Anti-Money Laundering & Counter-Terrorism Financing (AML/CTF)

At Freedom Taxation, we are committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity, professionalism and compliance.

As part of Australia's Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing (AML/CTF) framework, accounting firms may be required to undertake additional checks and collect information from clients to help prevent financial crime and ensure our services are not misused for illegal purposes.

We understand that some of these requirements may be new to our clients. Our aim is to make the process as straightforward and efficient as possible.

What This Means for You

As part of our client onboarding and ongoing relationship with you, we may need to:

• Verify your identity and the identity of relevant individuals.

• Confirm information about your business and its ownership and control.

• Understand the nature and purpose of our relationship with you.

• Request additional information or documentation where required.

• Periodically review and update your information.

The information we request will depend on your individual circumstances, the services we provide and our regulatory obligations.

Why Do We Need This Information?

These requirements are designed to help prevent professional services from being used for money laundering, terrorism financing and other financial crime.

By completing appropriate client due diligence, we can better understand who we are acting for, identify and manage potential risks, and meet our legal and professional obligations.

What You Can Expect from Us

We will aim to make the AML/CTF process as simple and efficient as possible.

We will:

✔ Protect your information

We will handle your personal and business information carefully and in accordance with our legal, professional and privacy obligations.

✔ Keep the process proportionate

The information and documentation we request will depend on your circumstances and the nature of the services we provide.

✔ Communicate clearly

If we need additional information from you, we will explain what is required and, where appropriate, why we need it.

✔ Keep information up to date

From time to time, we may ask you to confirm or update information we hold about you or your business.

Your Role

We ask that you provide accurate and complete information when requested and notify us if your circumstances or business details change.

Providing the information we require helps us meet our obligations and continue providing our services to you.

In some circumstances, if we are unable to obtain the information or documentation required, we may not be able to commence or continue providing certain services.

Confidentiality and Privacy

We take the confidentiality and security of your information seriously.

Information collected as part of our AML/CTF processes will be managed in accordance with our legal and professional obligations and our Privacy Policy.

In certain circumstances, we may be legally required to report information to regulatory or government authorities. Where applicable, laws may also restrict us from disclosing certain details about those reports or related investigations.

Questions About AML/CTF?

We appreciate that these requirements may raise questions, particularly if you are asked to provide information or documentation that we have not previously requested.

If you have any questions about our AML/CTF requirements or the information we need from you, please contact our team.