How to enrol with AUSTRAC as a real estate agency

As of 31 March 2026, AUSTRAC enrolment is open for real estate agencies. If your agency brokers the purchase, sale, or transfer of real estate in Australia, you are required to enrol. The deadline is 29 July 2026, and there is no advantage in waiting.

This guide walks you through exactly what to do: what you need before you start, the four steps to complete online, how AML Simple's ABN lookup cuts the preparation time, what happens after you enrol, and how to keep your details current once you're registered.

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Quick answer

Real estate agents enrol via AUSTRAC Online at connect.austrac.gov.au. You need your ABN, legal entity name, all trading names, your business addresses, designated service details (brokering property sales), and your compliance officer's contact information. The deadline is 29 July 2026. Enrolment takes 30–60 minutes. AML Simple's ABN lookup at /enrol pre-fills your entity name and trading names, so you can start with the right details already loaded.

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Key facts

1. AUSTRAC enrolment opened on 31 March 2026 for real estate agencies under the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Amendment Act 2024.
2. The deadline to complete enrolment is 29 July 2026, AUSTRAC has confirmed this will not be extended.
3. AML/CTF compliance obligations commence 1 July 2026, one month before the enrolment deadline.
4. The designated service requiring enrolment is: brokering the purchase, sale, or transfer of real estate for other people as part of a business.
5. Property management, leasing, and rental-only agencies are not designated services, they do not need to enrol.
6. You must update your AUSTRAC enrolment within 14 days of any change to your business details, compliance officer, or trading names.
7. Enrolment gives you an AUSTRAC reporting entity number, but you still need a completed AML/CTF program, risk assessment, trained staff, and CDD systems before 1 July 2026.
8. Using AML Simple's ABN lookup at /enrol, your entity name and ABN details pre-fill automatically, reducing the risk of errors in your enrolment form.

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Do you need to enrol?

You must enrol if your agency provides a designated service under the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006 (AML/CTF Act). For real estate, the designated service is:

Brokering the purchase, sale, or transfer of real estate for other people as part of a business.

This includes residential and commercial sales, buyer's agent services, and auctioneers handling property transactions.

If your agency operates across both sales and property management, the whole agency must enrol, you cannot separate out the management side.

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Key dates at a glance

AUSTRAC has confirmed it will not extend the 29 July deadline.

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What to have ready before you start

Enrolment is completed online via AUSTRAC Online, AUSTRAC's business portal. Before you begin, gather the following:

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Use AML Simple's ABN lookup to pre-fill your enrolment details

Before you open the AUSTRAC form, use AML Simple's free ABN lookup at /enrol.

Enter your Australian Business Number and the tool pulls your registered entity details, legal name, trading names, and ABN status, directly from the Australian Business Register. This gives you:

• Accurate entity name, exactly as registered, with no typos or formatting variations that could cause a mismatch with AUSTRAC
• All trading names, including ones you may have forgotten are registered under the ABN
• ABN status confirmation, confirms the ABN is active before you enter it into a government form

Once the ABN lookup returns your details, you can copy the verified information directly into the AUSTRAC Online enrolment form. This reduces the most common error in enrolment forms: trading name discrepancies between what you type and what is registered.

The ABN lookup is free and does not require a sign-in. Run it at /enrol before you open AUSTRAC Online.

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How to enrol with AUSTRAC as a real estate agency: step by step

Step 1, Go to AUSTRAC Online

Visit AUSTRAC Online and select the option to enrol a new business. You will need to create an account if you do not already have one. Use an email address that your agency actively monitors, AUSTRAC correspondence and compliance reminders will come through this channel.

Step 2, Complete the AUSTRAC Business Profile Form

The enrolment form asks for your business details, the designated services you provide, and information about key personnel. Work through each section carefully, the form auto-saves as you go.

