Director Id

Please find the information handout from Australian Business Registry Services (ABRS) along with the webinar recording on Director ID regime

1. Webinar Recording

2. Director ID - Information handout from ABRS

What is a Director Identification Number (DIN)?

The Director Identification Number (Director ID / DIN) is a 15-digit unique identifier that a director will apply for once but will stay with a director for life, offering greater identity security. You will need a director identification number (Director ID / DIN) if you're a Director of a company or a corporate trustee of a self-managed super fund (SMSF) or a trust, registered Australian body, registered foreign company or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporation.

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. The objective of having a Director ID is to create a fairer business environment by helping prevent the use of false and fraudulent director identities. This will go a long way to better identifying and eliminating director involvement in unlawful activity.

How can we help you to update and store Director Ids?

• You can now add Director IDs to your Company Registration Order on our form. This will help you to update and store Director IDs for existing or newly appointed Directors while you register a new company. This field will remain optional during the transition period until 4th April 2022.
• The Director ID field is added on the Director / Shareholders Profile page. Along side is the presentation handout from the ATO for your ready reference.
• Any Director ID updated by you will be stored in our database and will help you save time by auto populating the Director information on the form during your next company registration for the same Director ID.
• Currently there is no accessible database to any parties by ABRS. Directors will need to apply for their Director ID themselves and during this phase, its their discretion to provide their Director ID number to you.

How and when to apply for Director ID / DIN?

Directors will be able to apply for a Director ID from 1 November 2021 on the new Australian Business Registry Services (ABRS) online at www.abrs.gov.au/director-identification-number/apply-director-identification-number and log in using the myGovID app to complete the application process. Furthermore, they will need to provide proof of identity documentation to verify their identity. A director can choose to provide their tax file number when applying for a DIN, which should expedite the application.

Directors will need to apply for their director ID by themselves to verify their identity. No one can apply for it on their behalf.

It’s free to apply.

When will directors need to apply?

Transitional arrangements will allow directors to become familiar with the new requirement. When you need to have a director ID will depend on when you were appointed as a director. The table below illustrates the same in detail.

How can agents assist their impacted clients?

As a trusted agent or adviser, you can provide assistance to your clients by guiding them on the verification and application process, including if your client is required to get a director ID.​ You can support your clients by:

• letting them know about the new requirement, when and how to apply
• ​Your clients will need a myGovID with a Standard or Strong identity strength to apply for a director ID online. If they don’t have the myGovID app they can set it up at www.mygovid.gov.au/setup
• They will also need to verify information held on their ATO record, such as a Notice of assessment. They may need your assistance with finding this information. Once they have this information, the online application is intuitive and takes less than 5 minutes. They will get their director ID instantly.
• They then need to give their director ID to the company secretary and their tax or ASIC agent.From 5 April 2022 all directors will need a director ID before they are appointed. We suggest you make this part of your checks when registering a company or appointing a director for your clients.

Why you need a director ID?

All directors are required by law to verify their identity with ABRS before receiving a director ID. This is important because it will help to:

• prevent the use of false or fraudulent director identities
• make it easier for external administrators and regulators to trace directors’ relationships with companies over time
• identify and eliminate director involvement in unlawful activity, such as illegal phoenix activity.

How will we use your Director ID / DIN?

You can store Director IDs for newly appointed or existing directors at the time you register a new company. So, the next time when you input the stored Director ID for registering a new company, our system will auto-prefill the Director's information associated with that Director ID making it easier and faster for you to register a company through us.