AUSTRAC

What is AUSTRAC?

AUSTRAC, the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre, is Australia’s financial intelligence agency and the regulator for anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing. It supervises reporting entities, sets expectations for how they identify customers and manage risk, and collects reports such as suspicious matter reports and threshold transaction reports to trace financial crime. In practice, if your business provides a designated service, AUSTRAC is the body you enrol with, report to, and answer to on your AML/CTF controls.

Why it matters for Australian finance teams

AUSTRAC has real enforcement teeth, with large civil penalties imposed on businesses whose controls fell short. As AML/CTF reforms extend obligations to more sectors, finance teams that previously sat outside the regime are increasingly captured, making reliable customer identification and evidence of it a genuine compliance requirement rather than good practice alone. Being able to demonstrate who you verified, and when, is central to standing up to AUSTRAC scrutiny.

How ezyshield helps

ezyshield supports the identity and record-keeping expectations AUSTRAC-regulated entities must meet by confirming the person, the business via ABN and ASIC records, and bank account ownership before money moves, with re-verification when key details change. Each verification is recorded in an append-only audit trail, logged and never edited or deleted, so you have evidence to produce. ezyshield does not enrol you with AUSTRAC, lodge reports, or replace your obligations; it strengthens the verification layer that underpins them. See how it works and our guide to AUSTRAC compliance for payments in 2026.