ASIC has handed out more than $40,000 in fines to directors who skipped the director ID requirement. Here is what the law requires and how to stay on the right side of it.
Adam Rana and Joseph Tarzia were convicted at the Downing Centre Local Court in Sydney on 19 May 2026 after ASIC prosecuted both for failing to hold a director identification number, a contravention of section 1272C(1) of the Corporations Act 2001. Both were convicted ex-parte and fined $10,000 each.
Rana is a director of four companies operating in the construction and civil works sector. Tarzia is a director of 27 companies, many of which operate in the construction industry. Both have until 16 June 2026 to apply to have their convictions set aside.
ASIC said the fines reflect the seriousness of the obligation and are intended as a deterrent to the broader director community. The regulator has now prosecuted 11 directors for the same offence, with total fines exceeding $40,000.
What a director ID is
A director ID is a unique identifier issued to a director after their identity has been verified through Australian Business Registry Services. It is designed to prevent the use of false or fraudulent director identities and to improve the ability to trace directors across companies.
The requirement was introduced in stages. Directors appointed before 1 November 2021 had until 30 November 2022 to apply. Those appointed for the first time between 1 November 2021 and 4 April 2022 had 28 days from their appointment to apply. From 5 April 2022, anyone intending to become a director for the first time must apply before being appointed.
The offence is one of strict liability, which means a director does not need to have intentionally avoided getting a director ID to be found guilty. If the ID is not in place, the offence has been committed. The current maximum penalty is 60 penalty units, which translates to a fine of $19,800.
That is the ceiling the court can impose. The $10,000 fines handed to Rana and Tarzia sit below that maximum but ASIC’s continued prosecutions signal the regulator is actively enforcing the requirement and is not treating it as a low priority.
What directors need to do
If you are a company director and have not yet applied for a director ID, you need to do so through Australian Business Registry Services at abrs.gov.au. The application requires identity verification and is free to complete.
If you are unsure whether you already have one or need to check your compliance status, the same registry is the place to start. Given ASIC’s stated intention to continue enforcement, there is no advantage in waiting.
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