InFocus October 2021 - Volume 30 Issue 8
- New ID requirement for directors
- We're still here to help
-
Fair Work Ombudsman - free webinar for culturally and linguistically diverse small business
New ID requirement for directors
From November 2021, company directors will need to verify their identity as part of a new director identification number (director ID) requirement.
A director ID is a unique identifier that a director will apply for once and keep forever.
This applies to directors if their organisation is a company, registered foreign company, registered Australian body or Indigenous corporation.
Directors must apply for their director ID themselves because they will need to verify their identity. No one can apply on their behalf.
The new Australian Business Registry Services (ABRS) is responsible for the implementation and administration of director ID. ASIC will be responsible for the enforcement of associated offences.
When fully established, the ABRS will bring together the Australian Business Register and over 30 ASIC registers. This work is being delivered under the government’s Modernising Business Registers program.
Visit the ABRS website for more information.
We're still here to help
As our Customer Contact Centre is located in regional Victoria, we are adhering to the recent COVID-19 restrictions. This is resulting in extended wait times for our phone enquiries. Customers are encouraged to contact us by asking a question online.
We appreciate your patience at this time and apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
To find out more, please visit our website.
Top tech tips for using our online services
Using our online services? Here are a few tips to help you save time.
Tip 1 - EDGE password resets
Edge is a system for large volume lodgers such as accountants or legal firms. From time to time, EDGE user accounts may become locked and require a manual password reset.
If this happens, you will need to contact us before you can successfully connect with the system again. When you contact us, we may set your password back to your EDGE ID.
An approved Digital Service Provider (DSP) or software provider is a person who has completed their application to access the ASIC Digital Services.
Your DSP may allow you to set your password to match the EDGE ID, which will allow you to log in again. They may also automatically change your EDGE password every 30-days in accordance with ASIC requirements.
For more information about our EDGE system, visit our website.
Tip 2 - Browser issues impacting lodgement
Sometimes, you may receive an error message of ‘404 file not received’ or ‘Null’ when completing a transaction.
Alternatively, you may not receive an error message, but incur other issues such as not being unable to progress to the next page.
If you encounter either of these issues, follow these steps:
Step 1. Clear your browser history, cookies and cache. If this is not cleared, the error may return for every future attempt.
Step 2. Close all browser windows, then open a new browser window and try again.
If the problem persists, we recommend trying another browser. Google Chrome, Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox are all compatible with our online services.
Tip 3 - ‘An error has been detected please contact ASIC’ message when registering a business name
This error can occur if you’ve entered numbers with spaces - such as the Australian Company Number (ACN) or Australian Business Number (ABN).
When entering numbers in an application, ensure there are no spaces. For example, you need to enter ‘123456789’ and not ‘123 456 789’.
To fix this error, save & exit the transaction before trying again. If you still experience issues, begin a new transaction.
For more helpful information about using our online services, visit our FAQs for online services.
Need support resources for your business?
With so much information available online it can be hard to know where to turn for business support. The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman’s (ASBFEO) My Business Health is here to help you face challenges and identify opportunities to grow your business.
Pulling together a range of resources, My Business Health gives you easy access to tools, templates and tips to manage stress and proactively engage with running your business.
Good business health supports good mental health, and we want to ensure that small business owners have the tools to manage the challenges so they can focus on enjoying their business.
Fair Work Ombudsman - free webinar for culturally and linguistically diverse small businesses
You are invited to register (and share this invitation) for the Fair Work Ombudsman’s (FWO) free webinar for culturally and linguistically diverse small businesses.
This webinar will take place on 28 October 2021 from 5pm to 6pm AEDT via GoToWebinar.
Covering workplace entitlements obligations including minimum wages, pay slips, record-keeping and the FWO’s free tools and resources - there will be plenty of opportunity to learn about your rights and obligations as an employer in Australian workplaces.
Have a burning question you’d like answered as part of this webinar? Submit your question during your registration sign up!
Links we like
- Beyond Blue’s NewAccess - A free and confidential mental health coaching program designed to support small business owner’s with the pressure of running a business and managing life pressures.
- Small Business Showcase – Provided by the Fair Work Ombudsman, learn about understanding workplace rights, obligations and other workplace related issues.
- Dispute support – An online referral tool making it easy to find tailored low-cost dispute resolution services to help you resolve business disputes. This service is provided by The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ASBFEO).