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The government has introduced a new bill aimed at modernising business registers, alongside a legal framework for the introduction of director identification numbers.
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Business registers, director identification numbers changes tabled in Parliament
18 February 2019
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9 minute read
The Commonwealth Registers Bill 2019 will help modernise the administration of business registers, which at the moment is found in the Australian Business Register and 31 separate data holdings of ASIC.
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This legislation enables the Australian Business Register and the business registers administered by ASIC to be moved to modern registry platform that will be administered by the Australian Business Registrar within the ATO as announced in the 2018–19 budget.
The legislation allows the appointment of a registrar (or registrars), who will have the ongoing flexibility to adapt and respond to changes in technology to improve the user experience and simplify the way people interact with government business registers.
“By providing the registrar with added flexibility, the registrar can reduce red tape for business by lowering their reporting obligations,” said assistant treasurer Stuart Robert.
“This will implement a ‘tell us once’ for business interactions with the registry , reducing the frustration expressed by businesses in repeating themselves, reducing the time required to address their requirements by staff and enable more consistent services.”
The new bill will also introduce a director identification number (DIN) requirement, aimed at combating illegal phoenixing activity by providing traceability of a director’s relationships across companies, enabling better tracking of directors of failed companies and preventing the use of fictitious identities.
To date, current application to become a company director requires only a name, an address and a date of birth, with no requirement for a person to prove their identity.
The proposed DIN requirement will also reduce time and cost for administrators and liquidators during the insolvency process by providing a more streamlined tracking of directors and their corporate history.
Under the new requirements, new directors will have 28 days to apply for a DIN from the date they are appointed a director unless they are provided an exemption or extension by the registrar.
Directors that are currently in place will be afforded transitional provisions of 15 months to apply for a DIN from the application days of the new requirement.
Failure to comply with the DIN regime will see a maximum penalty of $200,000 for individuals or $1 million for a body corporate.
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