AML Compliance Cost for Accountants & Bookkeepers (2026)
Accountants were captured from 1 July 2026 alongside lawyers and real estate agents. Use the calculator below to estimate your costs, then check the triggers to confirm you're captured.
Estimated upfront cost
$600 – $3,300
Estimated annual ongoing
$2,108 – $9,200
Upfront breakdown
AUSTRAC enrolment
Free — but mandatory (deadline for new entities was 29 July 2026)Free
Free — but mandatory (deadline for new entities was 29 July 2026)Free
Program setup (software templates)
$500–$2,000
$500–$2,000
Staff training setup
$100–$800
$100–$800
KYC / ID-verification tool onboarding
$0–$500
$0–$500
Annual breakdown
Compliance software subscription
~$59–300/month per vendor claims$708–$3,600
~$59–300/month per vendor claims$708–$3,600
Ongoing staff training (refreshers)
$100–$600
$100–$600
Independent review (Part B, as required)
Periodic — amortised annually$800–$3,000
Periodic — amortised annually$800–$3,000
Internal compliance time
AUSTRAC reporting, record-keeping, SMR/ITR lodgement$500–$2,000
AUSTRAC reporting, record-keeping, SMR/ITR lodgement$500–$2,000
AML SaaS (KYC checks, program templates, reporting) — vendors advertise from ~$59/month.
What triggers AML obligations
- Providing trust account services for clients
- Company formation and ASIC registered agent work
- Acting as a nominee director or shareholder
- Paying or transferring money on behalf of clients
Sector specifics
- CPA Australia and CA ANZ have both published Tranche 2 guidance for members.
- Bookkeepers handling client funds are captured — it is the service, not the title, that triggers obligations.
- High-volume practices typically reduce per-customer KYC cost with software (from ~$59/month) rather than manual checks.
Full obligations and designated services: Tranche 2 guide.