{"menuItems":[{"label":"Do I have to report large transfers into Australia?","anchorName":"#do-i-have-to-report-large-transfers-into-australia"},{"label":"Tax implications of large money transfers","anchorName":"#tax-implications-of-large-money-transfers"},{"label":"How to make a large international money transfer","anchorName":"#how-to-make-a-large-international-money-transfer"},{"label":"Services that can help with large transfers","anchorName":"#compare"},{"label":"Bringing money into Australia","anchorName":"#bringing-money-into-australia"},{"label":"Frequently asked questions","anchorName":"#frequently-asked-questions"}]}
Transferring money ahead of immigrating, selling a property or inheriting money from family overseas? Whatever your reasons for sending money to Australia, there's a lot to consider.
You can't avoid the laws and legal paperwork that go along with transferring large amounts of money. So before you move your cash into Australia, familiarise yourself with these laws and regulations.
Do I have to report large transfers into Australia?
If you're receiving more than AUD$10,000 or a foreign currency equivalent, this will need to be reported to the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC). This is to help reduce the risk of money laundering or terrorism financing.
Any amount of money transferred into Australia as international funds transfer instruction (IFTI) must have an IFTI-E report submitted within 10 business days. Some money transfer providers, which often solely send money between countries, sometimes have reporting thresholds as low as AUD$1,000.
Tax implications of large money transfers
Outside of large sums needing to be reported to AUSTRAC, you will also need to be aware of any tax implications of someone sending a large amount of money to you in Australia. Depending on the reason why it has been sent, then you may be on the hook for taxes regulated by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).
When might I need to pay taxes?
Whether or not you need to pay tax on money transferred from abroad will depend on the source of the funds. To help you out, we've broken these down into when a transfer is a taxable event and when it's not.
Taxable event
If your international money transfer involves any of the following, then chances are you will need to declare it.
Property investments. Payment received via money transfer for rental properties or property sales will have to be reported as foreign investment income.
Business transactions. You are obligated to pay tax on the income generated from your business overseas.
Employment income. The money you earn as an employee overseas will be taxed regardless of your status as full-time, part-time or other.
Pension or superannuation. Funds received as an overseas pension or superannuation are subject to tax and need to be declared on your tax return.
Non-taxable event
There are cases for bringing money into Australia without paying tax. The following large money transfers generally aren't subjected to tax:
One-time gift. Money transfers that are seen as one-off gifts or rewards won't be subject to gift tax. This includes if the gift money is part of a business-like activity or if it's related to how you earn income. If you decide to invest this gift money, the income it generates can be taxed.
Inheritance. If you're a beneficiary, you won't need to pay taxes on the inheritance money you receive from abroad. If you chose to invest this money, the interest earned may be taxable and should be reported on your tax.
Savings you bring into Australia when emigrating. If you're moving to Australia for the first time, and the amount is more than AUD$10,000 or a foreign equivalent, you'll still need to declare it to customs.
Just keep in mind, for the above non-taxable events, you will still need to check any local tax responsibilities in the country the transfer is being sent from.
If you have any confusion over whether your money transfer is taxable, it is best to speak to a tax professional to make sure you comply with Australia's taxation regulations.
What happens if I don't declare my taxable money transfer?
If you receive a taxable money transfer and choose not to pay the tax, then you risk fines and other penalties. More serious consequences include criminal convictions and even prison sentences.
Criminal convictions can affect your employment and ability to travel outside the country. So it is important to report any large money transfers on your annual tax returns to the Australian Taxation Office. If you have any doubts, speak to a tax professional for guidance.
What steps can I take to avoid legal or tax problems?
There are things you can do to make sure you avoid getting into any legal or tax difficulties. Here are some tips:
Record everything. The best way to protect yourself from legal issues is by providing records of each transaction to prove the source of your money. Remember, large money transfers that may be subjected to tax will be reviewed.
Seek professional advice. To avoid severe penalties that come with a failure to report large sums of money being brought into the country, speak with a professional to guarantee that everything is above board and complies with the laws of all countries involved.
