Start here • AustraliaRead the New Zealand version

Does AML/CTF Apply to My Business in Australia?

Find out, in plain English, whether Australia’s AML/CTF rules may cover a service your business provides.

Prepared bySeamless AML
How this guide was researched and reviewed
On this page
  1. 2-minute checker
  2. Short answer
  3. Three simple checks
  4. Key words explained
  5. Who this applies to
  6. The detailed test
  7. Practical examples
  8. Common mistakes
  9. What to do now
  10. Common questions
  11. Official sources
Interactive screening toolAbout 2 minutes

Australia • AML/CTF

Check Whether AML Rules May Apply to Your Business.

Answer four short questions about one service or activity. You will get a simple result and links to the official information.

  • No contact details are required.
  • Your answers stay in this browser and are not saved.
  • You can repeat the check for another service line.

This tool gives general information, not legal advice. It cannot cover every service, rule, exemption or situation.

Short answer

The rules may apply if all three points below are true. The business provides a service named in the law. The service has a strong link to Australia. The service is part of running the business.

Your job title does not decide the answer. What you do for the customer does. The law calls a listed service a designated service.

At a glance

The Three Things to Check

  1. 1

    Is the service named in the law?

    The law lists work about money, property, virtual assets and gambling. It also lists some work done by lawyers, accountants and real estate agents.

  2. 2

    Is the service linked to Australia?

    Look at where the work is done, where the business runs and how its business group is set up.

  3. 3

    Is it part of running the business?

    A service can count even if you only provide it sometimes, for free or at a low price.

Plain English

Key Words Explained

You will see these words in the law and official guidance. Here is what they mean on this page.

AML/CTF
Rules that help stop money laundering and terrorism financing.
Designated service
A service listed in section 6 of the Australian AML/CTF Act.
Reporting entity
A person or business that must follow the AML/CTF rules for a designated service it provides.
Geographical link
The connection that a service must have with Australia before the Australian rules apply.
Permanent establishment
A place used to run the business, such as an office, branch or other business premises.

01

Who This Applies To

Use this guide if you are starting a business, adding a service or checking the rules that began on 1 July 2026.

  • Businesses and sole traders that provide financial, payment, remittance, virtual asset, bullion or gambling services.
  • Lawyers, accountants, conveyancers and trust or company service providers.
  • Real estate professionals and some property developers.
  • Some dealers in precious metals, stones or products.
  • Australian businesses working overseas and overseas businesses with Australian operations.

This is a screening guide. Close cases can turn on the exact service, customer, transaction, business structure and any applicable exemption.

02

The Detailed Test

Work through these steps in order. Write down the facts and the law or official guidance used for each answer.

  1. 01

    Check the service

    Start with what you actually do for the customer. Then compare it with the services listed in section 6 of the Act. The law calls these designated services. They include many financial, payment, virtual asset, gambling, real estate and professional services.

    Write down

    • What does the customer ask you to do?
    • What do you do, arrange or complete?
    • Does the law set a customer, value, payment or transaction condition?
  2. 02

    Check the link to Australia

    A service usually has the required geographical link when it is provided through an office, branch or other business place in Australia. Some services provided overseas by an Australian business or its foreign subsidiary can also count. Remittance networks have a separate rule.

    Write down

    • Where are the people who do the work?
    • Which office, branch or business systems are used?
    • Is the provider an Australian business or part of an Australian business group?
  3. 03

    Check how the service fits the business

    Ask whether the service forms part of running or helping the business. This is a broad test. A service can still count if it is only provided sometimes, for free or below cost.

    Write down

    • Is the service connected with the business’s work?
    • Is it offered to customers or delivered by staff?
    • Does it help the business, even when there is no separate fee?
If the answer is yes

If all three answers are yes, the business is likely to be a reporting entity for that service. Check for an exemption or changed rule before you rely on the answer. You may need to enrol with AUSTRAC. Remittance and virtual asset services may also need to register.

