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ARTICLE · 14 DECEMBER 2022

Director Identification Numbers – Now in force

Pointon Partners
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Australian company directors are now required by law to apply for a director identification number.

AustraliaCorporate/Commercial Law
Michael Bishop
Michael Bishop
Jess Tomlinson
Jess Tomlinson
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Australian company directors are now required by law to apply for a director identification number ("director ID").

A director ID is a unique identifier given to an eligible officer who has verified their identified their identity with the Australian Business Registry Services ("ABRS"). The Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) defines an "eligible officer" to include "a director of a company, or of a body corporate that is a registered Australian body or registered foreign company, who:

  • is appointed to the position of director; or
  • is appointed to the position of an alternate director and is acting in that capacity".

A person will only ever have one director ID and directors will need to keep their director ID even if they cease to be a director, become a director of a different company, change their name or more interstate or overseas.

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