AML for Accountants in the Czech Republic: Key Aspects

Nikita Veremeev

20.08.2025 | 6 min read

Updated: 20.08.2025

Did you know that in 2024, more than 60% of identified money laundering cases in Europe were linked to insufficient financial control and weakly integrated AML procedures in accounting? In the Czech Republic, according to FAU, the number of suspicious transactions identified thanks to new AML control technologies has increased by 38% over the past two years.

These are not just numbers; each one represents the risk of account blocking, fines up to 5 million CZK, and, more importantly, loss of trust from banks and partners.

Today, accounting in the Czech Republic is not only about bookkeeping and reporting but is a key front in the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing. The new AML 2025 requirements tighten the rules of the game: now the responsibility for non-compliance with Czech anti-money laundering legislation lies not only on the owners but also on accountants, compliance officers, and AML contact persons.

How to build a financial control system to minimize risks and ensure long-term business sustainability? What steps will help not only pass the AML audit but turn compliance into a strategic advantage?

In this article, I will share a structured practical guide on AML for accountants in the Czech Republic, based on real cases from COREDO, analysis of the latest legislative changes, and international standards. If you are an owner, manager, or financial director working in the EU, Asia, or CIS, I recommend reading to the end: you’ll get not only answers to key questions but also tools for effective AML risk management.

Anti-Money Laundering Law of the Czech Republic 2025

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The Anti-Money Laundering Law of the Czech Republic 2025 sets new, stricter requirements for financial and non-financial organizations, as well as for professionals such as accountants and consultants. These rules aim to align Czech legislation with European directives and international standards on anti-money laundering and terrorist financing. Below are the key AML requirements in the Czech Republic to consider from 2025 onwards.

AML Requirements in the Czech Republic

The Czech Republic’s anti-money laundering legislation is built on Act No. 253/2008 Coll., which is harmonized with the European AML Directive (AMLD) and includes requirements for KYC, Due Diligence, internal policies, and financial monitoring. The law applies to a wide range of AML-obliged entities: banks, financial companies, accounting firms, auditors, legal companies, and even individual entrepreneurs if they provide accounting services Czech Republic or participate in the management of corporate structures.

From 2025, the new AML 2025 Czech Republic requirements have come into force: now each company subject to the law must appoint an AML contact person and register them with the Financial Analytical Office (FAU). This person is responsible for implementing and controlling AML compliance in the Czech Republic, interacting with regulators, and promptly submitting reports on suspicious transactions (STR).

In practice, COREDO’s team has successfully implemented projects for registering AML contact persons in the Czech Republic for international companies, ensuring their compliance with new standards.

Accountant Responsibilities for AML in the Czech Republic

Accounting in the Czech Republic today is not just accounting but a full-fledged element of the AML control system. Accountant’s AML responsibilities include:

Identifying and verifying clients (KYC), including Beneficial Owners.
Monitoring transactions and detecting suspicious activities.
Documenting and storing AML documentation for accountants, including protocols for Due Diligence and internal reports.
Maintaining accounting and AML: integrating procedures into daily business processes, automating controls, and regularly updating internal AML policies.
Preparing and submitting STR to FAU upon detecting suspicious activities.

The responsibility of accountants for non-compliance with AML includes administrative fines, criminal liability, and reputational risks for the company and its management.

COREDO’s practice confirms that implementing an internal control system and regular internal AML audits minimizes these risks and enhances business resilience.

AML in Accounting in the Czech Republic: What Is It and Why?

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AML in accounting in the Czech Republic: what is it and why, a question that has become especially relevant in 2025 for all who conduct business in the country. New AML control requirements now directly affect not only banks but also accountants, and it is no longer possible to do without implementing these procedures. Below we examine which AML procedures are now mandatory and why their implementation becomes an integral part of an accountant’s work in the Czech Republic.

