Changes to transaction reporting from 1 July 2026

AUSTRAC has published guidance explaining changes to transaction reporting that took effect from 1 July 2026, as part of the broader reform of Australia's anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing regime. From that date, AUSTRAC introduced new threshold transaction report and suspicious matter report forms in AUSTRAC Online, designed to improve the quality of data collected and to streamline the reporting experience. The changes coincide with the expansion of AML/CTF obligations to newly regulated sectors, including legal services, accounting, real estate, conveyancing and dealers in precious metals and stones, whose reporting obligations also commenced on 1 July 2026.

Newly regulated businesses must use the new forms from the start of their obligations, while businesses that were already enrolled with AUSTRAC on or before 30 March 2026 may continue using the existing forms under transition arrangements until 30 March 2029 before moving to the new forms. There is no change to cross border movement or international funds transfer reporting requirements. Threshold transaction reports must be submitted for transfers of 10,000 dollars or more in physical currency, and suspicious matter reports must be submitted where a business forms a relevant suspicion about a transaction or customer.

The guidance is directly relevant to any business, including newly regulated legal and professional services firms, that handles cash or transfers of the kind that can trigger a threshold transaction report, or that identifies conduct requiring a suspicious matter report. Firms should confirm whether they are already enrolled, as this determines which set of forms and which transition timeframe applies to them.