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The Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) published a user guide on 14 October 2026 that shows how to submit geographic location information on goAML under Directive 10. Accountable institutions that were registered with the FIC on 31 July 2026 have until 29 October 2026 to add the details of every head office, branch and subsidiary location to their registration.
What changed
The user guide uses screenshots and field descriptions to show how to enter head office, branch and subsidiary details on goAML. The FIC’s notice does not set a new deadline.
Directive 10 itself was published on 31 July 2026. AW covered it on 24 August 2026.
For each location, the institution must give the name, licence number (if any), registration number (if any), business address and compliance contact.
A branch means physical premises where Schedule 1 products and services are provided to clients in person. Data centres, ATMs, home-based staff and virtual platforms are excluded.
Submissions go through the head office goAML profile, using the “active organisations” tab to create a delegating organisation for each location.
Who it affects
Accountable institutions in Schedule 1 items 1, 2, 3, 9, 11, 14, 20, 21 and 22 of the FIC Act that operate in more than one location. Item 11 excludes banks, mutual banks and co-operative bank credit providers. Accounting practices that register companies at CIPC, set up trusts or arrange nominee shareholders are likely to be trust and company service providers (TCSPs) and in scope.
Key dates
What this means for accountants and finance professionals
Your own practice may be in scope. Practices that register companies, set up trusts or act as nominees are likely to be trust and company service providers under FICA. Directive 10 then applies to the practice itself as well as to clients.
The compliance officer carries this. Someone in the practice must own the goAML update and the 90-day rule for later changes. Opening or moving an office now has a FIC reporting step.
Clients in other sectors. Estate agents, legal practitioners and other accountable institutions with more than one branch face the same deadline. Practitioners who advise them can use the FIC user guide to help.
Sanctions are real. Non-compliance can lead to administrative sanctions under sections 45C and 61A of the FIC Act. A missed deadline is a compliance finding against the institution.
What to do
Confirm whether your practice is registered with the FIC and under which Schedule 1 item.
List every location where you serve clients in person.
Log in to your head office goAML profile and add each location under “active organisations”.
Finish before 29 October 2026. Non-compliance can lead to administrative sanctions under sections 45C and 61A of the FIC Act.
Diarise a 90-day update whenever a branch opens, moves or changes compliance contact.
For help, the FIC compliance contact centre is on 012 641 6000 (option 1).
Sources: FIC web notice, 14 October 2026 · FIC notice (PDF) · AW, 24 August 2026: Directive 10