AML Procedures in Accounting

Effective implementation of AML procedures for businesses begins with a risk-based approach (Risk-Based Approach). The algorithm recommended by the COREDO team to clients includes:

Risk analysis: determining vulnerabilities, assessing clients, operations, and channels based on AML risk criteria for companies in the Czech Republic.
Development of internal AML policies: formalizing KYC procedures, Due Diligence, monitoring, storage, and data processing.
Implementation of internal AML control systems in accounting: automating AML processes using electronic accounting systems and specialized IT solutions.
Documenting AML procedures: maintaining electronic and paper registers, storing protocols and reports according to legal requirements.
Regular AML training for accountants in the Czech Republic: professional development, staff testing, implementation of best practices.

A project implemented by COREDO for automating AML control in an international holding structure reduced KYC verification time by 40% and improved the quality of financial monitoring.

Registration of AML Contact Person

From 2025, every company providing accounting services in the Czech Republic must appoint an AML contact person in the Czech Republic. The candidate must have sufficient qualifications in AML compliance, know Act No. 253/2008 Coll., and have experience interacting with the FAU.

The registration process is as follows:

The company director submits an application to the FAU with the appointed person’s data.
The contact person undergoes internal training and assumes responsibility for interacting with regulators, controlling procedures, and submitting STR.

The solution developed at COREDO for clients from the EU and Asia includes document templates, registration instructions, and support at every stage, significantly reducing the risk of errors and fines.

AML Audit: How to Prepare and Pass

Types of AML audits in the Czech Republic include internal AML audits, external audits (initiated by the owner or auditor), and state checks by the FAU. Preparing for an AML audit requires:

Updating and verifying all AML documents.
Testing staff knowledge of procedures.
Analyzing previous incidents and correcting identified violations.

Typical errors identified by COREDO’s team during client preparation for an audit: incomplete documentation of KYC, lack of regular updates to sanction lists, weak automation of reporting.

COREDO’s practice shows that implementing checklists and regular internal audits can help successfully pass even the strictest inspections.

AML Risks for Business in the Czech Republic

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AML risks for business in the Czech Republic are not only a formal legal requirement but also a real factor affecting the stability and security of financial operations. Compliance with standards on combating money laundering and terrorist financing becomes a key element for any company and its accounting.

AML Risks for Business and Accounting

AML for small and medium businesses in the Czech Republic is especially relevant as these companies often underestimate risks related to terrorist financing, sanction lists, and cross-border operations. A risk-based approach allows focusing on the most vulnerable areas: complex corporate structures, operations with foreign partners, anonymous payments.

The COREDO team has implemented projects on integrating automated monitoring systems, which allowed for the timely detection of suspicious transactions and minimized the risk of account blocking.

Thus, the proper implementation of AML practices becomes not only a tool for preventing financial crimes but also a way to avoid significant fines and legal liabilities, which we will discuss in more detail below.

AML: Responsibility and Fines in the Czech Republic

Liability for AML violations in the Czech Republic is multi-level:

Administrative: fines up to 5 million CZK for lack of an AML contact person, failure to submit STR, or insufficient internal control.
Criminal: liability for participation in money laundering schemes or terrorist financing.
Reputational: account blocking, license revocation, loss of trust from banks and partners.

In one of COREDO’s cases for a large European company, timely identification and correction of violations allowed avoiding a fine and maintaining access to banking services.

AML Recommendations for Accountants in the Czech Republic

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AML recommendations for accountants in the Czech Republic are becoming increasingly important in the context of tightening legislation and expanding anti-money laundering responsibilities. To effectively comply with new requirements, accountants must master basic tools for AML control implementation and understand which actions are necessary to minimize the risk of law violations.

Tools for Implementing AML Control

Integrating AML control into digital accounting systems is key to efficiency.

Using electronic registers, automating AML processes with AI and cloud solutions allows not only quicker KYC and Due Diligence but also reduces human error.

Metrics and KPIs for evaluating AML procedure efficiency include:

Time taken for KYC processing.
Number of suspicious transactions identified.
Percentage of successfully passed AML audits.

