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March 30, 202612 min read

AUSTRAC Enrollment Form Guide: Every Question Explained

Complete walkthrough of the new AUSTRAC enrollment form. Every question explained with examples, common mistakes to avoid, and sector-specific guidance.

Deadline: March 31, 2026. All Tranche 2 businesses must be enrolled before this date. Criminal penalties apply from July 1, 2026.

Before You Start

Have these ready before accessing the enrollment form:

  • ✓ Australian Business Number (ABN)
  • ✓ Business name and trading names
  • ✓ Business structure (sole trader, partnership, company, trust)
  • ✓ All business addresses (physical + postal)
  • ✓ Director/partner details (full names, DOB, residential addresses)
  • ✓ Contact person details
  • ✓ Details of services you provide (which designated services)

Time required: 10-15 minutes if you have all information ready.

Section 1: Business Information

Q: Australian Business Number (ABN)

What they want: Your 11-digit ABN

Example: 12 345 678 901

Common mistake: Using ACN instead of ABN. If your business is a company, use the ABN (11 digits), not the ACN (9 digits).

Q: Business Structure

Options: Sole trader, Partnership, Company, Trust

Tip: Check your ABN lookup on abr.gov.au if unsure. Match it exactly.

Section 2: Designated Services

Critical section. Only select services you actually provide. Over-selecting creates unnecessary compliance burden.

Real Estate Agents:

☑ Property sales/leases (≥$10,000)

Accountants:

☑ Operating trust accounts, ☑ Buying/selling business entities, ☑ Formation agent

Lawyers:

☑ Trust accounts, ☑ Property settlements, ☑ Business entity sales

Precious Metal Dealers:

☑ Dealing in precious metals/stones

After Submission

What happens next:

  1. Confirmation email - Usually within 24 hours
  2. Enrollment number issued - Appears in AUSTRAC Online portal
  3. Public register updated - Your business appears on AUSTRAC's public register
  4. Annual obligations begin - You must file annual compliance report

Next steps after enrollment:

  1. 1. Create your AML/CTF Program (use our free generator)
  2. 2. Complete ML/TF Risk Assessment (use our free tool)
  3. 3. Train your team (free modules)
  4. 4. Start verifying clients (free tools)

Ready to Enroll?

Visit AUSTRAC Online to complete your enrollment. Then come back to FreeAML for 100% free compliance tools.

AUSTRAC enrollment is free. Compliance tools are free. Everything is free.