AUSTRAC mandates enrolment for newly regulated AML/CTF businesses by 29 July 2026
Newly regulated legal, accounting, conveyancing, real estate and precious-metals firms must enrol with AUSTRAC by 29 July 2026 or breach the new AML/CTF regime.
Change
From 1 July 2026, Australia's reformed AML/CTF laws extend to newly regulated 'tranche two' designated-service providers, who must enrol with the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) via AUSTRAC Online by 29 July 2026 and meet AML/CTF program, compliance-officer, training and suspicious-matter-reporting obligations from commencement.
Why it matters
Newly regulated businesses are bound to a fixed enrolment deadline of 29 July 2026, with obligations commencing 1 July 2026 rather than at enrolment. The in-scope class is defined by designated services — legal professionals, accountants, conveyancers, real estate professionals, and dealers in precious metals, stones or related products — not by entity size. From commencement, each must operate an AML/CTF program that identifies and manages its risks, have an appointed AML/CTF compliance officer, evidence staff training, and be able to lodge suspicious matter reports.
Implications
- — Applies if you provide designated services as a legal professional, accountant, conveyancer, real estate professional, or dealer in precious metals, stones or related products in Australia.
- — Compliance leads at newly regulated firms must complete AUSTRAC Online enrolment before 29 July 2026 — enrolment is a standalone statutory obligation separate from program readiness, and the window closes regardless of program maturity.
- — AML/CTF compliance officers at newly regulated firms must have a maintained AML/CTF program, an appointed compliance officer, evidenced staff training, and suspicious-matter-reporting capability in place by 1 July 2026 — obligations bind from commencement, not from the enrolment date.
Who is affected
- — Compliance leads at newly regulated Australian legal, accounting, and conveyancing practices
- — Compliance leads at newly regulated Australian real estate businesses
- — Compliance leads at newly regulated Australian dealers in precious metals, stones or related products
- — AML/CTF compliance officers at tranche-two designated-service providers
What to watch
- — 1 July 2026 — AML/CTF program, compliance-officer, training and suspicious-matter-reporting obligations take effect for newly regulated businesses.
- — 29 July 2026 — statutory deadline to complete AUSTRAC enrolment; non-enrolment is a breach.