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About Director ID
A director ID is given to a director who has verified their identity with the Australian Business Registry Services (ABRS).
Directors need to apply for their own director ID. It is free. 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
- move interstate or overseas.
Why you need a director ID
Shareholders, employees, creditors, consumers, external administrators and regulators need to know names and certain details of company directors.
All directors are required by law to verify their identity to:
- prevent false or fraudulent director identities
- make it easier to trace directors’ relationships with all companies
- identify and eliminate director involvement in 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 started without the debt. When this happens:
- employees lose wages, superannuation and entitlements
- suppliers \ sub-contractors are left unpaid
- other businesses are put at a competitive disadvantage
- community misses out on contributions to community services.
Who needs a director ID
You need a director ID if you’re an eligible officer of:
- a company, a registered Australian body or a registered foreign company under the Corporations Act 2001(Corporations Act)
You only need one director ID even if you are a director of other companies.
Only you can apply for your director ID.
People who need a director ID
People who don’t need a director ID
When you need to apply
When you apply for your director ID depends on the date you become a director.
Date you become a director: - Before 31 October 2021 - you must register by 30 November 2022
Date you become a director: - Between 1 November 2021 – 4 April 2022 – you must register within 28 days of appointment Date you become a director: - After 5 April 2022 - you must register before appointment.