The section on designated services is where most agencies hesitate. You are confirming that your business brokers the purchase, sale, or transfer of real estate for other people as part of a business. If your agency does this, even occasionally, tick the box. If you are genuinely unsure, consult a qualified AML/CTF professional before submitting.

For business name and ABN accuracy, use the verified details from AML Simple's ABN lookup at /enrol before completing this step.

Step 3, Add your compliance officer

You will be asked to provide the details of your AML/CTF Compliance Officer. This is the person at senior management level who is responsible for your AML/CTF program.

As a transitional arrangement for newly regulated Tranche 2 entities, you have until 29 July 2026 to formally notify AUSTRAC of your compliance officer, even if you enrol before that date. However, you should appoint someone as soon as possible. You cannot finalise or operate your AML/CTF program without a compliance officer in place, and your 1 July obligations start regardless of whether this notification has been submitted.

Step 4, Review and submit

Check all details carefully before submitting. Once submitted, AUSTRAC will process your enrolment and issue you an AUSTRAC reporting entity number. Keep a copy of your enrolment confirmation and the number, you will need the number for compliance officer notifications and for any future correspondence with AUSTRAC.

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After enrolment: what you still need to do

Enrolment registers your agency with AUSTRAC. It does not satisfy your compliance obligations. By 1 July 2026, your agency also needs:

These obligations are set by the AML/CTF Act and apply from 1 July 2026, whether or not your enrolment is complete. Enrolment is the administrative starting point, not the finish line.

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How to keep your enrolment current

Once enrolled, you are required to keep your AUSTRAC details accurate. The AML/CTF Act requires you to update your enrolment within 14 days of any change to:

• Your legal entity name or ABN
• Trading names under which you provide designated services
• Business or branch addresses
• Your compliance officer
• The designated services you provide
• Your primary contact details

Failure to update within 14 days is a breach of the Act in its own right, separate from any underlying compliance failure. Log updates via AUSTRAC Online using the same account you used to enrol.

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How AML Simple helps you prepare for enrolment and beyond

ABN lookup at /enrol

Before you open AUSTRAC Online, run AML Simple's free ABN lookup at /enrol. Enter your ABN and receive your registered entity name, trading names, and ABN status pulled directly from the Australian Business Register. Copy the verified details into your AUSTRAC enrolment form, no manual typing, no trading name discrepancies.

The ABN lookup is free, does not require sign-in, and takes less than a minute. It is the fastest way to make sure the details you enter into AUSTRAC are accurate.

Program and CDD tools

Once enrolled, you need an AML/CTF program, a risk assessment, and CDD systems in place before 1 July. AML Simple guides you through building all three:

• Program Generator, answers the right questions about your business and generates a program document consistent with the AUSTRAC Program Starter Kit structure
• CDD workflows, guided identity verification and screening flows for each client transaction
• Compliance dashboard, one place to track obligations, log actions, and store records for the required 7 years

See all features | View pricing from A$79/month

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FAQ

How do real estate agents enrol with AUSTRAC?

Real estate agents enrol via AUSTRAC Online at connect.austrac.gov.au. Create an account, complete the Business Profile Form, providing your ABN, legal entity name, trading names, designated services, business addresses, and compliance officer details, then submit online. AUSTRAC does not accept paper enrolment forms. The form auto-saves, so you can complete it across multiple sessions within 14 days. Before starting, use AML Simple's ABN lookup at /enrol to verify your registered entity name and trading names.

What is the AUSTRAC enrolment deadline for real estate 2026?

The deadline is 29 July 2026, set by the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006 as amended by the 2024 reforms. AUSTRAC has stated publicly it will not extend this deadline. Note that AML/CTF obligations themselves commence on 1 July 2026, one month before the enrolment deadline, so agencies should enrol well before July to ensure their program is operational by the obligation start date.

What do I need to enrol with AUSTRAC?

