HMRC Fee AML Supervi ion – Complete Co t Guide 2025
Businesses regulated under the Money Laundering Regulations must pay fees to HMRC for anti-money laundering supervision. The fee structure changed from 1 December 2025, and understanding the current costs is the first step toward staying compliant.
HMRC charges fees to cover the cost of supervision. The main costs for most businesses are the annual premises fee, the one-off application fee, and, where applicable, approval fees for individuals. A small business reduction is available for those with a turnover below a certain threshold.
Application fee
£300 one-off per business when you first register or re-register after cancellation.
Annual premises fee
£400 per premises per year. Most businesses operate from a single premises.
Small business reduction
Refund of £500 if annual turnover is less than £5,000. You must pay the full fee upfront first.
Late payment consequence
Registration is cancelled automatically if you miss the payment deadline.
Several important points are worth noting about these fees. The following insights summarise the key things every business should know.
- HMRC’s AML supervision fees are relatively low compared to other UK supervisors such as the FCA, but compliance is strictly enforced.
- The small business reduction is underutilised — many sole traders and micro-businesses may qualify but do not apply.
- Estate agents must register with HMRC regardless of their property volume or annual turnover.
- Fees are charged per premises, not per business. A business with multiple branches pays the annual fee for each location.
- Failure to pay the annual fee leads to automatic removal from the register, requiring a new application to re-register.
| Fee type | Amount (current guidance) | 2025/26 proposal discussed |
|---|---|---|
| Annual premises fee | £400 per premises per year | Increase from £300 to £400 |
| Application / registration fee | £300 one-off per business | Reintroduce an application fee |
| Fit and proper test fee | £500 per person tested | Higher levels discussed |
| Approval process fee | £40 per person tested | Unchanged at £40 |
| Small business reduction | Refund of £500 if turnover below £5,000 | Cap increase to £200 proposed |
How do I register for HMRC anti-money laundering supervision?
Registration is done through the Government Gateway portal. You need a Government Gateway user ID and password to access HMRC’s AML supervision services. The process applies to businesses across several sectors, including estate agency, accountancy, letting agency, high value dealing, and money service businesses.
What information do I need to provide?
You will need details about your business structure, the premises where regulated activities take place, and information about beneficial owners, officers, and managers. HMRC uses this information to assess fitness and propriety and to determine which fees apply.
Do I need to register each premises separately?
No. A single registration covers the entire business. However, the annual premises fee applies to every set of premises where you carry out AML-regulated activities. HMRC says most supervised businesses operate from a single premises.
Before you begin, gather your business registration number, details of all premises, and full names and roles of beneficial owners, officers, and managers. You will also need your Government Gateway login. HMRC’s registration fee is £300 per business, paid at the point of application.
How long does registration take?
Processing times vary. HMRC aims to process complete applications within a reasonable timeframe, but delays can occur if information is missing or if additional checks are needed. You should not start regulated activities until registration is confirmed.
How do I contact HMRC anti-money laundering supervision?
Contact options for HMRC’s AML supervision team are limited in the published guidance. The only specific contact provided in the fee guidance is the email address for small business reduction requests.
What is the email for the small business reduction?
Businesses eligible for the small business reduction should email HMRC at AMLS.Fees@hmrc.gov.uk with the subject line “Turnover Reduction”. You must pay the full fee first, and HMRC will process the refund after confirming your eligibility.
Is there a phone number for AML supervision?
The guidance excerpts available do not include a broader phone helpline specifically for AML fees. Businesses with general queries may need to use HMRC’s standard contact routes or refer to the guidance pages for further information.
The published fee guidance for HMRC AML supervision provides only one direct contact: the email for small business reduction requests. No general AML fee phone helpline is listed in the current guidance documents reviewed.
How do I search the HMRC AML register?
The HMRC Money Laundering Supervision register is publicly searchable. You can check whether a business is registered for AML supervision using the online register search tool.
Can the public search for registered businesses?
Yes. The register is free to access and allows searches by business name or reference number. This is useful for consumers and other businesses who need to verify that a counterparty is properly supervised.
What details appear in the register?
The register shows the business name, registration number, and status of registration. It does not display detailed financial information or fee payment history.
Consumers and businesses should check the AML register before engaging a service provider in regulated sectors such as estate agency, accountancy, or money services. Operating without registration is an offence, and unregistered businesses may not be compliant with the Money Laundering Regulations.
What is the history of HMRC AML supervision fees?
Fee levels have changed periodically since HMRC became an AML supervisor. The following timeline shows key events.
