Preparing for the changes as a current reporting entity
Learn what the changes to the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006 (AML/CTF Act) mean for current reporting entities.
On this page:
On 31 March 2026, reforms to the AML/CTF Act come into effect for current reporting entities. You can learn more about the reforms.
What the changes mean for you
For a summary of the changes to the new laws, see changes to obligations for current reporting entities. The reforms simplify and modernise the AML/CTF regime. This means they’ll help reduce some regulatory burdens on your business while enhancing your ability to prevent and detect financial crimes.
This includes changes to:
- the information you report to AUSTRAC and provide through the enrolment and registration process
- AML/CTF program and customer due diligence requirements
- the reporting of cross-border movement of bearer negotiable instruments
- introduce a new travel rule obligation for financial institutions, remittance service providers and virtual asset service providers.
These reformed obligations will apply to current reporting entities from 31 March 2026.
Key dates
2025
- August: AML/CTF Rules published
- October: Reforms guidance published
2026
- 31 March: Changes to obligations for current reporting entities and virtual assets service providers start
- Post-2026: International value transfer service (IVTS) reporting starts under transitional arrangements. IVTS was previously called international funds transfer instruction (IFTI) reporting.
We’re aware of the tight timeframes set by Parliament and the challenges this means for your business. We’ll continue to:
- work collaboratively with industry
- support reporting entities in preparing for the AML/CTF reforms.
What you can do now
To help navigate the changes, you can:
- understand our regulatory priorities for this financial year
- read the new reforms guidance and understand your obligations
- subscribe for updates on our education, events and guidance products
- continue to manage your current money laundering and terrorism financing controls
- develop and document implementation plans that manage your money laundering, terrorism financing and proliferation financing (ML/TF/PF) risks. You can do this while you transition your policies, procedures and systems to meet the obligations under the reformed AML/CTF Act
- show sustained effort and progress against your implementation plans
- continue to manage your ML/TF risks through the changes. This includes implementing any tactical improvements in the short term
- act now to review and strengthen existing frameworks, systems and processes for managing ML/TF risks.
Depending on how complex your business is, the legislative changes may need systems and training investment during the 2025-26 financial year.
Failure to manage your ML/TF risks is a serious regulatory concern now and when the AML/CTF reforms start in 2026.
Our support and guidance
We’re committed to supporting all reporting entities through:
- tailored guidance materials (to be published October 2025)
- industry engagement activities and educational material
- contact centre for any inquiries
Subscribe for updates
Want to stay up-to-date on AML/CTF reform? Subscribe for updates on consultations, guidance, education and events.
This guidance sets out how we interpret the Act, along with associated Rules and regulations. Australian courts are ultimately responsible for interpreting these laws and determining if any provisions of these laws are contravened.
The examples and scenarios in this guidance are meant to help explain our interpretation of these laws. They’re not exhaustive or meant to cover every possible scenario.
This guidance provides general information and isn't a substitute for legal advice. This guidance avoids legal language wherever possible and it might include generalisations about the application of the law. Some provisions of the law referred to have exceptions or important qualifications. In most cases your particular circumstances must be taken into account when determining how the law applies to you.