1. Introduction (businesses and organisations)

The SMS Sender ID Register helps to stop scammers using sender IDs in text messages to impersonate brands and organisations. 

A sender ID is the name at the top of text messages from businesses or organisations. It tells you who the message is from, like ‘ATO’, ‘AusPost’ or ‘myGov’. 

From 1 July 2026, businesses or organisations can only send SMS and MMS with a sender ID if it is registered . If SMS or MMS messages are sent with unregistered sender IDs, the sender ID is replaced with the word ‘Unverified’.

SMS/MMS messages with unregistered sender IDs are grouped together in a single ‘Unverified’ message thread on mobile phones, indicating they may be scams.

If you use, or plan to start using sender IDs, you need to contact your SMS providers (telcos, including message providers that send SMS or MMS messages for you) to apply to register your sender IDs to avoid disruption. You need to go apply to register through every SMS provider that you use to send messages, to authorise that provider to send messages for you using that sender ID.

Refer to the ACMA website for more information.

Purpose

You can apply to participate in the register and register sender IDs if you are an entity or an entity associate.

This guide provides instructions about how entities who have an Australian Business Number (ABN) can access the SMS Sender ID Register, and use the register to:

• confirm applications submitted by your SMS providers to register sender IDs
• authorise other people who represent your organisation to access the register
• revoke sender IDs for your organisation
• update your contact details.  

If you do not have an ABN, please follow instructions to register a sender ID if you don’t have an ABN. 

Overview of application process

• Contact your SMS providers (telcos) to apply to register your sender IDs.
• After the provider has submitted the application, the ACMA will email you a unique link.  Click on the link to access the register and confirm the application. The application will not proceed if it is not confirmed.
• The ACMA will notify you whether the application has been approved and if it is, when your sender ID is registered.
• You must apply to register through every provider that you want to send messages with, to authorise them to send messages for you using that sender ID. 

ABN (Australian Business Number) 

Has the meaning given by section 41 of the A New Tax System (Australian Business Number) Act 1999.

ABN entity

An entity with an Australian Business Number (ABN) as listed on the Australian Business Register (ABR).

ABR (Australian Business Register) 

The register established under section 24 of the A New Tax System (Australian Business Number) Act 1999.

ACMA Assist

ACMA Assist is the online portal for the ACMA.

Customer

An entity that has a contractual arrangement with their telco relating to the sending of sender ID messages.

Entity

One of the following who uses or proposes to use sender ID messages:

1. an individual
2. a body corporate
3. a corporation sole
4. a body politic
5. a government entity (within the meaning of the A New Tax System (Australian Business Number) Act 1999)
6. a partnership
7. any other unincorporated association or body of persons
8. a trust
9. a superannuation fund (within the meaning of the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993).

Entity associate 

An entity that is authorised to send messages using a sender ID that belongs to another entity (the sender ID owner). For example, you are an entity associate if you are:

• a research company that has been engaged by a bank to send messages for the bank, using its sender ID
• a sports club that is authorised to send messages, using a sender ID that is owned by a sports league
• an advertising or marketing agency engaged by a business to run advertising and promotional campaigns, using a sender ID owned by that business. 

If you are an entity associate for another entity, the application process consists of 2 parts.

The telco that you contact to apply must:

• submit an application for you to participate in the register
• submit an application to register the sender ID which belongs to the sender ID owner. This includes confirmation that the sender ID owner agrees to register the sender ID and gives you permission to use that sender ID.  

See Appendix A for more information.

Telecommunications provider (telco)

Any of the following:

• a carrier
• a carriage service provider
• an electronic messaging service provider.

This means any telco or message provider that sends SMS or MMS messages for you.