Warning! Do You Have An Ownership Interest In A Business?
If so, then you need to know about the new reporting requirement of Beneficial Ownership Information under Federal Law.
The Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) was enacted by Congress in 2021, and it mandates the disclosure of beneficial ownership information. The law aims to prevent misuse of legal entities for illicit activities like money laundering, fraud, and terrorism financing.
The initial reporting deadline for beneficial ownership information depends on when the entity was created.
- A reporting company created or registered to do business before January 1, 2024, will have until January 1, 2025 to file its initial beneficial ownership information (“BOI”) report.
- A reporting company created or registered on or after January 1, 2024, and before January 1, 2025, will have 90 calendar days after receiving notice of the company’s creation or registration to file its initial BOI report. This 90-calendar day deadline runs from the time the company receives actual notice that its creation or registration is effective, or after a secretary of state or similar office first provides public notice of its creation or registration, whichever is earlier.
- Reporting companies created or registered on or after January 1, 2025, will have 30 calendar days from actual or public notice that the company’s creation or registration is effective to file their initial BOI reports.
Legal Requirements
Reporting companies must file their beneficial ownership information with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN): https://www.fincen.gov. The report will include identifying information about the beneficial owners, such as name, address, date of birth, an identifying number from a government-issued document, and you have to upload a copy of the government-issued document. The actual filing is not overly complicated and is designed so that business owners can complete it.
Failure to comply with the BOI reporting requirements can result in significant penalties. As specified in the Corporate Transparency Act, a person who willfully violates the BOI reporting requirements may be subject to civil penalties of up to $500 for each day that the violation continues. That person may also be subject to criminal penalties of up to two years imprisonment and a fine of up to $10,000. Potential violations include willfully failing to file a beneficial ownership information report, willfully filing false beneficial ownership information, or willfully failing to correct or update previously reported beneficial ownership information.
The CTA and its implementing regulations are always subject to change. Owners of entities should stay informed about updates and amendments to ensure ongoing compliance. This may include changes to the definitions of beneficial ownership, reporting processes, or deadlines.
If you have questions about your reporting obligations or would like legal counsel in filing with FinCEN, please contact us.