AUSTRAC issues notices to non-enrolled businesses

AUSTRAC has begun issuing section 167 notices under the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006 to businesses that appear to be providing designated services without having enrolled with AUSTRAC. The notices require recipients to provide information to help AUSTRAC determine whether they are providing a regulated designated service and meeting their obligations under the AML/CTF Act. The action follows the expansion of the AML/CTF regime on 1 July 2026 to cover tens of thousands of additional businesses, commonly referred to as Tranche 2, including real estate agents, lawyers, accountants, conveyancers, trust and company service providers and dealers in precious stones and metals.

AUSTRAC Chief Executive Officer Brendan Thomas said enrolment is a legal obligation and a basic first step in managing the risk that criminals could use a business's services to move or hide illicit money. He said AUSTRAC had made clear in its outreach that enrolment would be an early focus of its compliance approach, and that the time for businesses to prepare had passed.

A section 167 notice is a formal, compulsory request for information rather than a finding of wrongdoing, and is commonly used by AUSTRAC to determine whether a business falls within the regime before deciding on further action. The notices were issued from late August 2026 to businesses identified through AUSTRAC's own monitoring as potentially providing designated services while unenrolled. Businesses that do not enrol or respond appropriately to a notice may face further compliance or enforcement steps.