---
title: Do accountants and lawyers need to perform CDD on existing clients?
description: Do accountants and lawyers need to perform CDD on existing clients - No - you do not have to re-do CDD on every existing client on 1 July 2026.
---

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# Do accountants and lawyers need to perform CDD on existing clients?

## No, existing clients on 1 July 2026 are pre-commencement customers and do not need fresh initial CDD.

**No - you do not have to re-do CDD on every existing client on 1 July 2026.**

Under AUSTRAC's transitional rules, anyone you were in a business relationship with **on 1 July 2026** for a designated service is a **"pre-commencement customer."** You can keep providing services to them without doing initial CDD, **unless** one of these triggers happens:

1. **You form a suspicion** about the customer (an SMR obligation arises), or
2. **The relationship significantly changes** in a way that pushes their ML/TF risk to medium or high - for example, they ask for a new type of service that's different to what you've been providing.

You **do** still have ongoing obligations for pre-commencement customers: monitor them for unusual activity, keep their KYC information current, and watch for changes in their risk profile.

You **must also**: review, update and reverify know your customer (KYC) information relating to the customer at an appropriate frequency. This includes if you’ve doubts about the KYC information’s adequacy or veracity

A customer stops being "pre-commencement" the moment you complete the initial CDD on them - typically because one of the triggers above kicked in.

Source: AUSTRAC, [Transitioning existing customers (Reform)](https://www.austrac.gov.au/amlctf-reform/reforms-guidance/amlctf-program-reform/customer-due-diligence-reform/transitioning-existing-customers-reform).

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