Tranche 2 essentials
Tranche 2 key dates: 1 July and 1 October 2026
Every AML/CTF Tranche 2 deadline a small business needs: enrolment opening, the 1 July 2026 commencement, the 29 July 2026 enrolment cut-off, the compliance-officer notification rule, and where 1 October fits in — checked against AUSTRAC.
There are a handful of Tranche 2 dates, and missing one can itself be a contravention. Here's the complete, verified timeline for a newly regulated small business — plus a note on where "1 October" actually fits.
The full timeline
| Date | What it means | Who it applies to |
|---|---|---|
| 10 December 2024 | AML/CTF Amendment Act 2024 (No. 110) received Royal Assent | — |
| 31 March 2026 | AUSTRAC Online enrolment opened; you cannot enrol earlier | Newly regulated (Tranche 2) entities |
| 30 May 2026 | Existing reporting entities update enrolment + notify compliance officer | Existing entities only |
| 1 July 2026 | New AML/CTF obligations commence | Tranche 2 sectors |
| 29 July 2026 | Deadline to apply to enrol (28 days after commencement) | Tranche 2 entities |
| Later of 29 July 2026 or 14 days after enrolling | Deadline to notify AUSTRAC of your compliance officer | Tranche 2 entities |
Sources: AUSTRAC summary of obligations; AUSTRAC AML/CTF transitional rules 2026; AUSTRAC opens enrolment.
1 July 2026 — commencement (the real deadline)
This is the date your obligations switch on. AUSTRAC says your AML/CTF program and AML/CTF compliance officer must generally be in place before you provide a designated service — so for most Tranche 2 firms, the practical deadline to be ready is 1 July 2026, even though enrolment itself can be lodged later. Real estate agents, for example, must have a program in place before they broker a sale. (Source: AUSTRAC real estate designated services.)
29 July 2026 — enrolment cut-off
The general rule is: enrol no later than 28 days after the day you start providing a designated service. For entities commencing on 1 July 2026, that fixes the transitional deadline at 29 July 2026. Late enrolment is itself a contravention of the AML/CTF Act and can attract civil penalties. (Source: AUSTRAC — enrol with us (reform).)
The compliance-officer notification rule
You must notify AUSTRAC of your appointed AML/CTF compliance officer by the later of 29 July 2026 or 14 days after enrolling. AUSTRAC's worked example: if you enrol on 29 July 2026, you have until 12 August 2026 to notify. If you nominate your compliance officer on the enrolment form, that requirement is satisfied at submission. The compliance officer, senior manager and governing body can all be the same person in a small firm. (Source: AUSTRAC — AML/CTF compliance officer.)
Where "1 October" fits
You may have seen 1 October 2026 mentioned. It is not a Tranche 2 professional-services commencement date — the commencement for lawyers, accountants, conveyancers, real estate and precious-metals dealers is 1 July 2026. Different (earlier) tracks apply to virtual asset service providers and remittance providers, whose enrolment/registration timing differs from ordinary Tranche 2 professional-services businesses. If your business also touches crypto or remittance, treat those obligations separately and check the sector-specific AUSTRAC guidance. (Source: AUSTRAC — register as a remittance or virtual asset service provider.)
A note for existing reporting entities
If you were already regulated before Tranche 2, your dates are different: update your AUSTRAC Online details between 31 March and 30 May 2026, and note that the 3-year initial-CDD transition (31 March 2026 – 30 March 2029) applies to you — but not to newly regulated Tranche 2 newcomers.
Not sure which sectors are even captured? Start with AML/CTF Tranche 2 explained for small businesses, then check your services with Is my business an AUSTRAC reporting entity?
General information only. Dates reflect AUSTRAC guidance and transitional rules current to June 2026 and can change — confirm with AUSTRAC (austrac.gov.au) or a qualified adviser.
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