Setting up · Director ID
Director ID: how to apply, penalties + timeline
Every Australian director needs a Director ID before appointment. It is free, the application takes under 10 minutes online with myGovID, and the same 15-digit number stays with you for life. Here is the procedural detail straight from the source — abrs.gov.au.
★Key takeaways
- ✓Director ID is a 15-digit identifier issued by the Australian Business Registry Services (ABRS).
- ✓Mandatory for every director appointed on or after 5 April 2022 — the ID must be held before appointment.
- ✓Free to apply via abrs.gov.au with myGovID. The full online application takes under 10 minutes.
- ✓Permanent and personal — the same number stays with you for every directorship, for life. Never apply for a second one.
- ✓Penalties: $13,200 individual, $66,000 body corporate; civil penalties up to 5,000 penalty units; indictable offences for repeated breaches.
- ✓Foreign directors must still hold a Director ID. Apply by paper if a myGovID is not available; allow 4 to 6 weeks.
Apply online
The application — step by step
- Set up myGovID at Standard or Strong strength. Download the myGovID app, verify two Australian identity documents (passport, driver licence, birth certificate, Medicare card, citizenship certificate, ImmiCard). Strong strength requires a face scan against your passport biometric. Free, takes 5 minutes if your documents are at hand.
- Gather your TFN + ATO verification data. You will be asked to verify your TFN, your residential address as held by the ATO, and answer two questions drawn from a Notice of Assessment, PAYG payment summary, bank account details from a tax return, super account details or a dividend statement.
- Go to abrs.gov.au/director-identification-number/apply-director-identification-number. Sign in with myGovID, complete the form.
- Receive your 15-digit Director ID instantly. Save it, share it with your tax agent and ASIC-registered agent, and store it with your business records. The number does not appear on the public ASIC register but ASIC may ask you for it.
If anything fails verification, the system falls back to a phone interview on 13 62 50, where an officer manually checks your identity against ATO records.
Timing
When you must apply
| Director status | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Existing director (appointed before 5 April 2022, Corporations Act) | Deadline closed 14 December 2022. Apply now if missed. |
| New director (appointed on or after 5 April 2022) | Before the appointment takes effect. |
| CATSI Act director (new appointments) | Before appointment (transition deadlines have closed). |
| Alternate director acting in capacity | Before stepping into the alternate role. |
| Foreign-resident director | Same rules apply. If myGovID is not available, paper application — allow 4 to 6 weeks. |
If you are setting up a new Pty Ltd, every proposed director must have a Director ID before ASIC will register the company.
Non-compliance
Penalties + offences
| Offence | Maximum penalty | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Failing to apply when required | 5,000 penalty units (~$1.565m individual) | Civil + criminal |
| Applying for more than one Director ID | 5,000 penalty units (~$1.565m individual) | Civil + criminal |
| Misrepresenting a Director ID | 5,000 penalty units (~$1.565m individual) | Civil + criminal |
| Late application (after 28 days for new appointments) | $13,200 individual / $66,000 body corporate | Criminal (summary) |
| Repeated breach (indictable) | Higher penalties + court conviction | Indictable |
Penalty units are indexed; current rate (from 1 July 2025) is $313 per penalty unit, putting 5,000 units at $1.565 million. ASIC has indicated a graduated enforcement approach — education and follow-up before prosecution — but the offence framework is in force. Source: ASIC penalty unit schedule + abrs.gov.au.
Why this regime exists
Director ID + the phoenixing problem
Director ID was introduced under the Modernising Business Registers program to combat illegal phoenix activity — where directors strip assets from a failing company, walk it into liquidation and continue trading through a new company. Before Director ID, a director could appear under variations of their name in the ASIC register, making it difficult to trace cross-company patterns. With a single permanent 15-digit identifier tied to verified ATO identity, every directorship a person has ever held is traceable.
For legitimate businesses the regime is essentially friction-free: a 10-minute online application, free, once in a lifetime. For ASIC and the ATO it materially strengthens enforcement against the small minority engaged in serial insolvency.
Primary sources
Where the figures on this page come from
- Director ID main page: abrs.gov.au/director-identification-number.
- Apply online: abrs.gov.au/director-identification-number/apply-director-identification-number.
- Penalties + offences: ASIC enforcement guidance.
- myGovID: mygovid.gov.au.
- Phoenix activity context: ATO Phoenix Taskforce briefings.
This page is general information, not legal advice. If you are unsure whether you need a Director ID, or whether you have an existing offence to remediate, speak with an Australian legal practitioner. See our disclaimer.
Common questions
Director ID — common questions
Who needs a Director ID?
Every director and every alternate director acting in that capacity. The requirement covers directors of companies registered under the Corporations Act 2001 (Pty Ltd, Ltd, public companies), Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporations under the CATSI Act, and corporate trustees of trusts and SMSFs. There are no exemptions — every director, including foreign directors, must have one. Source: abrs.gov.au.
When did Director ID become mandatory?
For directors appointed on or after 5 April 2022, the Director ID must be held before the appointment takes effect. Existing directors (appointed before 5 April 2022 and still acting on 31 October 2021) had a transition window which closed on 14 December 2022. New directors of CATSI Act corporations have separate transition dates. Source: abrs.gov.au/director-identification-number/when-apply.
How much does it cost?
Director ID is free. There is no government fee. Third-party services may offer to "help" file the application for a fee, but the process is straightforward and takes less than 10 minutes online with myGovID. Source: abrs.gov.au.
How do I apply?
Step 1: Set up a myGovID at Standard or Strong strength. Step 2: Go to abrs.gov.au and click "Apply for your director ID". Step 3: Verify your TFN, residential address held by the ATO and answer two questions from ATO records (a Notice of Assessment, PAYG payment summary, bank account details from a tax return, super account details or dividend statement). Step 4: Receive your 15-digit Director ID immediately on completion.
What if I cannot use myGovID?
Phone applications are available on 13 62 50 (within Australia) or +61 2 6216 3440 (overseas). Paper applications are accepted if neither online nor phone work for you. Foreign directors typically apply on paper because they cannot get a myGovID without an Australian identity document. Allow 4 to 6 weeks for paper applications.
What are the penalties for not having a Director ID?
Failing to apply when required, applying for more than one, misrepresenting a Director ID, and applying late are all civil and criminal offences under the Corporations Act 2001. Maximum civil penalty: 5,000 penalty units (currently $1.565 million for an individual, calculated on the penalty unit rate at the time of the offence). Maximum criminal penalty: $13,200 for an individual; $66,000 for a body corporate. Indictable offences apply where the conduct is repeated. Source: ASIC + abrs.gov.au.
Can I keep using the same Director ID for multiple companies?
Yes. The Director ID is permanent and applies to you personally. You apply once and use the same 15-digit number for every directorship you hold, including future appointments, with companies, CATSI corporations and corporate trustees alike. You must never apply for a second Director ID — duplicate applications are an offence.
What happens if I stop being a director?
Your Director ID remains active and tied to you for life. You can use it again if you take up another directorship. There is no annual renewal and no fee to maintain it. Source: abrs.gov.au.
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