Accountants, lawyers, real estate professionals - AML/CTF obligations begin from 1 July 2026. What will this mean for you? — Brown Wright Stein Lawyers | Sydney Lawyers - Tax Specialist Lawyers, Corporate & Commercial Lawyers..

Australia's Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing (AML/CTF) regime is expanding to capture a range of deemed 'high risk' professional services from 1 July 2026. Formerly, this regime was only applicable to businesses operating in the financial and gambling sectors. Now, accountants, lawyers and real estate professionals will be subject to the strict AML/CTF obligations designed to reduce the risk of money-laundering and terrorism-financing (ML/TF) occurring when providing certain professional services.

Professional Services - Who will be captured?

The professional services that will now be regulated are summarised below (each, a New Designated Service):

For each New Designated Service:

the service must be provided in the course of carrying on a business; and

there must be a 'geographical link' to Australia e.g. you provide a New Designated Service from a business premises in Australia.

If you provide a New Designated Service from 1 July 2026, you must comply with AML/CTF laws from this date.

Some exemptions apply e.g. many transactions undertaken pursuant to a court or tribunal order.

Key AML/CTF Obligations

From 1 July 2026, professional service firms that provide a New Designated Service must comply with following key obligations under the AML/CTF laws:

Practical Steps - What should you be doing now?

The table below outlines what you can do now if your business will be providing a New Designated Service from 1 July 2026:

How we can help

If you would like to discuss any New Designated Service or would like our assistance to prepare for the new AML/CTF regime, please contact Charles Cheah or Gena Kawaguchi from our Commercial team.

The material in this article was correct at the time of publication and has been prepared for information purposes only. It should not be taken to be specific advice or be used in decision-making. All readers are advised to undertake their own research or to seek professional advice to keep abreast of any reforms and developments in the law. Brown Wright Stein Lawyers excludes all liability relating to relying on the information and ideas contained in this article.