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Rules Mate

Received an AUSTRAC section 167 notice?

What the notice is, why AUSTRAC sent it, and the steps to take before the date it sets.

Short answer: Respond by the date in the notice

On 28 August 2026 AUSTRAC began issuing section 167 notices to businesses, including real estate agents, accountants, lawyers and jewellers, that appear to be providing designated services but have not enrolled. The notice requires you to give AUSTRAC the information it specifies, so AUSTRAC can work out whether you provide regulated services and are meeting your obligations.

What to do

  1. Diarise the response date in the notice and identify exactly what information it asks for.
  2. Work out whether your business provides a designated service, using the sector pages below. The obligation follows the service, not your job title.
  3. If you do provide one and are not enrolled, enrol now: each day providing a designated service while unenrolled can be a separate contravention (s 51B(2C)).
  4. Put the basics in place that AUSTRAC expects of newly regulated businesses: an AML/CTF program, a compliance officer, trained staff and the ability to report suspicious matters.
  5. Answer the notice accurately and completely; giving false or misleading information is a separate criminal offence (ss 136–137).
  6. If you conclude you do not provide a designated service, say so in the response and explain why, by reference to the designated-service tables in section 6 of the Act.
  7. Keep a copy of the notice, your response and the date you sent it with your compliance records.
  8. Get legal advice if you are unsure whether you are caught.

AUSTRAC's stated posture

AUSTRAC's CEO said when the notices began: "The time for preparation has passed." AUSTRAC has said enrolment is a key focus and that it will take early enforcement action against businesses that fail to enrol. It has also said contacting its Contact Centre for help (1300 021 037) is not a red flag.

Penalties for not enrolling

Infringement notice: $21,840 (company) or $4,368 (individual) per contravention. Civil penalty: up to $36.4M (body corporate) or $7.28M (individual) per contravention.

Check your AML/CTF programUpload the AML/CTF program you already have and get a gap score against the Tranche 2 requirements of the Act and Rules. Personal information is removed before analysis.Primary actionRun the compliance journeyAnswer a short questionnaire about your business and get the obligations that apply to you, with the reason each one applies.

Questions

What is an AUSTRAC section 167 notice?
A written notice requiring a business to give AUSTRAC specified information. Since 28 August 2026 AUSTRAC has used them to find out whether apparently unenrolled businesses provide designated services.
Does receiving a notice mean I am in breach?
No. It means AUSTRAC thinks you may provide designated services. Your obligation is to respond with the information requested, and to enrol if you are in fact providing a designated service.

Related

Sources

Computed by the Rules Mate applicability engine from the published obligation corpus; facts last checked 3 October 2026. Rules Mate is not a law firm and this is general information, not legal advice. Confirm your position with the regulator source or a qualified adviser before acting.