a unique identifier given to a director who has verified their identity with Australian Business Registry Services (‘ABRS’).
The Director ID system is designed to help prevent the use of false or fraudulent director identities.
Note that it is a criminal offence if you do not apply for a Director ID by the deadline. ASIC is responsible for enforcing director ID offences set out in the Corporations Act 2001.
Who needs to apply and when
Any person that is a director of a company will need to apply for their own Director ID and they will keep that same Director ID forever.
Exactly when you need to apply depends on when you became a director, as illustrated by the following table:
| Date you first became a director | Date you must apply |
|---|---|
| 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 |
This means that if you were already a director of a company before 31 October 2021, you need to apply for your director ID as soon as possible as the deadline is 30 November 2022.
How to apply for your Director ID
The fastest way to get a Director ID is to apply online using the myGovID app. There is no fee, and you only need to apply once. Note that no one can apply for you, as you need to prove your identity when you apply.
Step 1 (only necessary if you don’t already have myGovID set up)
You need to set up a myGovID with a Standard identity strength which requires at least 2 of the following Australian identity documents to verify your identity:
- Driver’s licence or learner’s permit
- Passport (not more than 3 years expired)
- Birth certificate
- Citizenship certificate
- Medicare card
- Visa (using your foreign passport)
- Immicard
You can set up myGovID by downloading the app and following the prompts.
If you do not have at least two of the documents listed above, then go to Step 4.
Step 2 – Gather your documents
Once you have set up your myGovID, you must have further information that the ATO knows about you in order to apply online for your Director ID. You will need:
- Your tax file number
- Your residential address as held by the ATO
- Information from 2 documents to verify your identity (eg ATO Notice of Assessment, APRA fund account details, a dividend statement, a PAYG or a Centrelink payment summary)
Step 3 – Complete your application
Log in to ABRS online using your myGovID to complete your application (best to do this on your computer rather than mobile phone, but you need to have both devices, as a code will pop on the mobile that will need to be accepted). The process does not take long if you have already gathered your documents as per Step 2. The link is https://www.abrs.gov.au/director-identification-number/apply-director-identification-number
Step 4
If you are unable to set up myGovID, or you don’t have the required Australian identity documents to apply online, how you apply depends on where you live.
If you live in Australia, you can call 13 62 50. Note that you will be asked to verify your identity.
If you live outside of Australia, you can apply by using a paper application form:
Application for a director identification number (NAT 75433, PDF 651KB).
Once you have your Director ID
Please contact us to provide your Director ID once you have it, and make sure that you keep the number in a safe place as this is a number that you will have for life.
As always, don’t hesitate to contact one of the friendly Greenlight Super Services team members if you require further assistance on (02) 6273 1066 or info@glss.com.au.
This newsletter is for general information only. Every effort has been made to ensure that it is accurate, however it is not intended to be a complete description of the matters described. The newsletter has been prepared without taking in to account any personal objectives, financial situation or needs. The information contained is correct as of 7 September 2022
