Key takeaways
From 1 July 2027, companies must report director IDs to ASIC, and the public register will show compliance.
Director ID‑linked service addresses will replace residential address disclosure, improving director privacy.
Companies should confirm director ID status, audit officeholder records, and embed director ID collection into onboarding.
From 1 July 2027, companies will be legally required to report director identification numbers (director IDs) to ASIC, and the register itself will start reflecting who has, and hasn't, complied.
This forms part of a broader privacy-focused reform agenda following ASIC's restriction of public access to directors' residential addresses. A director ID-linked service address is anticipated to provide the long-term, permanent solution once the relevant provisions take effect in 2027. For directors who have expressed concern at having their home address recorded on a public register, this is likely to be regarded as a welcome development.
What is changing?
Currently, the Australian Business Registry Services (ABRS) issues and administers the director IDs, however this information is not linked to ASIC's companies register. From 1 July 2027, that changes. Companies will be required to provide director IDs to ASIC as part of standard registration and reporting, including when:
- registering a new company,
- notifying director appointments, cessations or changes, and
- the annual review process.
Over time, the public register will show whether a company has reported director IDs for its directors. Practically, this means most companies will need to have provided the 15-digit identifier to ASIC by around 30 June 2028, as annual review cycles catch up.
For directors already in office, the transitional arrangements are expected to require companies to lodge each director’s IDs either during the company’s annual review or within 28 days after the director’s personal details next change, whichever occurs first.
What should companies do now?
- Confirm director ID status: Directors can check whether they hold a director ID via the ABRS website. Where one has not yet been obtained, an application can also be made through the ABRS.
- Audit officeholder records: Confirm every current director is correctly listed and that their details are accurate.
- Build director ID collection into onboarding: For new appointments, companies should treat director ID verification as a precondition to appointment.