How much does AML compliance cost in Australia?

It depends which line you mean. FreeAML has a $0 platform fee, $20 per individual KYC check, and $40 per entity KYB check. Consultants and subscriptions add setup or monthly floors. Client-pays can make your cash cost for a FreeAML check $0.

What does client-pays change in the TCO?

Your client pays the verification by card. You still own the program, the risk rating, and the record. You are not paying a monthly AML subscription for the privilege of passing a fee on.

Is the AML fee tax deductible?

Software and compliance costs are often ordinary business expenses. That is a tax question for your accountant, not a pricing promise.

Does a cheap check replace the program?

No. TCO includes the written program and risk assessment. FreeAML is the CDD evidence layer. Start from the Tranche 2 guide and the risk assessment flow.

AML Check Cost in Australia: $20 KYC, $40 KYB

Quick answer

AML compliance cost in Australia is a total cost of ownership problem, not a single software sticker. A consultant year can run into tens of thousands. A subscription still charges a monthly floor in a quiet month. FreeAML is $0 platform, $20 per KYC and $40 per KYB. With client-pays, your client's card covers that check and your firm's out-of-pocket for it can be $0.

Split the fee before you compare vendors

Four lines get mixed into one “AML cost”. Separate them or the TCO comparison is fiction.

Illustrative ranges, not a market survey. Confirm competitor list prices on their sites.

Cost line	What it is	Typical range	Client-pays
Program and risk assessment	Written program plus ML/TF risk work	$0 with your own draft, or $3,000–$10,000 with a consultant	Usually a firm cost
Customer due diligence	The check on a person or entity	FreeAML $20 KYC / $40 KYB; consultant checks often $200–$500	Yes on FreeAML — client card
Training and governance	Staff training, roles, review	Internal time, or external courses	Firm cost
Platform floor	Monthly subscription whether you check anyone	$0 on FreeAML; subscription tools often $179+ per month	Does not apply when the floor is $0

The per-check line is the one clients will see on a quote. Say whether it is a disbursement, a client-pays card charge, or a disclosed service fee. A fuller fee note for agencies is in AML fees for estate agents.

TCO by approach

Sketch for a firm that runs about 10 individual checks a month. Staff time is extra. Re-run the maths on your own volume before you buy.

Approach	Platform fee	Per check	Client-pays	Quiet-month TCO
Consultant	Project fees	Often $200–$500	Uncommon	High — setup does not shrink
Subscription software	Monthly floor (confirm live)	Often extra on top	Firm usually absorbs it	Floor still due
FreeAML	$0	$20 KYC / $40 KYB	Yes	$0 if your client pays the check
In-person identity visit	None	Often about $49 for identity only	Client attends	Identity, not a full CDD file

Client-pays column

On FreeAML you can send the check and the client pays by card. That is the difference between “$20 × volume” and “$0 out of pocket for that verification”. It is not a government fee and it is not an AUSTRAC invoice. Live figures stay on /pricing.

Worked TCO: firm pays vs client pays

FreeAML list prices only. Subscription totals need the vendor's current price.

Volume	Firm pays FreeAML	Client-pays (firm cash)	Subscription floor
5 KYC	$100	$0	Still the monthly fee
10 KYC + 2 KYB	$280	$0	Floor plus any per-check fees
20 KYC + 5 KYB	$600	$0	Floor plus any per-check fees

Client-pays does not delete your firm's other obligations: the program, the risk assessment, training, and the file. It deletes the software disbursement for that check. The pay-as-you-go explanation is in Pay-as-you-go AML and KYC.

Where a subscription can still cost less

At very high, steady volume a seat licence can beat a per-check price. Do the sum with your actual matters, including entity checks at $40, and include the months you will not be busy. Most Tranche 2 firms are not banks. The market map is in Best AML software in Australia and the EasyAML contrast is in FreeAML vs EasyAML.

What not to put in the TCO

Do not treat AUSTRAC enrolment as a software fee. Enrol on AUSTRAC's site.
Do not treat a policy template as customer due diligence. The check is a separate line.
Do not quote a single “industry standard AML fee”. Itemise vendor cost, staff time, and any service fee you add.
Do not assume client-pays is available on every competitor. Read their pricing page.

AML Compliance Cost in Australia (2026): Fees and Total Cost

Split the fee before you compare vendors

TCO by approach

Worked TCO: firm pays vs client pays

Where a subscription can still cost less

What not to put in the TCO

📚 Related Resources

Free KYC Check →

Free AML Program →

Risk Assessment Generator →

Free AML Training →

AUSTRAC Reporting Tools →

Frequently Asked Questions

Price the check, then decide who pays