Only days remaining: AUSTRAC enrolment deadline for professional services - 29 July 2026 — Brown Wright Stein Lawyers | Sydney Lawyers - Tax Specialist Lawyers, Corporate & Commercial Lawyers..

Australia's Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing (AML/CTF) reforms commenced on 1 July 2026 and have significantly expanded the range of businesses regulated by AUSTRAC. Many businesses providing legal, accounting, real estate, conveyancing, trust and company services are now required to comply with the AML/CTF regime. Businesses that provide designated services captured by the reforms must enrol with AUSTRAC by 29 July 2026.

Who must enrol?

Any business providing a designated service with a geographical link to Australia must enrol on AUSTRAC's Reporting Entities Roll. Newly regulated entities (e.g. professional services businesses) providing designated services from 1 July 2026 must apply to enrol by 29 July 2026.

Enrolment is separate from registration. Most lawyers, accountants and real estate professionals need only enrol. Additional registration requirements generally apply only to remittance service providers and certain virtual asset service providers.

How to enrol

You can enrol with AUSTRAC online via the AUSTRAC portal.

Before you enrol

AUSTRAC's enrolment process requires information including:

details of the designated services provided;
business structure information;
reporting group information (if applicable); and
AML/CTF compliance officer details.

Penalties for failing to enrol

Failure to enrol with AUSTRAC may expose a business to significant civil penalties. Civil penalties of up to 60 penalty units per day ($21,840) may apply while the contravention continues.

Other key AML/CTF obligations

Businesses should not delay enrolment while finalising their AML/CTF Program. Enrolment on the Reporting Entities Roll is a separate obligation and affected businesses should ensure they meet the 29 July 2026 deadline.

How we can help

We are assisting accounting firms, law firms and real estate professionals to:

determine whether they provide designated services;
complete AUSTRAC enrolment;
prepare AML/CTF Programs;
establish customer due diligence procedures;
appoint AML/CTF Compliance Officers;
develop staff training materials; and
undertake independent AML/CTF compliance reviews.

If you require assistance, please contact Charles Cheah or Gena Kawaguchi from our AML/CTF advisory 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.