Director ID scenarios
If you want to become a director or you’re already one, you'll need a director ID.
The below scenarios show when to apply.
Directors of registered companies or bodies
Directors of a company, registered Australian body or registered foreign company, appointed under the Corporations Act 2001, are now required to have a director ID.
Scenario 1: Louise, existing director
Louise has been a director of a registered company for many years and applied for and received her director ID.
Louise keeps it safe until she needs to use it.
She can share it with her:
- accountant
- company secretary
- ASIC-registered agent
- tax professional.
She doesn’t need to provide it to ASIC unless she’s asked to.
Louise’s company won’t be linked to her director ID in ABRS online yet. She doesn’t need to do anything else now. She will be notified if there are any changes that affect her.
Scenario 2: Romi, becoming a director of another company
Directors only need one director ID which they keep forever, even if they are appointed as a director of other companies.
Romi is a director and expects to be appointed as a director of another company in the next 3 months. When this happens, he doesn’t need to apply for another director ID because he already has one.
Scenario 3: Shira, resigned as a director
Shira held a director role before 31 October 2021 (before the director ID regime commenced). She resigned as a director and has not held any director roles from 1 December 2022. Shira doesn’t need to apply for a director ID. If she becomes a director again, she will need to apply for a director ID.
Scenario 4: Phil, newly appointed director without notice
Phil was elected director of his local leagues club at the annual general meeting. He didn’t know he would be appointed, so he didn’t apply for a director ID in advance. This means he now has a director ID obligation.
As soon as possible Phil needs to apply for a director ID. If he needs additional time to gather his documents, he can complete an application for an extension of time to apply for a director ID (NAT75390, PDF, 271KB).
Directors of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporations
For directors of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporation companies, who are appointed under the Corporations Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (CATSI) Act 2006, how and when you apply for your director ID depends on the date you become a director:
- before or on 31 October 2022 – apply by 30 November 2023
- from 1 November 2022 – apply before appointment.
Scenario 1: Kirra, existing director
Kirra was already a director before 31 October 2022. This means she has until 30 November 2023 to apply for her director ID.
Scenario 2: Jarrah, intending director
Jarrah expects to become a director of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporation. He must apply for his director ID before his appointment.
Scenario 3: James, existing director
James was already director of a company registered under the Corporations Act 2001 before 31 October 2022. He is also a director of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporation.
James needed to apply for his director ID by 30 November 2022, as the Corporations Act requirement precedes the CATSI Act requirement.
He only needs to apply for a director ID once.
If you intend to become a director
If you intend to become a director in the next 12 months, you can apply for a director ID now.
If the director ID is not used within 12 months of applying, the director ID number will be cancelled. You apply again for a director ID at any time and you’ll be issued with the same number.
The same director ID is associated with that person forever, even if they are no longer a director, change companies or move interstate or overseas.
Scenario 1: Yasu, intending director
Yasu is planning to be appointed a director for the first time in the next 6 months.
Yasu must apply for a director ID before being appointed a director. To be prepared, Yasu applies for a director ID. This can be done up to 12 months before becoming a director.
Scenario 2: Phil, newly appointed director without notice
Phil was elected director of his local leagues club at the Annual General Meeting after 5 April 2022. Phil has never been a director and didn’t know he would be appointed, so he didn’t apply for a director ID in advance. This means he’s hasn’t met his director ID obligation.
As soon as possible, Phil needs to: