What triggers a TTR
Physical currency of A$10,000 or more received by the practice in the course of providing a designated service. The A$10,000 is in AU dollars; foreign-currency receipts are converted at the prevailing rate. The trigger is receipt of physical cash, not electronic funds.
TTR is rare in residential conveyancing and real estate because deposit funds almost always arrive electronically. TTR is more common in some accounting and TCSP scenarios where clients pay fees in cash. It is also possible in real estate when a buyer pays a cash deposit at exchange.
What the TTR contains
Conductor details (the person physically handing over the cash), customer details, transaction details, location, amount, currency, the designated service context, and the practice's contact details. AUSTRAC has a specific schema; the data fields are not optional.
Caltury's TTR workflow captures the transaction at the point of receipt, drafts the report in AUSTRAC schema, and tracks the 10-business-day clock. You review, sign and lodge in AUSTRAC Online.
Structuring and the related obligation
Watch for structuring patterns. Multiple sub-A$10,000 cash payments from the same customer in a short window can amount to structuring under s.142 of the Act. The TTR threshold is not the only consideration; structuring is a separate offence and may trigger an SMR under s.41.
Caltury's transaction-monitoring surface flags patterns of related sub-threshold payments across a customer's history and prompts review. The decision (SMR or not) sits with the named Compliance Officer; Caltury supports the analysis.
Common questions
If I receive A$10,000 in cash but in two visits from the same customer, is it a TTR?
Each cash receipt is assessed against the threshold. Two A$5,000 receipts may not each trigger a TTR but may collectively trigger a structuring review. Caltury surfaces the pattern; the Compliance Officer decides whether to lodge an SMR.
Does electronic transfer of A$10,000+ trigger a TTR?
No. TTR applies to physical currency only. Electronic transfers above thresholds are captured by other reporting regimes (banks' AML, IFTI for cross-border). Practice trust-account electronic receipts do not trigger TTR by themselves.
What if foreign cash totals A$10,000 when converted?
TTR threshold is in AU dollars. Foreign currency is converted at the prevailing rate. If A$10,000 or more, the TTR triggers.
Can Caltury lodge the TTR for me?
No. AUSTRAC Online accepts only the practice's own submission. Caltury produces the draft in the correct schema; the Compliance Officer reviews, signs and lodges.
This page is general information about Australian AML/CTF obligations. It is not legal advice. AUSTRAC has not reviewed this content. For situations specific to your practice consult an Australian-qualified lawyer or AML/CTF adviser.