Skip to content
English - Australia
  • There are no suggestions because the search field is empty.

ACMA SMS Sender ID Register — What Your Business Needs to Do

From 1 July 2026, SMS messages sent with an unregistered alphanumeric Sender ID will display as "Unverified" to recipients or be blocked. This article explains what the Register is, what you need to check, and the approval step you must complete in the ACMA portal by early June 2026.

Important: Act by early June 2026 — registrations must be approved before 1 July 2026 or your SMS messages will display as "Unverified" to recipients.

Section 1 — What is the SMS Sender ID Register?

☐Understand the new requirement

A federal scheme to stop SMS scams that impersonate trusted brands

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has introduced the Telecommunications (SMS Sender ID Register) Industry Standard 2025 — a federal government initiative designed to eliminate SMS scams that impersonate trusted brands like banks, government agencies, and healthcare providers.

When you send SMS messages to Australian mobile numbers using an alphanumeric Sender ID (a branded name like "easyAML" instead of a phone number), that Sender ID must now be formally registered and verified with the ACMA. This applies to any business or organisation using branded SMS messaging in Australia.

Tip: A Sender ID is the name or number that appears at the top of an SMS message. If your clients see your business name rather than a mobile number when they receive an SMS from you — that's your alphanumeric Sender ID, and it must now be registered.

As your Anti-Money Laundering compliance provider, easyAML works with Scantek Solutions — an ACMA-certified telecommunications provider — to initiate registration requests on your behalf. Your participation is essential to complete the process.

Section 2 — Key dates and deadlines

☐Know the timeline

The Register opened on 30 November 2025 — enforcement begins 1 July 2026

  • 30 November 2025 — Register opens. Businesses and organisations became able to register Sender IDs via their approved telco.
  • Now → early June 2026 — Recommended cutoff. We recommend all clients complete their approval in the ACMA portal by early June 2026. This provides a buffer for any delays or additional information requests before the hard deadline.
  • 1 July 2026 — Hard deadline. Any SMS sent with an unregistered alphanumeric Sender ID will be automatically labelled "Unverified" or blocked entirely.
Critical: From 1 July 2026, SMS messages sent with an unregistered Sender ID will be flagged as "Unverified" and grouped in a separate inbox on recipient devices — or blocked altogether. This could seriously undermine client confidence in your VOI communications and disrupt your operations.
Good to know: Your communications are protected — easyAML is a registered fallback Sender ID. If your individual Sender ID registration cannot be submitted or approved in time, your SMS messages will automatically be sent from the verified, registered Sender ID easyAML — ensuring your communications continue to reach your clients without an "Unverified" label while the matter is resolved. We will work with you to transition to your own registered Sender ID as soon as possible.

Section 3 — ABR accuracy

☐Check your Australian Business Register details

The ACMA portal verifies you against your ABR record — outdated details will block your access

This is one of the most overlooked — and most critical — steps. To participate in the SMS Sender ID Register, your organisation must have an authorised contact listed and accurate on the Australian Business Register (ABR).

The ACMA portal uses your ABR authorised contact details to verify who can approve or action registration requests. If your ABR details are outdated — for example, a former director, a lapsed email address, or an old business address — you will be unable to access the ACMA portal to approve your Sender ID registration.

Important: Log in to abr.business.gov.au and verify that your authorised contact name, email address, and business details are current. This must be done before you can complete the ACMA portal approval step. Updating ABR details can take time, so do not leave this until the last minute.

Common issues that block portal access include:

  • Authorised contact is a former employee or director who has left the business
  • The registered email address is no longer monitored or accessible
  • Business address or entity name has changed and not been updated
  • ABN is registered under a holding entity rather than the trading entity

If you are unsure who your current ABR authorised contact is, your accountant, business registrant, or tax agent can usually assist with updating these details.

Section 4 — Your approval step in the ACMA portal

☐Approve your registration in ACMA Assist

Scantek Solutions initiates the registration — but only you can approve it. Neither easyAML nor Scantek Solutions can complete this step on your behalf.

  1. Scantek Solutions initiates the request. As an ACMA-certified telecommunications provider, Scantek Solutions submits your Sender ID registration request directly through the ACMA portal on easyAML's behalf.
  2. You receive an ACMA notification. The ACMA sends a notification to the authorised contact on your ABR record, directing you to the ACMA Assist portal to review the pending request.
  3. Log in to ACMA Assist and approve. Using your myGovID (linked to your ABN), log in to the ACMA Assist portal, locate your pending Sender ID application, review the details, and click Approve.
  4. Registration confirmed. Once approved, your Sender ID is registered and your SMS messages will continue to display your brand name to recipients after 1 July 2026.

