AML/CTF Changes
Article 1: What's Changing and Why It Matters to You
We’re not asking for more paperwork because they want to. They’re asking because, from 1 July 2026, the law says they have to. Something significant is about to change in the way accounting practices across Australia operate — and whether you realise it or not, it’s going to affect you as a client.
From 1 July 2026, the Australian Government is bringing accountants, lawyers, real estate agents, and other professional services under the country’s anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CTF) laws. These professions are known as “gatekeeper professions” because the work they do — setting up companies, structuring trusts, facilitating property transactions — can be exploited by criminals to disguise the origins of dirty money.... read more
Article 2: Which Services Are Affected - And Which Aren't
Not everything we do is covered by the AML laws. Here'w how to tell the difference.
One of the most common questions clients are asking right now is: does this affect everything my accountant does for me? The answer is no. And understanding the distinction is the single most useful thing you can do to prepare for what’s coming.... read more
Article 3: What You’ll Experience as a Client
The process is straightforward, but there’s one thing you need to know — we can’t start the work until the checks are done.
Change is always easier to deal with when you know exactly what to expect. So here’s a straightforward walkthrough of what the new AML process will look and feel like from your side of the desk.... read more
Article 4: What Documents and Information Are Needed
Most of what’s required is information you already have — and in many cases, we may already have it on file. If there’s one thing that will determine whether the new AML process is quick and painless or slow and frustrating, it’s whether the necessary documents are available when the time comes.... read more
Article 5: Your Privacy, Reporting, and What Happens to Your Information
Everything we collect is protected by law. Here’s how — and the two reporting rules every client should know about.
When someone asks you for your passport, your residential address, your ownership details, and an explanation of where your money comes from, it’s natural to wonder: what happens to all of this information?.... read more
Article 6: A Guide by Business Structure — How the AML Changes Apply to You
The new AML requirements don’t affect every client the same way. Here’s what applies to your specific situation. The practical impact on you depends entirely on how your business or affairs are structured. This guide breaks down what the new AML checks mean for each type of client, what we’ll need, and what to watch out for.... read more
Article 7: Registered Office Clients — What It Means If We Provide Your Company’s Registered Address
If our office is your company’s registered address, here’s how the new AML rules apply to you. One of the most common arrangements in Australian business is for an accounting practice to provide their office address as the registered office for their clients’ companies. If you’re one of the many clients using our address in this way, the new AML/CTF rules are directly relevant to you.... read more
Article 8: Lost Trust Deeds — Why This Is Now a Problem and What You Can Do About It
If your trust deed has been lost, it’s no longer just an administrative inconvenience. Under the new AML rules, we may not be able to help you until it’s resolved.
Here’s a scenario that’s more common than most people realise. A family trust was set up twenty or thirty years ago. The original trust deed was signed, filed away somewhere, and hasn’t been seen since. The trust has operated perfectly well for decades — tax returns have been lodged, distributions made, assets held — all without anyone needing to produce the physical document. That changes from 1 July 2026.... read more
We’re not asking for more paperwork because they want to. They’re asking because, from 1 July 2026, the law says they have to. Something significant is about to change in the way accounting practices across Australia operate — and whether you realise it or not, it’s going to affect you as a client.
From 1 July 2026, the Australian Government is bringing accountants, lawyers, real estate agents, and other professional services under the country’s anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CTF) laws. These professions are known as “gatekeeper professions” because the work they do — setting up companies, structuring trusts, facilitating property transactions — can be exploited by criminals to disguise the origins of dirty money.... read more
Article 2: Which Services Are Affected - And Which Aren't
Not everything we do is covered by the AML laws. Here'w how to tell the difference.
One of the most common questions clients are asking right now is: does this affect everything my accountant does for me? The answer is no. And understanding the distinction is the single most useful thing you can do to prepare for what’s coming.... read more
Article 3: What You’ll Experience as a Client
The process is straightforward, but there’s one thing you need to know — we can’t start the work until the checks are done.
Change is always easier to deal with when you know exactly what to expect. So here’s a straightforward walkthrough of what the new AML process will look and feel like from your side of the desk.... read more
Article 4: What Documents and Information Are Needed
Most of what’s required is information you already have — and in many cases, we may already have it on file. If there’s one thing that will determine whether the new AML process is quick and painless or slow and frustrating, it’s whether the necessary documents are available when the time comes.... read more
Article 5: Your Privacy, Reporting, and What Happens to Your Information
Everything we collect is protected by law. Here’s how — and the two reporting rules every client should know about.
When someone asks you for your passport, your residential address, your ownership details, and an explanation of where your money comes from, it’s natural to wonder: what happens to all of this information?.... read more
Article 6: A Guide by Business Structure — How the AML Changes Apply to You
The new AML requirements don’t affect every client the same way. Here’s what applies to your specific situation. The practical impact on you depends entirely on how your business or affairs are structured. This guide breaks down what the new AML checks mean for each type of client, what we’ll need, and what to watch out for.... read more
Article 7: Registered Office Clients — What It Means If We Provide Your Company’s Registered Address
If our office is your company’s registered address, here’s how the new AML rules apply to you. One of the most common arrangements in Australian business is for an accounting practice to provide their office address as the registered office for their clients’ companies. If you’re one of the many clients using our address in this way, the new AML/CTF rules are directly relevant to you.... read more
Article 8: Lost Trust Deeds — Why This Is Now a Problem and What You Can Do About It
If your trust deed has been lost, it’s no longer just an administrative inconvenience. Under the new AML rules, we may not be able to help you until it’s resolved.
Here’s a scenario that’s more common than most people realise. A family trust was set up twenty or thirty years ago. The original trust deed was signed, filed away somewhere, and hasn’t been seen since. The trust has operated perfectly well for decades — tax returns have been lodged, distributions made, assets held — all without anyone needing to produce the physical document. That changes from 1 July 2026.... read more