Use a reputable money transfer provider. Take a look and compare our recommended money transfer providers. Reputable providers will abide by AUSTRAC regulations and obligations such as reporting their financial transactions and any suspicious activity.
How to make a large international money transfer
If you are looking to send a large amount of money to Australia, you'll typically find specialist international money transfer providers offer lower transaction fees and more competitive exchange rates. You can use our comparison table to compare our hand-picked list of specialists.
However, if you want to explore other ways of transferring a large amount internationally, take a look at our detailed guide which breaks down alternative options.
We update our data regularly, but information can change between updates. Confirm details with the provider you're interested in before making a decision.
There is no limit on the amount of money you can bring into Australia. However, if the combined value of cash in the local or foreign currency you are carrying is equivalent to AUD$10,000 or more, it needs to be declared.
There are two types of money you can bring into Australia: physical cash and bearer negotiable instruments (BNIs).
Physical currency
Cash can be declared when you enter Australia at the international airport or seaport. The declaration form only needs to be completed when the total cash value you bring into Australia exceeds AUD$9,999 - not counting BNIs.
BNIs
These are non-cash forms of money and include cheques, bearer bonds, money orders and promissory notes. Money items without an assigned value or a specified payee (like black cheques) are also considered BNIs. You only need to declare these if it is requested by customs.
Rules to be aware of
You could face penalties if you violate any of the following rules:
Children are not exempt from declaring money when necessary.
Travellers are allowed to carry money for someone else, but this must be declared. Personal information and details of who they are transporting the money for needs to be reported.
Splitting up a large amount across individuals within a group to avoid the AUD$10,000 cap, or "structuring", is illegal.
Frequently asked questions
Transfers above AUD$10,000 or a foreign currency equivalent need to be reported to AUSTRAC. Whether or not you will need to pay tax will depend on the source of the transfer. Taxable events include income from pensions or superannuation, overseas properties, offshore bank accounts or overseas employment.
As long as you use a legitimate money transfer provider, you won't need to provide any extra paperwork. The main legal considerations when sending large sums of money are the Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) laws, but your money transfer provider will look after the necessary documents when you submit your identification for processing.
As a good rule of thumb, keep all records and emails relating to the transfer in case you need them later.
Splitting your transaction into smaller amounts is referred to as "structuring", and when used to avoid the AUD$10,000 reporting threshold is considered an offence. Structuring is something money launderers do to avoid detection, but banks and money transfer services are trained to detect this and report it to AUSTRAC.
Amounts below AUD$10,000 are fine to bring into the country but if it's above AUD$10,000, you need to declare it to customs. While there is no limit to the amount you can bring in, it's an offence not to report it.
Kate Steere is a deputy editor at Finder, specialising in fintech, cryptocurrency and banking. She has previously written for The Motley Fool UK and Fitch Solutions, where she covered a wide range of personal finance topics and kept a close eye on market trends. Kate has a Bachelor of Arts in Modern History from the University of East Anglia. When not working, she can usually be found curled up with a good book or heading out for a run.
Minimum and maximum transaction limits can restrict your international money transfer options, so compare overseas transfer limits in this handy guide.
Hi, we are family of four 2 adults and 2 kids under 18. In regards to the money we can bring into Australia, Is the $10,000 cap for the whole family ‘or’ is this for individuals?
Thanks
According to Austrak, there is no limit to the amount of money that you can travel with. However amounts greater than $10,000 must be declared. Sharing cash or non-cash forms of money between travelling parties to avoid reporting obligations is called ‘structuring’ and it is against the law.
For example, a party of travellers, such as a family of four, might choose to break up a reportable amount of currency among themselves, so that each traveller is carrying less than $10,000. Austrac reports that if this involves, for example, a young child ‘carrying’ AUD9,950 across the border, it may be considered that the main purpose of dividing the cash among the party is to avoid the reporting requirement, and this would be against the law.
I have recently made money from crypto with a broker and am getting a bank transfer it is a sum of over 4m aud
Now I know I have to report it to the ato but which kind of legal advice should I take or would a tax accountant be the right avenue to go down ?
