[REVISION HISTORY]

Global AML and CFT regulatory updates

11 recorded revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-10-31 16:45 UTC → 2026-10-31 19:42 UTC · added ~~removed~~

New anti-money laundering (AML) and countering financing of terrorism (CFT) regulations are being implemented in New Zealand and the European Union. In New Zealand, a tiered AML/CFT levy for the real estate sector was approved to come into force on October 8, 2026, applying to the financial year starting July 1, 2027. The Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ) noted that the structure includes exemptions for entities with less than $10 million in settled transactions to avoid placing an “unreasonable burden on smaller agencies”. For those above this threshold, the levy is set at $398 for transactions between $10 million and $50 million, and $769 for transactions exceeding $50 million. In the European Union, Regulation (EU) 2024/1624 will introduce a uniform €10,000 limit for cash payments in business transactions, effective July 10, 2027. This measure aims to unify customer identification and transaction monitoring to combat illegal money flows. The European Council notes that between €117 billion and €210 billion circulate annually through suspicious transactions, affecting approximately 70% of active criminal networks. To prevent evasion, the regulation prohibits splitting a single transaction into multiple smaller cash payments to stay under the threshold. While the €10,000 limit serves as a Union-wide maximum for goods and services, individual member states may maintain stricter thresholds. New details clarify that identity verification requirements for transactions exceeding €3,000 may apply regardless of the payment method, including card or bank transfers, in certain sectors such as real estate, art, and crypto-assets. In ~~these cases, customers may be required to provide full names, dates of birth, and potentially information regarding the source of funds. In~~ Austria, these rules will necessitate electronic transfers for business purchases exceeding the limit, though they do not apply to transactions between private individuals. In Sweden, the Riksbank has proposed a 10,000 SEK limit for cash transactions in retail to combat money laundering and tax evasion.

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