Director Identification Numbers (Director IDs) are now active for company directors. This change affects the company directors of for-profit early childhood services, and of not-for-profit services structured as either companies limited by guarantee or as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporations.
Committee members of incorporated associations or co-operatives are generally excluded from the Director ID regime unless their body holds an Australian Registered Business Number (ARBN). People referred to as a ‘director’ such as Service Directors are also excluded unless they have been formally appointed as a company director under the Corporations Act or the CATSI Act.
Director IDs will act like a Tax File Number. Each company director will have a single, unique Director ID that will be connected to all companies for which they hold a directorship. The new measure is one of a suite of reforms designed to promote good corporate conduct and to deter and penalise illegal phoenixing of companies. Director IDs can be applied for online through a new government agency, Australian Business Registry Services (ABRS).
Existing company directors have until 30 November 2022 to obtain their Director ID. New company directors appointed before 4 April 2022 will have until 28 days after appointment to obtain their Director ID. From 5 April 2022, new company directors must have obtained their Director ID before appointment. Directors of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporations in place on or before 31 October 2022 have until 30 November 2023 to apply. New directors of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporations from 1 November 2022 must have applied before appointment as a director.
More information including a link to register for a Director ID are available at Director identification number | Australian Business Registry Services (ABRS).