If You Are a Company Director, Then You'll Need a Director ID

From 1 November 2021, the Australian Business Registry Services (ABRS) requires that anyone who is a director or an alternate director, needs to have their individual director ID.

For existing company directors, you have until 30 November 2022 to apply for an ID.

If you become a director between 1 November 2021 and 4 April 2022, then you’ll have 28 days from date of appointment to apply for an ID. Anyone who is appointed a director from 5 April 2022 will need an ID before they can become a director.

There are a number of ways to apply for a ID.

Online Application

 This is the quickest way to get your ID and to apply this way, you’ll need:

1.  A myGovID;

2.  An Australian Tax File Number.

3. The residential address as recorded by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO); and

4.  Answer 2 questions based on details of:

• The bank account details where you received your tax refund, or where you earned interest over the last 2 years.

• The Notice of Assessment (NOA) issued by the ATO over the last 5 years, including the date of issue (dd/mm/yyyy) and the reference number;

• Your member number with your super fund, and your super fund’s ABN;

• Dividend statement from the last 2 years;

• A payment summary from Centrelink issued within the last 2 years.

• PAYG Payment Summary, or details of your gross salaries, in whole dollars, for the last 2 years.

Phone Application

To apply via phone, you’ll need:

1. An Australian Tax File Number.

2. The residential address as recorded by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO);

3. Answer 2 questions based on your personal details; and 

4. Two Australian identity documents, one primary and one secondary:

• Primary documents are:

  • Australian Birth Certificate;

  • Australian passport (including one that expired within the last 2 years);

  • Australian Citizenship Certificate;

  • Immicard;

  • Visa.

• Secondary documents are:

  • Medicare card

  • Australian driver’s licence or learner’s permit.

Paper Application

Along with the information required on the application form (available through the ABRS), you’ll also need to provide certified copies of 1 primary and 2 secondary identity documents, which are:

• Primary documents are:

  • Australian Birth Certificate;

  • Australian passport (including one that expired within the last 2 years);

  • Australian Citizenship Certificate;

  • Foreign passport.

• Secondary documents are:

  • Medicare card

  • Australian driver’s licence or learner’s permit.

If you have any questions regarding this requirement, please contact our friendly team at H&M Accountants. Unfortunately, we are not permitted to apply for the ID on your behalf.