Form · AML/CTF — the practice as a reporting entity
AUSTRAC suspicious matter report
Link to the AUSTRAC suspicious matter report lodged in AUSTRAC Online. The page states the suspicion test and the time to report.
- Kind
- Form. A form to complete, or a guide to completing an official one.
- Where it applies
- Commonwealth
- AI use
- Yellow You and the tool draft together, with you directing. You check every statement you rely on.
- Law stated as at
- 22 October 2026
- Status
- Maintained. Checked on 22 October 2026 against the official form at austrac.gov.au and the authority it cites, for Commonwealth.
- Version
- 1
- Source
- Link to the official form. Licence: © Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre. Link only: download the current form from the official page each time; do not copy or adapt it.
Where this comes from
The official form is published by austrac.gov.au; this page is a completion guide. Last checked on 2026-10-22.
When to use it
Use when a reporting entity, including a law practice that provides a designated service, has to submit a suspicious matter report. If all of the information making up the suspicion is privileged, the page says no report and no privilege form are required.
Used for these tasks
- Prepare the suspicious matter report
- Decide what may be said to the client once a suspicion is reported
Each task page says how far AI may help with the task and what the lawyer must review.
How AI may be used
Yellow. A tool may compare a working note with the current official form and list what is missing. The lawyer downloads the form, completes it and lodges it.
AI may
- List the facts and documents the official page says to have ready.
- Compare a working checklist with the current downloaded form and mark gaps.
- Prepare a filing note that quotes only what the official page says.
AI must not
- Do not copy the official form into a new document or file a retyped version.
- Do not invent a form number, fee, time limit or rule that is not on the official page.
- Do not draft, settle or sign an affidavit, statutory declaration or other sworn evidence.
- Do not lodge the form or tell the client it has been filed.
The lawyer checks
- Submit through AUSTRAC Online. The page says a report is required even if the offender or suspected victim cannot be identified.
- Terrorism financing: 24 hours after forming the suspicion. Other suspicions: 3 business days after the day the suspicion is formed.
- A privilege claim that is not about terrorism financing can extend that time to 5 business days. The privilege form is separate.
- Which report form to use depends on when the business enrolled. Read the transition section on the current page.
Method: how the Green, Yellow and Red levels are decided. This is guidance for planning, not legal advice.
Official form
Open the official form. Always use the current version from the issuer. Licence: © Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre. Link only: download the current form from the official page each time; do not copy or adapt it..
Read the full text
The full text is available after you log in. It is free. When you log in you can:
- read the whole precedent, with its drafting notes beside it;
- copy it, or download it as a Word file or Markdown;
- add it to your firm’s knowledge base, so colleagues can find it;
- let the AI tools you connect read it from that knowledge base.
The summary, the law it rests on and the AI-use guidance above stay public. Privacy.
More in AML/CTF — the practice as a reporting entity
- AML/CTF program for small legal practices: AUSTRAC legal profession starter kit adoption guide
- AUSTRAC enrolment form for a reporting entity
- Independent evaluation of the practice AML/CTF program
- ML/TF risk assessment record for a legal practice
- Designated services capture map and enrolment decision record (AML/CTF Act s 6(5B), table 6)
- Enhanced customer due diligence decision record
- First independent evaluation deadline for the practice
- Customer due diligence file index before the service starts
- Initial customer due diligence checklist for law practice designated services
- AUSTRAC legal professional privilege form for a report
- Legal profession AML/CTF program review triggers
- AI and automated tools in the AML/CTF program: control standard
- Deadline to notify AUSTRAC of the AML/CTF compliance officer
- AUSTRAC legal professional privilege form for a notice
- Tipping-off holding script for staff and the approved client note
- AML/CTF record retention schedule for the practice
- Suspicious matter escalation, reporting and legal professional privilege procedure
- Client letter: why we need to verify your identity (AML/CTF obligations)
All precedents for AML/CTF — the practice as a reporting entity · Tasks and AI use in this area