How to Check a Money Transfer Business With AUSTRAC

Before you hand money to anyone to send overseas, check that they're allowed to do it. In Australia that means checking AUSTRAC, the agency that regulates money transfer businesses under anti-money laundering law. It takes a couple of minutes and it's the single most useful check you can make.

This guide shows how to search the register, what the results mean, why providers ask for ID, what they report, and how to spot and report scams. Everything here comes from official Australian government pages. We checked every figure on this page on 29 October 2026.

RemitHome.net.au is an independent guide run by Dominet BV. We're not a bank or a money transfer business, we don't send money for anyone, and we're not registered with AUSTRAC because we don't provide remittance services. No link on this site is an affiliate link right now. If that changes, we'll say so in our affiliate disclosure, and it won't change what we write. This is general information, not financial or legal advice.

Who has to be registered

AUSTRAC says any business that provides designated remittance services must be registered with it. Moneysmart, run by ASIC, gives the same advice to people sending money: remittance providers must be registered with AUSTRAC.

AUSTRAC's overview, updated on 28 October 2026, describes three types of registration:

• Remittance network providers, which let affiliates use their brand, products, platforms or systems to provide remittance services.
• Affiliates of a remittance network provider, which have an agreement to use the network's brand or systems. The network provider usually registers them.
• Independent remittance dealers, which use their own products, platforms or systems and may run several branches.

Network providers and independent dealers must renew their registration every three years, and network providers must also renew their affiliates' registrations every three years. AUSTRAC also says financial institutions that transfer funds don't need to register as remittance providers. That's why you won't find your bank on the register.

How to search the Remittance Sector Register

1. Open the Remittance Sector Register.
2. Search by the business's legal name or trading name, using at least three characters. More characters give more accurate results, and AUSTRAC limits results to 200 records.
3. Or search by ACN, ABN or ARBN, entering the full number without spaces.
4. Check that the result's legal name, trading names and registered address match the business you're dealing with.

Searching by ABN avoids confusion between businesses with similar names. If a business won't tell you its legal name or ABN, treat that as a warning sign.

What a yellow icon means

AUSTRAC says an exclamation mark in a yellow circle next to a provider means conditions have been imposed on its registration. You can read the conditions in a PDF, although AUSTRAC says not all conditions are always published. Conditions don't necessarily mean you can't use the business, but read them before you do.

When the register might be out of date

AUSTRAC says there may be a delay between receiving new or changed details and publishing them. If a provider you've used before doesn't appear, ask it for its registered legal name and search again.

Checking a bank instead

Banks are regulated by APRA, the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority. APRA publishes a list of authorised deposit-taking institutions, updated on 15 October 2026. The list also has a separate section for providers of purchased payment facilities, so a business that isn't a bank may still appear there.

When AUSTRAC acts against a provider

AUSTRAC can refuse an application, and it can suspend, cancel or refuse to renew a registration if it thinks a business poses an unacceptable risk of money laundering, terrorism financing, people smuggling or other serious crime. It can also impose conditions.

AUSTRAC publishes a list of these decisions. As at 29 October 2026, the list showed 12 cancellations, 3 suspensions and 5 refusals to renew dated in 2026. If a business you're thinking of using appears there, read the notice and check its current status on the register before sending.

Unregistered operators

The registration rule covers informal services too. AUSTRAC says anyone who helps customers send money to someone in another location is probably providing a remittance service, even if only occasionally, and that this includes hawala. It calls operating unregistered a serious offence. AUSTRAC says running an unregistered remittance business can lead to a fine of up to $420,000, up to 7 years in prison, or both.

You can't rely on an unregistered operator if the money goes missing. You can report one to AUSTRAC through its online enquiry form, anonymously if you prefer, or call AUSTRAC on 1300 021 037.

Why you're asked for ID

AUSTRAC says a registered remittance provider will ask you to show ID, and that if a business doesn't ask, it probably isn't registered.

On its page for individuals, AUSTRAC says the ID needed depends on the business. Sometimes one photo ID, such as a driver's licence showing your full name, address and date of birth, is enough, and digital driver's licences are acceptable. Businesses may also ask where your money came from (source of funds) or how you built your wealth (source of wealth), even if you've been a customer for years. AUSTRAC says your information is protected under the Privacy Act 1988.

What providers report to AUSTRAC

Sending money overseas through a registered provider is legal and routine. Providers still report some transactions to AUSTRAC as part of their obligations:

• Threshold transaction reports. If you pay $10,000 or more in physical cash, the provider must report it within 10 business days. Electronic transfers, cheques and card payments don't trigger this report.
• International funds transfer instruction reports. Providers report instructions to send money into or out of Australia, within 10 business days. AUSTRAC says these reports continue under transitional rules until a new reporting system takes over, on or after 31 March 2029.

A report doesn't mean you've done anything wrong. But splitting cash payments into smaller amounts to avoid a threshold report, called structuring, is a criminal offence, even if the money itself is legitimate.

Carrying cash across the border

AUSTRAC's page on moving money says you don't need to declare money sent through a bank or money transfer business. You must declare physical cash or bearer negotiable instruments of $10,000 or more that you carry, mail or ship into or out of Australia. Splitting cash between family members to stay under the limit is illegal.

Scams to watch for

Moneysmart, citing the National Anti-Scam Centre, says Australians lost more than $837 million to investment scams and more than $166 million to payment redirection scams in 2025. Moneysmart's advice for avoiding scams is summed up in three words: Stop, Check, Protect.

Patterns to watch for when sending money overseas:

• Someone you've only met online asks for money. Scamwatch says never send money to someone you only know online.
• Someone asks you to move money for them. Scamwatch warns this may be money laundering.
• A message says bank details have changed. Confirm with the person on a number you already have.
• A rate that seems too good to be true, or a service that won't give you an ABN or ask for ID.

Moneysmart warns that once money is sent to a scammer, getting it back is almost impossible. If it happens, contact your bank or provider straight away, report it to Scamwatch, and contact IDCARE on 1800 595 160 if your identity details were shared.

If something goes wrong with a legitimate transfer

Contact the provider first. If you can't resolve it, AFCA, the Australian Financial Complaints Authority, may help if the business is an AFCA member. AFCA asks you to raise the problem with the firm first, and it can't consider complaints about firms that aren't members. AFCA says an online complaint takes about 30 to 50 minutes to complete. For the cost side of a dispute, our fees and exchange rate margins guide explains how to check what you were charged.

For other countries and the basics that apply to every transfer, see our guides home page.

Frequently asked questions

How do I check if a money transfer company is registered in Australia?

Search AUSTRAC's Remittance Sector Register by the business's legal name, trading name or ABN, and check that the details match.

Why isn't my bank on the AUSTRAC register?

AUSTRAC says financial institutions don't need to register as remittance providers. Check banks on APRA's list of authorised deposit-taking institutions.

Is it a red flag if a money transfer service doesn't ask for ID?

Yes. AUSTRAC says a registered provider will ask for ID, and if a business doesn't, it probably isn't registered.

Will sending more than $10,000 overseas get me in trouble?

No. Large transfers are legal. Providers report cash payments of $10,000 or more and international transfer instructions to AUSTRAC as a matter of course. Splitting cash to avoid a report is the offence.

Where do I report an unregistered money transfer business?

To AUSTRAC, through its online enquiry form or on 1300 021 037. You can report anonymously.

What should I do if I sent money to a scammer?

Contact your bank or provider immediately, report it to Scamwatch, and contact IDCARE on 1800 595 160 if you shared identity details.