- : Money Laundering Regulations 2007 introduced HMRC as a supervisor for certain businesses.
- : Fee changed from £115 to £130 per premises.
- : HMRC published a discussion paper considering fee restructuring, though no major changes were adopted at that time.
- : Fees changed to the current structure: £400 annual premises fee, £300 application fee, £500 fit and proper fee, and £40 approval fee.
Are HMRC AML supervision fees per business or per premises?
This is a common point of confusion. The answer is that fees apply in two ways depending on the type of fee.
| Established information | Information that remains less clear |
|---|---|
| The annual premises fee of £400 applies per premises, not per business. | Whether a multi-premises business with very low turnover at each branch can claim the small business reduction for each location. HMRC guidance indicates the reduction is based on total business turnover, not per-premises turnover. |
| The one-off application fee of £300 is per business registration. | What happens if a business misses the renewal deadline but pays late. HMRC says registration is cancelled automatically, and a new application is needed. |
| Small business reduction is available if total business turnover is less than £5,000 in the last financial year. | Whether late payment penalties apply in all cases. HMRC guidance mentions interest and penalties may apply, but specific rates are not detailed in the fee pages reviewed. |
Why does HMRC charge AML supervision fees?
HMRC is one of 22 AML supervisors in the United Kingdom. Its fees are designed to cover the cost of supervision, not to generate profit. Compared to the FCA, which charges fees upwards of £2,000 for many firms, HMRC’s charges are lower, reflecting a less intensive supervisory approach for the types of businesses it oversees — including estate agents, letting agents, accountants, and high value dealers.
The flat per-premises fee structure is simple to administer but can disproportionately affect businesses with many small branches. The small business reduction helps sole traders and very small businesses, but not necessarily multi-premise chains where each branch generates modest revenue. HMRC considered turnover-based fees in a 2020 discussion paper but did not adopt that approach.
What are the official sources for HMRC AML fee information?
Several official sources provide fee information. The following quotes come from published HMRC guidance.
“You must pay fees to HMRC when you register for anti-money laundering supervision. These are: an application fee; a registration fee for each premises.”
GOV.UK – Money Laundering Regulations: registration fees
“Our current fee structure charges a registration and renewal fee of £130 per premises. This fee was raised with effect from 1 December 2017 from the £115.”
HMRC discussion paper
“Guidance updated to reflect fees applied to businesses registered with HMRC for anti-money laundering supervision.”
GOV.UK – Register or renew your money laundering supervision
What should businesses do next about HMRC AML supervision fees?
Businesses should check whether they need to register, prepare evidence of turnover if they may qualify for the small business reduction, set up calendar reminders for annual renewal, and monitor for any further fee changes. More details are available in the How to register for HMRC AML supervision guidance.
Frequently asked questions
What is the HMRC AML supervision login portal?
The portal is the Government Gateway at www.gov.uk/log-in-register-hmrc-online-services. You need a user ID and password to access AML supervision services.
Can I pay the AML fee by credit card?
Yes, online payments accept credit and debit cards through the Government Gateway. BACS and cheque are also accepted.
Do I need to register if I am an estate agent in a low-volume year?
Yes. All estate agents handling sales or letting of land must register with HMRC for AML supervision regardless of property volume or turnover.
What if I have multiple offices? Do I pay per office?
Yes. A separate annual fee of £400 applies for each premises where you carry out AML-regulated activities. The application fee of £300 covers the whole business once.
How do I search the HMRC AML register?
Use the HMRC Money Laundering Supervision register search at www.gov.uk/check-money-laundering-register. You can search by business name or reference number.
What is the small business reduction refund amount?
If your annual turnover is less than £5,000, you can request a refund of £500 after paying the full annual fee. Email AMLS.Fees@hmrc.gov.uk with the subject line “Turnover Reduction”.
What happens if I do not pay the annual fee?
HMRC says your registration will be cancelled automatically. You would then need to submit a new application and pay the application fee again to re-register.
Do estate agents pay a different fee to other businesses?
Estate agency businesses pay the same annual premises fee and application fee as other regulated businesses. They also pay a £40 approval process fee per beneficial owner, officer, or manager.
Is the approval fee refundable?
No. HMRC says the approval fee of £40 per person is non-refundable, regardless of the outcome of the approval process.
Can I opt out of AML supervision?
Only if you cease all activities that fall within the scope of the Money Laundering Regulations. Simply not paying the fee will lead to cancellation, not a voluntary opt-out.
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