03

Practical Examples

These examples help identify the boundary. They do not replace the wording of the legislation.

Professional services

May be relevant when
Some work on transactions, client money, companies, trusts, nominees or registered offices may be a designated service.
Check the boundary
General advice, routine tax work, bookkeeping or audit work is not automatically covered on its own. Check the exact work.

Real estate

May be relevant when
Helping to sell, buy or transfer real estate may be covered. Some direct sales by property developers may also be covered.
Check the boundary
Property management, leasing and residential tenancy work are not automatically covered just because they involve property.

Precious products

May be relevant when
Some sales or purchases of precious metals, stones or products may be covered when the legal conditions are met.
Check the boundary
Not every jewellery sale is covered. Check the product, value, type of transaction and payment method.

Financial and virtual asset services

May be relevant when
Accounts, loans, payments, remittance, custody, exchange and transfers are some services that may be covered.
Check the boundary
The legal list is detailed. A similar name is not enough. The service must meet every required part of a listed item.

04

Common Mistakes

  • 01

    Deciding from the industry name instead of checking the service.

  • 02

    Looking at the service name but not what the business really does.

  • 03

    Ignoring a service because it is rare, free or cheap.

  • 04

    Looking only at the customer’s location.

  • 05

    Using old guidance from before the 1 July 2026 changes.

  • 06

    Treating an online checker as a final answer for a close or unusual case.

05

What to Do Now

  1. 01

    Write down every service the business provides or plans to provide.

  2. 02

    Match each service to the exact item in section 6 of the Act.

  3. 03

    Record why the service is, or is not, linked to Australia.

  4. 04

    Check current exemptions, changed rules and AUSTRAC guidance.

  5. 05

    Keep a short written note of the answer and the facts used.

  6. 06

    If the rules apply, enrol and set up the required AML/CTF systems and controls.

Use the print button at the top of this page to keep this action list with your scope record.

06

Common Questions

Short answers to the questions businesses ask most often.

Does AML/CTF apply to every accountant, lawyer or real estate agent?

No. The test looks at the service provided, not the job title. A business is generally covered only when it provides a designated service and the other legal tests are met.

What is a designated service?

It is a service listed in section 6 of the AML/CTF Act. The list includes many financial, payment, virtual asset, gambling, real estate and professional services.

Can a one-off or free service count?

Yes. A service may still be part of carrying on a business when it is rare, free or provided below cost. The full business context matters.

What if the customer is overseas?

An overseas customer does not decide the answer. Check where and how the service is provided, the business premises used and the provider’s group structure.

Can an exemption change the answer?

Yes. An exemption or modification can change how the rules apply. Check the current law and AUSTRAC guidance before relying on a result.

What happens if my business is covered?

You may need to enrol with AUSTRAC and put AML/CTF controls in place. These can include a risk assessment, program, compliance officer, customer checks, reporting and records.

07

Official Sources

The guide cites the following sources.

  1. Primary lawFederal Register of Legislation
    Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006

    Sections 5, 6, 21 and 26. Compilation current from 1 July 2026.

  2. Regulator guidanceAUSTRAC
    Who and what we regulate

    Activities-based reporting-entity test. Updated 10 July 2026.

  3. Regulator guidanceAUSTRAC
    Geographical link requirement

    Permanent-establishment and overseas-operations criteria. Updated 14 July 2026.

  4. Regulator toolAUSTRAC
    Check if you may be regulated

    Interactive starting point for checking common designated services.

  5. Regulator guidanceAUSTRAC
    Designated services for newly regulated entities

    Current sector guidance for the services regulated from 1 July 2026.

This guide provides general information. It is not legal advice and does not account for every exception, exemption or fact pattern.

Continue reading

Keep Going.

Need advice for your situation?

Turn the Guidance Into a Clear Next Step.

Tell us what your Australia business does and where the uncertainty sits. We will help you work out the practical AML/CTF response.

Tell us about your situation