Australia has released draft legislation that would introduce cryptocurrency transaction reporting requirements and enable the automatic exchange of digital asset tax information with foreign authorities. The Treasury opened consultation on October 15, 2026, proposing to incorporate the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework (CARF) into Australian law. The proposal would also establish a domestic reporting regime covering cryptocurrency transactions involving Australian residents and update the existing Common Reporting Standard (CRS) governing international financial account information.
Public submissions are open until October 28, giving cryptocurrency businesses, financial institutions and industry participants approximately two weeks to respond. The measures form part of the government’s broader effort to improve tax transparency as cryptocurrency ownership and cross-border transactions become increasingly integrated into financial markets. However, the legislation remains an exposure draft and has not yet been enacted.
Crypto Platforms Face Expanded Tax Reporting Obligations
Under the proposed framework, cryptocurrency service providers would be required to collect and report specified information about relevant transactions and their customers. The OECD’s CARF is designed to cover intermediaries facilitating cryptocurrency exchanges and transfers, including transactions that may occur outside conventional banking infrastructure. Reportable information can include customer identification details, tax residency, transaction values and relevant cryptocurrency activity. The Australian Taxation Office would use the information to assess compliance with existing tax obligations and identify discrepancies between reported income and digital asset transactions. The domestic reporting component would extend visibility over transactions involving Australian residents, while the international framework would support information sharing with participating foreign tax authorities.
This distinction is significant because CARF focuses on international tax transparency, whereas Australia’s proposed domestic regime addresses transactions that may not involve overseas jurisdictions. The draft also updates the Common Reporting Standard, which already enables participating jurisdictions to exchange information about certain financial accounts. Australia previously consulted on CARF implementation between November 21, 2024, and January 24, 2025. That consultation examined whether to incorporate the OECD framework directly into Australian tax law or adopt a customized domestic approach. The latest exposure draft represents a further step toward establishing binding legislative requirements.
International Data Sharing Could Reshape Crypto Compliance
The proposed reporting regime would bring cryptocurrency transactions closer to the transparency standards already applied to traditional financial accounts. CARF was developed by the OECD to address limitations in existing international tax information-sharing systems, particularly where cryptocurrency transactions occur through intermediaries outside conventional banking networks. Its standardized reporting structure is intended to help participating tax authorities identify taxable activity involving residents who trade or hold digital assets internationally. For cryptocurrency exchanges and other covered providers, implementation could require additional customer due diligence, transaction monitoring and reporting infrastructure. Businesses operating across multiple jurisdictions may also need to coordinate compliance systems to avoid inconsistent reporting.
The proposal is separate from Australia’s anti-money laundering reforms, which expanded regulatory obligations for certain virtual asset service providers from July 1, 2026. Those requirements primarily address financial crime risks, while CARF focuses on tax transparency and international information exchange. The distinction means cryptocurrency businesses could face overlapping but legally separate reporting obligations. For individual investors, the proposed framework would not create a new cryptocurrency tax. Instead, it would increase the information available to authorities enforcing existing tax rules. The legislation’s final scope, implementation arrangements and operational requirements will depend on the consultation process and subsequent parliamentary consideration.
With submissions closing October 28, the immediate focus will be on how Australia balances international reporting commitments with compliance costs, data protection and practical implementation. The proposal signals a move toward more systematic oversight of cryptocurrency transactions, particularly those involving multiple jurisdictions.