Because you’ll need to declare the investment return to the ATO, you’re best off speaking to an accountant in the first instance. We recommend you look for an accountant with cryptocurrency experience, as there are many complexities to navigate.
Hi,
If I sell my personal yacht in the Philippines, will I be taxed on the money if I send it all to Australia?
Is there anything I need to be aware of?
Hi Reece, We’re not permitted to give personal or taxation advice, so we’d suggest you contact a qualified accountant for some advice about your situation.
Hi, I will be paid my retirement fund from my current employer in South Africa. Once this money is received into my personal account, I would like to open an AUS bank account and transfer into it. We are emigrating in Nov. Is this ok to do? We are estimating approximately AUS$14,000. Will this be in order? If needed how do I report this to AUSTRAC from South Africa?
Thank you kindly
Regards
Robyn
Thank you for getting in touch. Yes, it is possible to transfer AUD$14,000 from South Africa to an Australian bank account. The most cost-effective way to do this would be to use a legitimate money transfer provider. The provider will also be responsible for submitting an International Electronic Funds Transfer Instructions Report (IFTI-E) to AUSTRAC. This applies to any amount over AUD$10,000 and should be submitted within 10 days of your transaction.
Please don’t hesitate to message us back if you have any more questions.
We have recently moved to Australia from the UK and looking to transfer more than AUD$10,000 in savings from our UK bank account to an Australian bank account.
In the section “Do I have to report large transfers into Australia” it suggests that this needs to be reported to AUSTRAC and an IFTI-E submitted. Am I correct in understanding that according to the FAQ question “Are there any forms or documents specific to sending large amounts of money into Australia” these forms are not needed if it’s done through a “legitimate money transfer provider” rather than a bank transfer?
Thank you for your question. If you are using a legitimate money transfer provider then the provider is responsible for submitting an International Electronic Funds Transfer Instructions Report (IFTI-E) to AUSTRAC. This should be submitted within 10 days of your transaction.
I hope this was helpful. Please don’t hesitate to message us back if you have more questions.
How likely would you be to recommend finder to a friend or colleague?
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Very UnlikelyExtremely Likely
Required
Thank you for your feedback.
Our goal is to create the best possible product, and your thoughts, ideas and suggestions play a major role in helping us identify opportunities to improve.
Important information about this website
finder.com.au is one of Australia's leading comparison websites. We are committed to our readers and stands by our editorial principles
We try to take an open and transparent approach and provide a broad-based comparison service. However, you should be aware that while we are an independently owned service, our comparison service does not include all providers or all products available in the market.
Some product issuers may provide products or offer services through multiple brands, associated companies or different labeling arrangements. This can make it difficult for consumers to compare alternatives or identify the companies behind the products. However, we aim to provide information to enable consumers to understand these issues.
We make money by featuring products on our site. Compensation received from the providers featured on our site can influence which products we write about as well as where and how products appear on our page, but the order or placement of these products does not influence our assessment or opinions of them, nor is it an endorsement or recommendation for them.
Products marked as 'Top Pick', 'Promoted' or 'Advertisement' are prominently displayed either as a result of a commercial advertising arrangement or to highlight a particular product, provider or feature. Finder may receive remuneration from the Provider if you click on the related link, purchase or enquire about the product. Finder's decision to show a 'promoted' product is neither a recommendation that the product is appropriate for you nor an indication that the product is the best in its category. We encourage you to use the tools and information we provide to compare your options.
Where our site links to particular products or displays 'Go to site' buttons, we may receive a commission, referral fee or payment when you click on those buttons or apply for a product. You can learn more about how we make money.
When products are grouped in a table or list, the order in which they are initially sorted may be influenced by a range of factors including price, fees and discounts; commercial partnerships; product features; and brand popularity. We provide tools so you can sort and filter these lists to highlight features that matter to you.
