How much will AML/CTF compliance cost your firm?
From 1 July 2026, Australia's AML/CTF Tranche 2 reforms brought ~90,000 lawyers, accountants, real estate agents, conveyancers and trust & company service providers under AUSTRAC regulation. Use the calculator below to estimate your upfront and ongoing compliance costs.
Upfront breakdown
Free — but mandatory (deadline for new entities was 29 July 2026)Free
$500–$2,000
$100–$800
$0–$500
Annual breakdown
~$59–300/month per vendor claims$708–$3,600
$100–$600
Periodic — amortised annually$800–$3,000
AUSTRAC reporting, record-keeping, SMR/ITR lodgement$500–$2,000
AML SaaS (KYC checks, program templates, reporting) — vendors advertise from ~$59/month.
The three questions firms ask
- Am I captured? Obligations apply when you provide a "designated service" — for lawyers this includes handling client money, trust transactions and conveyancing. See the Tranche 2 guide.
- What are the deadlines? New entities had to enrol with AUSTRAC by 29 July 2026. Transitional rules phase in obligations, with first extensions possible from 1 July 2029.
- What does it cost? Government analysis put average ongoing costs at ~$23,250/year per business; small firms under $200k turnover ~$4,040 upfront and ~$6,020/year. Software vendors claim paths from ~$59/month.
Compliance software options (2026)
Typical starting points — the right fit depends on your designated services and volume. Always confirm current pricing with vendors.
| Tool | Focus | From | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMLHUB | Australia | Custom pricing | Purpose-built AU AML/CTF compliance platform: program builder, workflow, training records. |
| EasYAML | Australia | ~$999/month (white-label) | AML/CTF program builder aimed at accountants and lawyers. |
| AMLSorted | Australia | From ~$99/month | Program templates + support for small Tranche 2 businesses. |
| Sumsub | Global | Pay-per-verification | KYC/AML verification — strong for high customer volumes. |
| AML Watcher | Global | From ~$59/month | Screening & monitoring; advertises partner pricing for AU firms. |
Some links on this page may be partner links in future — they never affect our estimates.
Frequently asked questions
When did Tranche 2 start?
1 July 2026, with enrolment due by 29 July 2026 for newly regulated entities.
Who has to comply?
Around 90,000 businesses: lawyers, accountants, bookkeepers, real estate agents, conveyancers, trust & company service providers and high-value dealers providing designated services.
How much does AML compliance cost?
Government analysis averages ~$23,250/year ongoing; firms under $200k turnover ~$4,040 upfront + $6,020/year. Software-first approaches can run lower.
Is AUSTRAC enrolment free?
Yes — enrolment itself is free. The costs are your AML program, KYC tooling, training and review.