Suspicious matter reports (SMRs)
New AML/CTF reforms guidance has now been released. Until the laws change on 31 March 2026, we’ll maintain our guidance on existing obligations on these pages.
To understand your obligations from 31 March onwards, please refer to our reforms guidance.
If you suspect that a person or transaction is linked to a crime, you must submit a suspicious matter report (SMR) to AUSTRAC. SMRs help protect Australia against money laundering, terrorism financing and other serious and organised crime. They are also an important part of your AML/CTF reporting obligations.
This includes where you reasonably suspect a person is committing a crime, is not who they claim to be, or could be the victim of a crime.
The information generated from your SMRs plays a crucial role in identifying potential illegal activity and assists in the detection and prevention of the flow of illegal funds through Australia’s financial system. High-quality, accurate and timely SMRs give us the best chance to detect, deter and disrupt criminal and terrorist activity.
Timing is critical
Police rely on financial transaction information to track criminals and criminal activity. The timeliness of your SMRs is critical to protecting Australians from serious crime and terrorism.
You must submit an SMR to AUSTRAC:
- within 24 hours if the suspicion is related to terrorism financing
- within 3 business days if the suspicion is related to other matters such as money laundering
Learn more about your SMR reporting obligations and how to submit an SMR.
Disclosing information, including that you have submitted or are required to submit an SMR to AUSTRAC, may be tipping off. Tipping off is a criminal offence.
Find out more about tipping off.
Videos: Suspicious matter reporting
Discover why accurate and timely SMR reports are vital in our fight to combat serious crime and terrorism.
Extra help and guidance
For more information refer to our SMR guidance resources and SMR case study examples.
Full question-by-question instructions are available in the AUSTRAC publication ‘A guide to making a suspicious matter report (SMR)’ which can be downloaded from AUSTRAC Online.
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.