FACT SHEET: AUSTRAC enrolment for real estate agencies

Anti‑Money Laundering and Counter‑Terrorism Financing (AML/CTF) obligations

Enrolments opened 31 March 2026

As AML/CTF reforms expand to include the property sector, real estate agencies who offer designated services must enrol with AUSTRAC by 29 July 2026. This fact sheet gives an overview of what you’ll need to do to complete your AUSTRAC enrolment.

What is AUSTRAC?

AUSTRAC (Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre) is Australia’s national regulator for anti‑money laundering and counter‑terrorism financing. It administers and enforces the Anti‑Money Laundering and Counter‑Terrorism Financing Act 2006 (Cth), working with businesses and government agencies to protect the integrity of Australia’s financial system.

AUSTRAC’s role includes:

• supervising and supporting business compliance with AML/CTF obligations
• identifying and disrupting money laundering, terrorism financing and other serious financial crime
• receiving and analysing transaction information from businesses that provide designated services
• sharing financial intelligence domestically and internationally through trusted global networks

Find out more about AUSTRAC here.

Who must enrol with AUSTRAC?

Businesses must enrol with AUSTRAC if you provide any designated services with a geographical link to Australia (this means you either have premises in Australia providing services to Australia, or you are based in Australia and providing services in foreign countries or through foreign entities).

For real estate agencies, this includes services such as:

• Buying or selling real property
• Acting as a buyer’s agent
• Providing property development services

Leasing and property management activities are not captured under these reforms.

You can check if you need to enrol with AUSTRAC here.

How to enrol

To begin enrolling your business, go to AUSTRAC online and select Sign Up to Enrol and New Business. More information on signing up is available here.

Once you have created a user account with AUSTRAC, return to the log in page and log in with the credentials you created.

By clicking Business in the left-hand menu, you can then select Enrol New Business to begin the enrolment process.

More information on enrolling is here.

Key information required by AUSTRAC

The AUSTRAC enrolment form will seek the following information from you:

1. Where you operate

You’ll be asked to confirm how your business is linked to Australia, including:

• Whether you provide services through a permanent establishment in Australia
• Whether you operate overseas but are an Australian resident entity

2. Business industry type

Select Property and Real Estate Services, then your business’s specific activity:

• Buyer’s Agent
• Real Estate Agent
• Property Developer

3. Designated services

You must identify which designated services you provide. For real estate, this includes:

• Sales, purchases or transfers of real estate
  (Brokered or non‑brokered)

Note: If you incidentally provide international funds transfers as part of another service, AUSTRAC may consider whether you also fall under remittance service requirements.

4. Business details

You’ll need to provide your:

• ABN / ACN / ARBN / ARSN
• Registered and trading business names
• Legal Entity Identifier (LEI), if applicable
• Website domain(s) used to provide services

5. Business structure

You must provide information about your structure, such as:

• Sole trader, partnership, trust, company or association
• Directors, partners, trustees, governing individuals
• Ultimate holding company, if relevant

6. Beneficial owners

AUSTRAC requires details of individuals who:

• Own 25% or more of the business (directly or indirectly), or
• Control decision‑making
  - For trusts, this includes trustees, appointors, and significant beneficiaries.

7. Business contact and operations

You will need to provide:

• Principal place of business
• Registered office (if different)
• Contact phone and email
• Number of full‑time equivalent staff
• Annual turnover

You’ll also need to provide details of a compliance officer

You must nominate an AML/CTF Compliance Officer, including their:

• Full name
• Position
• Contact details
  - You must appoint an AML/CTF Compliance Officer within 28 days of providing designated services and notify AUSTRAC within 14 days of the appointment.

8. Industry levy

You’ll be asked about:

• Total earnings in Australia
• Corporate group earnings (if applicable)
  - This determines your AUSTRAC annual industry levy.

More information about the enrolment questions is available here.

Enrolments opened 31 March 2026 and you must be enrolled by 29 July 2026.

Need help?

AUSTRAC Contact Centre
📞 1300 021 037
🌐 Online enquiries are available through AUSTRAC’s website.

Further information can be found on our AML/CTF information page.