Missed the 29 July AUSTRAC Enrolment Deadline? What to Do Now

Is enrolment still open?

Yes. AUSTRAC's enrolment guidance remains live and sets out the same process it did before the deadline: create a user account in AUSTRAC Online, complete the enrol a new business form, and submit. The page states:

"You must apply to enrol no later than 28 days after the day you start providing a designated service."

The same page says AUSTRAC is "continuing to support businesses preparing for their new AML/CTF obligations" and publishes enrolment activity figures that it says will be updated regularly. In other words, AUSTRAC's own guidance treats enrolment as ongoing.

As of 2 August 2026, AUSTRAC has not published a media release announcing penalties for businesses that missed the 29 July date, and it has not announced any grace period either. This article only covers what AUSTRAC has published; if you are concerned about your position, speak to a qualified legal adviser.

Are you actually late? The 28-day rule

The 29 July 2026 deadline was not a universal date. It comes from the 28-day rule: businesses providing designated services on 1 July 2026, when the new obligations commenced, had 28 days from that date to apply.

If your business first provided a designated service after 1 July 2026, your deadline is 28 days after that first service. An agency that signed its first sales agency agreement in mid-July, for example, may still be inside its enrolment window. Check the date you first provided a designated service before assuming you are late.

How to check whether you are already enrolled

Straight from AUSTRAC's guidance:

• Try logging in to AUSTRAC Online. If your business has been providing designated services for some time, it may already have an account. Your username is usually your email address, and you can reset your password from the login screen.
• Look for the confirmation email. AUSTRAC sends a submission confirmation with a receipt number and AUSTRAC Account Number (AAN) when you submit the form, and a further confirmation email when you are enrolled.
• Contact AUSTRAC if you are unsure. If you think your business has an account but you cannot log in or reset the password, AUSTRAC asks you to contact them so they can verify your identity and organisation.

How to enrol now

The process is unchanged. In summary:

1. Create a user account in AUSTRAC Online.
2. Log in and open the enrol a new business form (the AUSTRAC Business Profile Form). You can save progress for up to 14 days.
3. Complete your business information, designated services and key personnel details.
4. Review and submit. You will receive a receipt number and your AUSTRAC Account Number.
5. Keep your details current: AUSTRAC requires enrolment details to be updated within 14 days of any change.

For the full walkthrough of every form section, see our step-by-step AUSTRAC enrolment guide or the detailed ABPF form walkthrough.

Where each sector stands

AUSTRAC publishes enrolment activity by industry and updates the table regularly. As of 30 July 2026 (source: AUSTRAC):

If your business is not among them, you are clearly not alone. That does not change the obligation, but it does mean AUSTRAC's stated focus right now is supporting businesses through enrolment and setup.

Enrolment is not compliance: what else applies

Enrolment puts your business on AUSTRAC's Reporting Entities Roll. The substantive obligations have applied since 1 July 2026 whether or not you have enrolled. Per AUSTRAC's 1 July announcement, newly regulated businesses must meet obligations including:

• implementing AML/CTF programs
• conducting customer due diligence
• reporting suspicious matters
• keeping relevant records.

If you are enrolling late, treat the program, CDD and screening setup with the same urgency as the form itself. AMLTranche generates an AUSTRAC-aligned AML/CTF program and runs CDD, sanctions screening and reporting workflows in one platform, so the catching up is measured in hours rather than weeks.

What comes next on the AUSTRAC calendar

• First annual compliance report. The reporting period is moving to financial years. The next reporting period is 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027, and reports are submitted within 3 months of the period ending, between 1 July and 30 September 2027 (source: AUSTRAC, annual compliance reports).
• First independent evaluation. For newly regulated businesses, the transitional rules stagger the first independent evaluation of your AML/CTF program based on the last two digits of your AUSTRAC Account Number: 30 June 2029, 31 December 2029, 30 June 2030 or 31 December 2030 (source: AUSTRAC, transitional rules).

Frequently asked questions

Is AUSTRAC enrolment still open after 29 July 2026?

Yes. AUSTRAC's enrolment guidance remains live and the AUSTRAC Online form is still available. The guidance states you must apply to enrol no later than 28 days after the day you start providing a designated service.

How do I know if I am already enrolled with AUSTRAC?

Try logging in to AUSTRAC Online; your username is usually your email address. AUSTRAC sends a confirmation email when your business is enrolled, and enrolled businesses are listed on AUSTRAC's Reporting Entities Roll. If you think your business has an account but cannot log in, contact AUSTRAC.

Was 29 July 2026 my deadline?

Only if you were providing designated services on 1 July 2026. If your business first provided a designated service after 1 July 2026, your deadline is 28 days after that first service.

Is there a penalty for enrolling late?

AUSTRAC's published guidance does not set out a specific penalty for enrolling after the deadline. Enrolment remains a legal requirement under the AML/CTF Act, and AUSTRAC's compliance and enforcement powers are described on its website. If you are concerned about your position, seek advice from a qualified legal adviser.

Disclaimer: This article provides general information and does not constitute legal advice. It is based on AUSTRAC's published guidance as of 2 August 2026, which may change. Confirm your specific obligations with AUSTRAC or a qualified legal adviser. AMLTranche helps streamline your compliance workflows alongside your professional advisers.