What you need to log in to ACMA Assist:

  • myGovID — a personal digital identity credential linked to an individual's identity documents (driver's licence, passport, or Medicare card). Your ABR-listed authorised contact must set up their own myGovID with Standard or Strong identity strength at mygovid.gov.au. This is a personal credential — it cannot be set up on someone else's behalf.
  • Relationship Authorisation Manager (RAM) — once myGovID is set up, your authorised contact must link it to your business ABN via RAM at authorisationmanager.gov.au. This establishes their authority to act on behalf of your organisation in government online services, including ACMA Assist. Without this step, they will not be recognised as an authorised representative even with a valid myGovID.
Good to know: For most businesses, this is already done. myGovID and RAM are required for ATO Online Services, superannuation management, and most other government business services — so if your team already uses these, you're likely set to go.
Tip: Don't wait for the notification. If you have not heard from us yet about your specific Sender ID, please contact your easyAML account manager. We want to ensure all clients are registered well before the early June recommended cutoff.

Section 5 — Client action checklist

☐Verify your ABR authorised contact details
 Log in to abr.business.gov.au and confirm your contact name, email, and entity details are current.

☐Set up or verify myGovID
 Ensure your authorised contact has a myGovID with Standard or Strong identity strength at  mygovid.gov.au.

☐Link myGovID to your ABN via RAM
 Visit authorisationmanager.gov.au to ensure your myGovID is linked to your business ABN.

☐Watch for the ACMA Assist notification
 Once Scantek Solutions initiates your registration on easyAML's behalf, you'll receive an email from the ACMA directing you to approve in the ACMA Assist portal.

☐Log in to ACMA Assist and approve your registration
 Complete this step by early June 2026 at the latest. Do not delay once you receive the notification.

☐Confirm registration approval with easyAML
 Let our support team know once you have approved — we will verify the registration is confirmed in the ACMA system.

Section 6 — Frequently asked questions

Can I register my Sender ID directly with the ACMA myself?

No. The ACMA does not offer a direct self-registration pathway for businesses. Under the Industry Standard, all Sender ID registrations must be submitted through a certified telecommunications provider. easyAML works with Scantek Solutions — an ACMA-certified telecommunications provider — who submits the application on your behalf. There is no mechanism to apply to the ACMA directly without a certified provider initiating the request.

What you can do yourself is approve the registration in the ACMA Assist portal once Scantek Solutions has submitted the application — this approval step is mandatory and must be completed by you.

Can I use a different telco provider to register instead?

Technically yes — a list of approved providers is available on the ACMA's website. However, as easyAML's telecommunications partner, Scantek Solutions is best placed to manage this process and ensure your Sender ID is correctly linked to your SMS communications. Using a different provider may cause mismatches in your registration. We recommend contacting our support team before taking any independent steps.

What happens if I don't register before 1 July 2026?

From 1 July 2026, any SMS message sent using an unregistered alphanumeric Sender ID will be automatically labelled "Unverified" on the recipient's device and may be grouped in a separate, lower-visibility inbox. This could significantly undermine recipient trust in your SMS communications and may affect the deliverability of time-sensitive messages such as VOI verification codes.

We strongly recommend completing the approval process by early June 2026 to allow time for any unexpected delays.

My ABR authorised contact has changed — what do I do?

You must update your ABR authorised contact details before attempting to approve the registration in the ACMA Assist portal, as the portal uses your ABR record to verify identity. Log in to abr.business.gov.au to update your details. If you need assistance, your accountant, tax agent, or business registrant can usually help with ABR updates. Note that ABR updates can take several business days to process, so act as soon as possible.

My organisation doesn't have an ABN — can we still register?

Yes. Scantek Solutions, as a certified telecommunications provider, can register Sender IDs for entities without an ABN on easyAML's behalf. Please contact our support team at support@easyaml.com and we will advise on the right pathway for your organisation. Please note that entities without an ABN registered via this pathway will not have direct access to the ACMA Register.

Can I authorise other providers to use my registered Sender ID?

Yes. Once your Sender ID is registered, you can authorise other participating telecommunications providers to send messages using that Sender ID. This is managed through the ACMA Register. Contact our support team if you need guidance on how to do this.

Need help?

If you have questions about the registration process, your specific Sender IDs, ABR updates, or the ACMA Assist portal, contact our support team at support@easyaml.com or visit www.easyaml.com.

This article reflects ACMA requirements as at June 2026. SMS registration services are provided via Scantek Solutions, an ACMA-certified telecommunications provider. For the latest regulatory information, visit acma.gov.au/sms-sender-id-register.