Businesses Beneficial Ownership Requirement Change

FinCEN (Financial Crime Enforcement Network) is requiring certain entities to file with FinCEN reports that identify two categories of individuals: the beneficial owners of the entity, and individuals who have filed an application with specified governmental authorities to create the entity or register it to do business. These regulations implement Section 6403 of the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), enacted into law as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (NDAA), and describe who must file a report, what information must be provided, and when a report is due. These requirements are intended to help prevent and combat money laundering, terrorist financing, corruption, tax fraud, and other illicit activity, while minimizing the burden on entities doing business in the United States.

Beneficial Ownership Reporting Questions:

Does my company have to report its beneficial owners?

While certain types of entities are exempt, if you are a small corporation or LLC, you will likely be required to report your beneficial ownership information to FinCEN. A key factor in determining whether your company will have to report is whether you had to file a document with your state’s secretary of state or a similar office to create your company or, for foreign companies, register it to do business in the United States.

Who is a beneficial owner of my company?

A beneficial owner is any individual who exercises substantial control over your company, or who owns or controls at least 25 percent of your company.

Does my company have to report its company applicants?

There can be up to two individuals who qualify as company applicants — (1) the individual who directly files the document that creates, or first registers, the reporting company; and (2) the individual that is primarily responsible for directing or controlling the filing of the relevant document. Your company is only required to report its company applicants if it is created or registered on or after January 1, 2024.

What specific information does my company need to report?

A reporting company will need to provide: (1) its legal name and any trade name or DBA; (2) its address; (3) the jurisdiction in which it was formed or first registered, depending on whether it’s a U.S. or foreign company; and (4) its Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN). For each of your company’s beneficial owners and each company applicant (if required), your company will need to provide the individual’s: (1) legal name; (2) birthdate; (3) address (in most cases, a home address); and (4) an identifying number from a driver’s license, passport, or other approved document for each individual, as well as an image of the document that the number is from.

When and how should my company file its initial report?

If your company is created or registered before January 1, 2024, file by January 1, 2025. Otherwise, file within 30 calendar days of receiving actual or public notice from your state’s secretary of state or similar office that your company was created or registered. FinCEN will accept reports electronically beginning January 1, 2024.

What if there are changes to or inaccuracies in reported information?

Your company will have 30 days to report any changes to reported information. For updates, the 30 days start from when the relevant change occurs. For corrections, the 30 days start after you become aware of, or have reason to know of, an inaccuracy in a prior report.

Please visit http://www.fincen.gov/boi for a complete list of FinCEN resources on beneficial ownership reporting.