Introducing new AML technologies, according to COREDO experience, enables companies to adapt more quickly to changing requirements and minimize compliance costs.

AML Training for Accountants

AML training for accountants in the Czech Republic: not a formality but a necessary condition for maintaining compliance. Training programs include:

Study of AML 2025 changes.
Practical cases and situation modeling.
Knowledge testing and regular certification.

COREDO offers clients comprehensive training modules adapted to business specifics, significantly enhancing staff competency levels.

AML: Interaction with Banks and Regulators

Effective interaction of accounting with state AML bodies is the key to successfully passing inspections. Important aspects include:

Timely submission of reports on suspicious transactions.
Compliance with personal data protection requirements under AML.
Prompt response to FAU and bank requests.

COREDO Case: for an international company, a process of electronic document exchange with the FAU was established, reducing request processing time by 30% and increasing transparency in interactions.

AML Regulation in the Czech Republic and EU: Comparison

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AML Regulation in the Czech Republic and EU: comparison is an important topic for companies working with financial operations and digital assets. In recent years, the Czech Republic has been actively integrating European standards in the field of anti-money laundering (AML), leading to both convergence and the retention of certain national regulatory features. We will now explore in detail the key differences in AML requirements in the Czech Republic and the entire EU.

AML Requirements in the Czech Republic and EU: What’s the Difference?

Although AML regulation in the Czech Republic is based on European directives, there are some national features:

Stricter requirements for AML contact person registration.
Specific procedures for interacting with the FAU.
Special attention to the transparency of corporate structures and disclosure of beneficial owners (beneficial owner).

For foreign companies and entrepreneurs, it is important to consider differences in approaches to KYC, Due Diligence, and internal auditing.

COREDO’s experience shows: adapting internal policies to Czech standards helps avoid misunderstandings with regulators and banks.

Conclusions and Steps for Business

The year 2025 has brought significant changes to AML compliance in the Czech Republic: tightening control, new accounting duties, and increased management responsibility. To ensure compliance and minimize risks, I recommend:

Conduct an audit of current procedures and update internal AML policies.
Appoint and register an AML contact person by February 1, 2025.
Implement automated monitoring and reporting systems.
Regularly train staff and conduct internal audits.
Ensure transparency of corporate structure and timely disclose information on beneficial owners.
If complexities arise, seek legal assistance for AML processes from experts with international experience.

AML for Accountants in the Czech Republic: Questions and Answers

How to appoint an AML contact person?

The company director selects a qualified employee, submits their data to the FAU, organizes training, and formalizes internal documents.

What documents are needed for AML control?

KYC questionnaires, Due Diligence reports, internal AML policies, audit protocols, reports on suspicious activities.

How to prepare for an AML audit?

Conduct an internal review, update documentation, train staff, rectify previously identified violations.

How to automate AML processes?

Implement electronic accounting systems, use AI solutions for transaction monitoring, automate KYC and reporting.

What sanctions are there for AML violations?

Fines up to 5 million CZK, account blocking, license revocation, criminal liability.

If you need more information, see the resource collection and templates below.

Useful Resources and Templates for Work

AML Duty	Responsible Party	Execution Deadline	Document/Report	Responsibility for Violation
Appointing a Contact Person	Director	By 02/01/2025	Registration with FAU	Fine up to 5 million CZK
Conducting KYC/Due Diligence	Accounting	Upon client acceptance	KYC questionnaire, reports	Fine, account blocking
Internal AML Audit	Compliance Officer	Annually	Internal audit act	Administrative responsibility
Staff Training	Director	Once a year	Training protocol	Fine, license revocation

Useful links:

If you have any questions regarding the implementation of AML procedures in accounting in the Czech Republic, the COREDO team is ready to share their experience, adapt solutions to your business’s specifics, and provide reliable support at every stage.

AML for accountants in the Czech Republic key aspects