First education agent commission return closes 30 October

The first education agent commission data collection opened in PRISMS on 21 September 2026. It covers 1 January to 30 June 2026 and closes on 30 October 2026. ASQA's 21 September notice says every CRICOS provider must respond, even when it has no commissions or benefits to report. In that case, the provider submits a nil return.

This is the first collection under section 21B of the ESOS Act, not an amendment to the 2025 RTO Outcome Standards. The Department of Education's 21 September guidance explains the return. The Secretary's written request and PRISMS give each provider its operating instructions.

What to prepare

The Department's principal executive officer fact sheet says the return covers each agent business's accepted-student count where a related direct commission was reported, direct and indirect monetary commissions, and a description of non-monetary benefits. It says to include agent businesses that meet the ESOS definition even if PRISMS does not already list them. Providers with no reportable activity still submit a nil declaration.

Assign an owner for the return. Reconcile international recruitment and agent records with accounts payable, contracts and the general ledger. Check the Department's finance officer fact sheet before classifying payments, GST, foreign currency and non-cash benefits. Keep the reconciliation and the basis for any nil return. Use the provider-specific template from PRISMS and have an authorised CoE Administrator submit it by the date in the Secretary's request.

What RTObase can check

The Regulatory news assessment checks whether this organisation has enabled the CRICOS module. If it has, the assessment links to its education-agent records for a starting review. Module status does not establish live CRICOS registration or prove the return is complete. An organisation with the module off may still have an external CRICOS registration.

RTObase holds some education-agent and case-linked commission records. It does not generate or submit the provider-specific PRISMS template, and its records do not establish complete direct or indirect commissions and non-monetary benefits. Confirm scope and submission with the provider's PRISMS request and finance records.

This article is a general operational summary, not legal or accounting advice.