In the corporate sector there are a lot of numbers and acronyms used to identify organisations – ICN, ACN, ABN. There are also numbers to identify people who are directors of some organisations – director ID.
These numbers help people dealing with a corporation, company, business or directors to know the identity of who they’re dealing with. The numbers are a unique identifier.
Types of numbers and how they differ
An Indigenous Corporation Number (ICN) is a unique identifying number (up to 5 digits) issued by the Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations (ORIC) to an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation registered under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006.
An Australian Company Number (ACN) is a unique 9-digit identifying number that Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) issues to a company registered under the Corporations Act 2001.
An ICN is to be considered an equally acceptable identifying number for a corporation as an ACN.
Additionally, an organisation with an ICN or ACN may apply for an Australian Business Number (ABN). An ABN is a unique 11-digit identifier issued by the Australian Business Register (ABR). Not everyone has an ABN. You can apply for one if you’re running a business or enterprise. For more about ABNs see abr.gov.au.
If you want to become a director of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporation, you need to apply for a director identification number (director ID). To apply for your director ID you will need to verify your identity with the Registrar of the Australian Business Registry Services (ABRS). For more about director ID see abrs.gov.au/directorID.
Documents where the ICN must appear
A corporation's ICN must be on all 'public documents' and 'negotiable instruments'. Some examples of these items include:
- all documents lodged with ORIC
- statements of account, including invoices
- receipts (which are not machine-produced)
- orders for goods and services
- business letterheads
- official company notices
- cheques, promissory notes and bills of exchange.
A corporation’s name and ICN must appear on the first page of any documents.
When multiple corporations or companies are on a document (for example, a letterhead), the ICN or ACN for each organisation must be displayed next to each company's name.
The ICN must always be clear, easily readable, and obvious as to which corporation it belongs to.
The ICN can be referred to by the words 'Indigenous corporation number' or the abbreviation 'ICN'.
Places of business
If a corporation’s registered size is large it is required to have a registered office. The corporation must display its name and ICN prominently at its registered office and at every place the corporation carries on business if that place is open to the public.
Common seal
A common seal is the official stamp or ‘signature’ of an organisation. A corporation may have a common seal though it’s not compulsory. A corporation can still make contracts and execute documents without using a seal. If a corporation does have a common seal, it must include the corporation’s name and ICN.
Where the ICN is not required
The items on which the ICN is not required include:
- packaging and labelling, including envelopes and transport documents
- advertisements which do not make a specific offer (such as advertisements which only promote the corporation)
- credit cards and credit card vouchers
- machine-generated receipts, including cash-register receipts
- business cards and 'with compliments' slips, and other corporate stationery
- items which are not documents (for example, vehicles, television advertisements)