Please note that the information published on our site should not be construed as personal advice and does not consider your personal needs and circumstances. While our site will provide you with factual information and general advice to help you make better decisions, it isn't a substitute for professional advice. You should consider whether the products or services featured on our site are appropriate for your needs. If you're unsure about anything, seek professional advice before you apply for any product or commit to any plan and read any disclosure documents (such as any Target Market Determination (TMD) and/or Product Disclosure Statement (PDS)) issued by the provider before making a decision.
Providing or obtaining an estimated insurance quote through us does not guarantee you can get the insurance. Acceptance by insurance companies is based on things like occupation, health and lifestyle. By providing you with the ability to apply for a credit card or loan, we are not guaranteeing that your application will be approved. Your application for credit products is subject to the Provider's terms and conditions as well as their application and lending criteria.
Please read our website terms of use and privacy policy for more information about our services and our approach to privacy.
Hi, we are family of four 2 adults and 2 kids under 18. In regards to the money we can bring into Australia, Is the $10,000 cap for the whole family ‘or’ is this for individuals?
Thanks
Hi Vik,
According to Austrak, there is no limit to the amount of money that you can travel with. However amounts greater than $10,000 must be declared. Sharing cash or non-cash forms of money between travelling parties to avoid reporting obligations is called ‘structuring’ and it is against the law.
For example, a party of travellers, such as a family of four, might choose to break up a reportable amount of currency among themselves, so that each traveller is carrying less than $10,000. Austrac reports that if this involves, for example, a young child ‘carrying’ AUD9,950 across the border, it may be considered that the main purpose of dividing the cash among the party is to avoid the reporting requirement, and this would be against the law.
Hope this helps.
I have recently made money from crypto with a broker and am getting a bank transfer it is a sum of over 4m aud
Now I know I have to report it to the ato but which kind of legal advice should I take or would a tax accountant be the right avenue to go down ?
Hi Shaun,
Because you’ll need to declare the investment return to the ATO, you’re best off speaking to an accountant in the first instance. We recommend you look for an accountant with cryptocurrency experience, as there are many complexities to navigate.
Hope this helps!
Hi,
If I sell my personal yacht in the Philippines, will I be taxed on the money if I send it all to Australia?
Is there anything I need to be aware of?
Hi Reece, We’re not permitted to give personal or taxation advice, so we’d suggest you contact a qualified accountant for some advice about your situation.
All the best with your sale!
many thanks,
Sarah
Hi, I will be paid my retirement fund from my current employer in South Africa. Once this money is received into my personal account, I would like to open an AUS bank account and transfer into it. We are emigrating in Nov. Is this ok to do? We are estimating approximately AUS$14,000. Will this be in order? If needed how do I report this to AUSTRAC from South Africa?
Thank you kindly
Regards
Robyn
Hi Robyn,
Thank you for getting in touch. Yes, it is possible to transfer AUD$14,000 from South Africa to an Australian bank account. The most cost-effective way to do this would be to use a legitimate money transfer provider. The provider will also be responsible for submitting an International Electronic Funds Transfer Instructions Report (IFTI-E) to AUSTRAC. This applies to any amount over AUD$10,000 and should be submitted within 10 days of your transaction.
Please don’t hesitate to message us back if you have any more questions.
Best,
Kate
Hi,
We have recently moved to Australia from the UK and looking to transfer more than AUD$10,000 in savings from our UK bank account to an Australian bank account.
In the section “Do I have to report large transfers into Australia” it suggests that this needs to be reported to AUSTRAC and an IFTI-E submitted. Am I correct in understanding that according to the FAQ question “Are there any forms or documents specific to sending large amounts of money into Australia” these forms are not needed if it’s done through a “legitimate money transfer provider” rather than a bank transfer?
Many thanks
Hi Christiaan,
Thank you for your question. If you are using a legitimate money transfer provider then the provider is responsible for submitting an International Electronic Funds Transfer Instructions Report (IFTI-E) to AUSTRAC. This should be submitted within 10 days of your transaction.
I hope this was helpful. Please don’t hesitate to message us back if you have more questions.
Best,
Kate