ID requirements

A certified copy of the client’s ID is required for Anti Money Laundering /  Counter-Terrorism Finance Act laws. This requires the accountant to certify a copy of the clients drivers license or passport [2] and uploading it into A.S.A.P.

An example of the wording that must be used by an Authorised Person [1] to certify the identification is:

“I certify that I have seen the original document and this copy is a complete and accurate copy that matches the name, address, and date of birth provided.”

Name:           ……………………………………………………………………

Address:         …………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………

Authorised Occupation*: …………………………………………………………………

Signature:    …………………………………………….……………………

Date:             ……………………………………………………………………

[2] The Authorised Person must be:

• A member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia, CPA Australia or the National Institute of Accountants with two or more years continuous membership, or
• A Justice of the Peace, or
• A notary public (for the purpose of statutory Declaration regulations 1993), or
• A Magistrate, or
• An agent of the Australian Postal Corporation who is in charge of an office supplying postal services to the public, or
• A permanent employee of the Australian Postal Corporation with two or more years of continuous service who is employed in an office supplying postal services to the public, or
• A legal practitioner enrolled on the role of the Supreme Court of a state or territory, or the High Court of Australia, or
• A Judge, registrar or deputy registrar of a court, or
• A chief executive officer of a Commonwealth Court, or
• A police officer, or
• An Australian consular officer or an Australian diplomatic officer (within the meaning of the Consular Fees Act 1955), or
• A finance company officer with two or more years of continuous years of service with one or more finance institutions (for the purpose of Statutory Declaration Regulations 1993), or
• An officer with, or authorised representative of, a holder of an Australian Financial Services Licence, having two or more year’s continuous service with one or more licensees.

[2] The allowable documents include one of the following:

• An Australian Drivers Licence that contains a photograph of the licence/permit holder, or
• An Australian Passport, or
• An identification card issued by a state or territory that contains the date of birth and a photograph of the card holder, or
• A current driver’s licence issued by a foreign country that contains a photograph of the person. A passport or other document of identity for the purpose of international travel that contains a photograph and signature of the passport holder and is issued by a foreign government, the UN or a UN agency and if written in a different language other than English, is accompanied by an English translation prepared by an accredited translator, or
• A national identification card that contains a photograph and signature of the card holder and issued by a foreign government, the UN or a UN agency and if written in a different language other than English, is accompanied by an English translation prepared by an accredited translator, or

If none of these are available, then contact A.S.A.P. to discuss the alternative requirements.