Important information: Financial Transaction Reports Act 1988 transitional reporting arrangements to cease

This is an important message from AUSTRAC for reporting entities to advise that from 26 March 2010, AUSTRAC Online will no longer provide the functionality for entities reporting under the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006 (AML/CTF Act) to submit suspect transaction reports or significant cash transaction reports using the Financial Transaction Reports Act 1988 (FTR Act) report formats.

Accordingly, all reporting entities must ensure that any outstanding suspect transaction reports or significant cash transaction reports required to be submitted under the FTR Act are submitted to AUSTRAC via AUSTRAC Online before 26 March 2010.

This includes any transaction reports that may be currently queued in an AUSTRAC Online user's 'incomplete' list.

Information for cash dealers with ongoing FTR Act obligations

Cash dealers, such as solicitors or motor vehicle dealers, with ongoing FTR Act obligations should continue to report to AUSTRAC as they have previously, as FTR Act reporting functionality for these entities is unchanged.

As announced by AUSTRAC on 28 January 2010, the transitional arrangements for the reporting of international funds transfer instructions have been extended to 11 September 2010.

Please contact the AUSTRAC Help Desk by email at help_desk@austrac.gov.au or telephone 1300 021 037 (a local call within Australia) for further information.

Using AUSTRAC Online

How to access AUSTRAC Online for businesses new to AUSTRAC

Select the SIGN UP button on the AUSTRAC Online login page and follow the instructions.

What is AUSTRAC Online?

AUSTRAC has created a new internet-based system called AUSTRAC Online. This system will run in conjunction with AUSTRAC's existing electronic reporting system, EDDSWeb.

AUSTRAC Online is designed to assist businesses with their regulatory and reporting obligations under the AML/CTF Act and the FTR Act.

AUSTRAC Online aims to:

• reduce the regulatory burden on industry through less paperwork and faster submission of transaction reports
• assist AUSTRAC to support industry by better understanding the regulated population
• enable regulated businesses to view and maintain their own information as held by AUSTRAC
• provide a secure system enabling the protection of confidential information
• allow for electronic submission of the AML/CTF compliance report.

Features included in the initial release of AUSTRAC Online will:

• streamline (automate) the introduction of new businesses, known as 'reporting entities', to AUSTRAC
• provide businesses with a tailored AML/CTF compliance report based on their business type or industry sector and the designated services they provide
• allow providers of designated remittance services to register, update their registered details or request removal from the register
• provide links to e-learning and AML/CTF-related news.

Who can use AUSTRAC Online?

AUSTRAC Online is available to all businesses with AML/CTF Act and/or FTR Act obligations. For further information about AUSTRAC Online, refer to AUSTRAC's brochure Getting started with AUSTRAC Online. For help regarding AUSTRAC Online, or your obligations under the AML/CTF and FTR Acts, contact the AUSTRAC Help Desk at help_desk@austrac.gov.au or phone 1300 021 037 (a local call within Australia).

AUSTRAC Online demo

For an overview of how using AUSTRAC Online can benefit you, please view the online demos available.

Getting started with AUSTRAC Online

View the 'Getting started with AUSTRAC Online' demo (Flash, 1.5MB)

AML/CTF compliance report

During the AML/CTF compliance report lodgement period, you will be able to create, complete and submit your AML/CTF compliance report via AUSTRAC Online. The creation process will tailor the report depending on such business details as your industry type, designated services offered and membership of a designated business group.

View the 'AML/CTF compliance report' demo (Flash, 1.5MB)

Add and edit user contacts

You can create edit and inactivate AUSTRAC Online users at any time by selecting the 'Contacts and Users' option from the 'My Business' menu.

View the 'Add and edit user contacts' (Flash, 1.2MB

How to update your designated services details

The term 'designated services' relates to the types of services your business provides as described in the AML/CTF Act.

View the 'How to update your designated services details' demo (Flash, 60KB)

How to update your business profile

'Business profile' contains your business's address and contact details and other administrative information such as business registration details, your business's industry type and when your business commenced operation.

View the 'How to update your business profile' (Flash, 1.5MB)

Regulatory profile

'Regulatory profile' contains details of your business's reporting obligations under the AML/CTF Act and FTR Act, and any exemptions applied for or active (past or present). These details are derived from your business details, designated services provided by your business, legislated exemptions and exemptions granted to your business by the AUSTRAC Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

View the 'Regulatory profile' demo (Flash, 1.3MB)