You need: your ABN (Australian Business Number), your legal entity name and all trading names, business address and branch addresses, confirmation that you provide a designated service (brokering the purchase, sale, or transfer of real estate), and the name and contact details of your AML/CTF Compliance Officer. If your compliance officer is not yet appointed, you can enrol using a primary contact and add the compliance officer before 29 July. Use AML Simple's ABN lookup to verify entity and trading name details before you start.

When did AUSTRAC enrolment open for real estate agents?

AUSTRAC enrolment opened for real estate agents on 31 March 2026. This date was set by the AML/CTF Amendment Act 2024, which expanded the AML/CTF framework to cover Tranche 2 entities including real estate agencies. The enrolment window runs from 31 March to 29 July 2026, approximately four months.

How long does AUSTRAC enrolment take?

AUSTRAC enrolment takes approximately 30–60 minutes if you have your documents ready. The main time cost is gathering your ABN, all trading names, branch addresses, and compliance officer details before you start. The form auto-saves, so you can spread the process over multiple sessions within 14 days. Using AML Simple's ABN lookup at /enrol to pre-verify your entity details reduces preparation time and minimises errors.

Does property management require AUSTRAC enrolment?

No. Property management, leasing, and rental-only activities are not designated services under the AML/CTF Act as amended by the 2024 reforms. The designated service requiring enrolment is specifically brokering the purchase, sale, or transfer of real estate for other people as part of a business. If your agency conducts both property management and sales, the whole agency must enrol because of the sales activity.

Can I enrol before I appoint a compliance officer?

Yes, under a transitional arrangement for Tranche 2 entities. You can complete enrolment and provide a primary contact rather than a formally notified compliance officer. However, you must notify AUSTRAC of your compliance officer by 29 July 2026, and you cannot build or operate an AML/CTF program without one. Appointment should happen as early as possible, the compliance officer needs to sign off on your risk assessment and program documentation before 1 July.

What happens after I enrol with AUSTRAC?

After enrolment you receive an AUSTRAC reporting entity number. You then need to: (1) appoint a compliance officer and notify AUSTRAC by 29 July; (2) complete an ML/TF risk assessment; (3) document your AML/CTF program; (4) train staff; and (5) have CDD systems operational from 1 July. Enrolment is the first administrative step, all substantive compliance work happens after it. AML Simple's program and CDD tools guide you through the post-enrolment build.

What is the penalty for missing the enrolment deadline?

Missing the 29 July 2026 enrolment deadline is a contravention of the AML/CTF Act. AUSTRAC's regulatory responses range from infringement notices and enforceable undertakings to civil penalties and, in serious cases, criminal prosecution. For body corporates, civil penalties can reach tens of millions of dollars per contravention. AUSTRAC has confirmed the deadline will not be extended.

What is the difference between AUSTRAC enrolment and AUSTRAC registration?

Enrolment applies to Tranche 2 entities including real estate agencies under the 2024 reforms. Registration applies to remittance dealers and digital currency exchange providers under the original AML/CTF framework. Real estate agencies enrol, they do not register. Both processes are completed via AUSTRAC Online, but the forms, requirements, and entity categories differ.

Do I need to update my AUSTRAC enrolment if my business changes?

Yes. The AML/CTF Act requires you to update your enrolment within 14 days of any change to your enrolled details, including trading names, addresses, compliance officer, or the designated services you provide. Failing to update within 14 days is a breach of the Act in its own right, separate from any other compliance failure.

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Where to get help

• AUSTRAC enrolment guidance: Enrol with AUSTRAC
• Transitional rules: AUSTRAC transitional rules update
• AUSTRAC Program Starter Kit for real estate: Download here

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Related reading

• AUSTRAC Tranche 2: the complete guide for real estate agencies, the complete pillar guide for this topic
• What AUSTRAC Tranche 2 means for real estate agents
• The July 2026 AML/CTF deadline: what real estate agents need to do now
• Understanding the AML/CTF Compliance Officer role
• Your AML/CTF program: a complete guide