Key Takeaways

In this guide

AUSTRAC Online outage — 27 to 30 March Key dates for Tranche 2 enrolment What do you need before you start? Step 1: Create your AUSTRAC Online account Step 2: Select your entity type Step 3: Enter your business details Step 4: Specify your designated services Step 5: Review and submit What happens after you enrol? What are the common mistakes to avoid?
AUSTRAC Online is currently unavailable. The portal is down from 8pm Friday 27 March to 11:59pm Monday 30 March 2026 (AEDT) as AUSTRAC rolls out the new Tranche 2 enrolment forms. You will not be able to log in or submit reports during this period. The new enrolment and registration forms will be available from Tuesday 31 March 2026.

Key Dates for Tranche 2 Enrolment

27–30 Mar 2026 AUSTRAC Online outage — new enrolment forms being deployed
31 Mar 2026 New enrolment forms go live — Tranche 2 entities can begin enrolling
1 Jul 2026 AML/CTF obligations commence — you must have an AML/CTF program in place
29 Jul 2026 Enrolment deadline — 28 days after starting to provide designated services

What Do You Need Before You Start?

Before you begin the AUSTRAC enrolment process, gather the following. AUSTRAC's before you start guidance is a useful companion. Having everything ready will save you from abandoning the form halfway through.

Enrolment Checklist

✓
ABN and ACN — your Australian Business Number and (if applicable) Australian Company Number
✓
Legal business name — exactly as registered with ASIC
✓
Principal place of business — your main Australian office address
✓
Registered office address — may differ from your principal place of business
✓
Website domain names — any websites used to provide designated services
✓
Approximate annual turnover — for the last financial year (affects levy calculations)
✓
Industry-specific numbers — AFSL, ACLN, or state licence numbers if applicable
✓
AML/CTF Compliance Officer details — name and contact details of your nominated officer
✓
Valid email address — for AUSTRAC account verification (must be accessible immediately)
✓
MFA device — multi-factor authentication is mandatory for new accounts

1 Create Your AUSTRAC Online Account

You don't jump straight into the enrolment form. First, you need a user account on the AUSTRAC Online (AO) portal.

  1. Go to online.austrac.gov.au
  2. Select "Sign up to enrol a new business"
  3. Enter your email address and create a password
  4. Set up multi-factor authentication (MFA) — this is now mandatory for all new AUSTRAC Online accounts
  5. Check your inbox and click the verification link sent by AUSTRAC
  6. Once verified, the enrolment form will unlock
Tip: Use a shared compliance email (e.g., compliance@yourbusiness.com.au) rather than a personal email. If your compliance officer changes, you won't lose access to your AUSTRAC account.

2 Select Your Entity Type

The new 2026 AUSTRAC Business Profile Form (ABPF) uses conditional logic — the questions you see depend on your entity type. You'll choose from:

For property developers using SPVs: Each Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) that provides designated services may need its own enrolment, unless you structure as a reporting group. See our Reporting Groups & SPVs guide before enrolling.

3 Enter Your Business Details

This section gathers the core details about your business. You'll need to provide:

Tip: Double-check your ABN against the Australian Business Register. A mismatch between your ABN and legal name will cause the form to reject your submission.

4 Specify Your Designated Services

This is the core of the Tranche 2 enrolment. You must select the specific designated services you provide from the updated list. Use AUSTRAC's eligibility checker to confirm which services apply. For property professionals, the key categories are:

Real Estate

Professional Services

Other Tranche 2 Services

AML/CTF Compliance Officer: You must provide the name and contact details of your designated Compliance Officer during this step. This person is responsible for overseeing your AML/CTF program. For most small agencies, this is the principal or office manager.

5 Review and Submit

Before finalising, the portal presents a Summary and Review page showing all the information you've entered.

  1. Review every field carefully — incorrect information can delay your enrolment or trigger AUSTRAC queries
  2. Tick the declaration — you must agree that the information provided is true and correct
  3. Click Submit
  4. The screen will display a Receipt Number (formatted like ATRC1001E-XXXXXX) — save this immediately
  5. An automated confirmation email will be sent with the receipt number and a link to download a PDF copy of your submitted form
Important: Download and save the PDF confirmation. You'll need proof of enrolment for your compliance records and potential AUSTRAC audits. Store it alongside your AML/CTF program documentation.

What Happens After You Enrol?

Enrolling with AUSTRAC is just the first step. Before your obligations commence on 1 July 2026, you must also complete several tasks outlined in AUSTRAC's reforms guidance:

  1. Conduct an ML/TF risk assessment — identify the money laundering and terrorism financing risks specific to your business
  2. Develop your AML/CTF program — a documented program tailored to your risk assessment, covering customer due diligence, transaction monitoring, and reporting procedures
  3. Appoint and register your AML/CTF Compliance Officer — if you haven't already done so during enrolment
  4. Train your team — all staff who provide designated services need AML/CTF awareness training
  5. Set up your CDD processes — customer identification, verification, and ongoing monitoring workflows
  6. Establish reporting procedures — for suspicious matter reports (SMRs), threshold transaction reports (TTRs), and IFTI reports
AMLTranche handles steps 1–6 for you. Our platform auto-generates your risk assessment, AML/CTF program, and CDD workflows — tailored to your specific business type. Most teams are operational in under an hour. Start free or book a demo.

What Are the Common Mistakes to Avoid?

1. Waiting until July. Enrolment opens 31 March but obligations start 1 July. That's only 3 months to enrol, build your AML/CTF program, train your team, and set up your processes. Start on day one.

2. Enrolling the wrong entity. If you operate through multiple entities (e.g., a trust structure with an SPV for each development), each entity that provides designated services may need separate enrolment — or you can apply as a reporting group.

3. Using a personal email for AUSTRAC Online. If the person who created the account leaves your business, you'll lose access. Use a role-based email address.

4. Not nominating a Compliance Officer. This is mandatory. Choose someone senior who understands your business operations and can make compliance decisions. They don't need formal qualifications, but they need authority.

5. Confusing enrolment with compliance. Enrolling with AUSTRAC does not make you compliant. You still need a risk assessment, an AML/CTF program, CDD processes, screening capabilities, and staff training before 1 July 2026.

6. Not saving your receipt number. Your AUSTRAC receipt number is proof of enrolment. Save the PDF confirmation and store it with your compliance documentation.

Enrolled with AUSTRAC? Now get compliant.

AMLTranche generates your risk assessment, AML/CTF program, and CDD workflows in under an hour. Purpose-built for Australian property professionals.

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Disclaimer: This article provides general information about AUSTRAC enrolment for Tranche 2 entities and does not constitute legal advice. The enrolment process described is based on AUSTRAC's published guidance as of March 2026. The actual portal experience may differ. Confirm your specific obligations with AUSTRAC or a qualified legal adviser. AMLTranche helps streamline your compliance workflows alongside your professional advisers.