Director IDs and Your SMSF

If your SMSF uses a corporate trustee, every member needs a Director ID - and it must be in place before the fund is established.

A Director Identification Number (Director ID) is a unique 15-digit identifier issued to you personally by the Australian Business Registry Services (ABRS). You keep it for life, across every company you're ever a director of.

We establish every SMSF with a corporate trustee - a company that acts as trustee of the fund. It's the only structure we set up, and we'll talk you through the reasons before you sign anything. Because of that, each member of the fund is a director of that trustee company, and every director must hold their own Director ID before the company is registered.

We can't apply on your behalf - this is a personal identity step only you can complete. The good news: it's free, and for most people it takes about 15 minutes online. This page walks you through it.

Yes. The SMSFs we establish use a corporate trustee, so every member of your fund will need one.

Because superannuation law requires every member of an SMSF to be a director of the corporate trustee, every member needs a Director ID. That applies even if you never intend to be a director of any other company.

Since 5 April 2022, you must hold your Director ID before you're appointed as a director - which means before we register the trustee company. Getting yours sorted early is the single most common thing that keeps an establishment on schedule.

Do you need one?

Three steps.

1. Set up myID

myID is the Australian Government's digital identity app (renamed from myGovID in November 2024). It is not the same thing as your myGov account.

  • Download the app from the App Store or Google Play. Full setup instructions: https://www.myid.gov.au/how-to-set-up-myid

  • Follow the prompts to set up your identity to Standard strength, which is what's required to apply for a Director ID.

2. Verify your identity

You'll need to confirm who you are using two of the following: your Australian passport, driver licence or learner's permit, birth certificate, Medicare card, or Australian visa. Having your tax file number handy speeds things up.

Alternatively, log in to your myGov account, go to Profile > Digital Identity, and connect your myID there.

3. Apply through ABRS

Once your Director ID is issued, send it to us and we'll record it against your fund's establishment.

How to get your Director ID

Holding a Director ID is a legal obligation, and it's a strict-liability offence to be a director without one when required. ASIC has moved from education to active enforcement - in May 2026, two directors were each convicted and fined $10,000 for failing to hold one.

The maximum criminal penalty is currently $19,800, with civil penalties running much higher. Given the application is free and takes minutes, there's no reason to be caught out.

What happens if you don't?

Do all directors of the trustee company need one, or just one of us? Every director must obtain their own individual Director ID. For a two-member fund with a corporate trustee, that's two applications.

I already have a Director ID from another company. Do I need a new one for the SMSF? No. You have one Director ID for life, used across all your directorships. Just provide us the number you already hold.

Can CDI SMSF apply on my behalf? No. Because it's tied to your verified personal identity, you must apply yourself using myID. We'll guide you and record the number once it's issued.

Why is this required? Director IDs give regulators a permanent way to trace a person's directorships and help prevent illegal phoenix activity. More detail: https://www.abrs.gov.au/director-identification-number/about-director-id

Frequently asked questions