AML/CTF Reforms for Newly Regulated Businesses
Summary
AUSTRAC announced that new AML/CTF laws will take effect 1 July 2026, extending regulation to legal professionals, accountants, conveyancers, real estate professionals, and dealers in precious metals, stones and products. Affected businesses must enrol with AUSTRAC using new forms available from 31 March 2026. AUSTRAC has developed starter kits and resources to help newly regulated entities meet their compliance obligations.
What changed
AUSTRAC has published final notice that Australia's AML/CTF regime will expand from 1 July 2026 to cover five additional sectors previously outside regulation: legal professionals, accountants, conveyancers, real estate professionals, and dealers in precious metals, stones and products. The reforms aim to close exploitation gaps linked to financial crime costing up to $82 billion annually, including proceeds from illicit tobacco, environmental destruction, corruption, child exploitation and human trafficking.\n\nNewly regulated businesses must enrol with AUSTRAC using the new enrolment form available from 31 March 2026. Program starter kits and guidance documents are available to help small businesses understand and implement their obligations. Compliance is required from 1 July 2026. Businesses should assess whether they provide designated services, enrol promptly, and develop AML/CTF programs before the effective date.
What to do next
- Determine if your business provides designated services under the new AML/CTF laws
- Enrol with AUSTRAC using the new enrolment form available from 31 March 2026
- Develop and implement AML/CTF compliance program using available starter kits before 1 July 2026
Archived snapshot
Mar 30, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
From 1 July 2026, new anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CTF) laws will apply to designated services commonly provided by:
- legal professionals
- accountants
- conveyancers
- real estate professionals
- dealers in precious metals, stones and products. Check if you may be regulated.
Financial crime happens in Australia every day and it costs up to $82 billion a year. Much of the money being laundered through our systems is linked to harmful crime like illicit tobacco, environmental destruction, corruption, child exploitation and human trafficking. The reforms to the AML/CTF laws are designed to close gaps that criminals have been exploiting and to address the increasing sophistication of financial crime.
We know this is a big change, especially if AML/CTF regulation is new to your business. So, we’ve developed practical support, including program starter kits and clear guidance on enrolment, to make it easier to understand what you need to do and when.
Enrolment
If your business provides designated services that fall under the new laws, you need to enrol with AUSTRAC to meet your new reporting and compliance obligations. From 31 March 2026, we will have a new enrolment form for businesses on AUSTRAC Online.
We have information on our website to help you prepare for the new enrolment forms and you can preview the new enrolment form questions.
Program starter kits
The program starter kits are a comprehensive resource co-designed with industry peak bodies to help typical small businesses in newly regulated sectors to meet their AML/CTF obligations from 1 July.
Other resources
Below are other resources available to you:
- AML/CTF essentials checklist
- AML/CTF essential series on YouTube
- AML/CTF obligations factsheet for tranche 2
- Read more about our expectations Together, we can stop crime where it hides.
Need support
Learn more about how these reforms may affect your business and sector by visiting our reforms guidance hub.
If you need further support you can email contact@austrac.gov.au or call the Contact Centre on 1300 021 037.
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