Corporate Transparency Act

New Reporting Requirements for Businesses – Effective January 1, 2024

New Federal Reporting Requirement For “Beneficial Owners”

Starting January 1, 2024, most small business must report information about their beneficial owners (individuals who own or control the business) to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), a bureau of the U.S. Department of the Treasury.  For more information on why the Corporate Transparency Act was passed and more, read our BLOG here

DISCLAIMER:  THE INFORMATION SHARED ON THIS PAGE IS GENERAL IN NATURE AND INTENDED TO PROVIDE BASIC, LIMITED INFORMATION ON THE CORPORATE TRANPARENCY ACT AND ITS REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.  FOR MORE DETAILED INFORMATION, PLEASE CONSULT YOUR OWN LEGAL COUNSEL AND THE FINCEN WEBSITE!

Additional information is available at: www.fincen.gov/boi-faqs and www.fincen.gov/boi/small-business-resources

DOES MY COMPANY NEED TO REPORT?

Companies required to report are called reporting companies. Reporting companies may have to obtain information from their beneficial owners and company applicants and then report that information to FinCEN.

REPORTING COMPANIES

Reporting companies include corporations, limited liability companies (LLCs), and other entities created or registered by filing a document with a secretary of state or similar state or Tribal office.

EXEMPT FROM REPORTING

  • Twenty-three types of entites, including publicly traded companies and certain non-profit organizations
  • Certain large operating companies that have
    • more than 20 full-time employees;
    • more than $5 million in annual gross receipts or sales; and
    • a physical operating presence in the United States.

WHAT IF MY COMPANY IS “INACTIVE?”

A company does not have to file a FinCEN report if it meets all factors for an inactive company set forth under the CTA. Even if your entity is listed as “INACTIVE” with your stat’s corporation commission, you may still be required to report.

RECOMMENDATION:  People who have “inactive” entities regardless of their formation date should legally terminate the entity so that it won’t get fined for not filing a FinCEN Beneficial Ownership Report!

WHO ARE MY COMPANY’S BENEFICIAL OWNERS?

A BENEFICIAL OWNER is any individual who exercises substantial control over a reporting company or who owns or controls at least 25% of the ownership interest of a reporting company.

 

Substantial Control Ownership Interest

An individual has substantial control if

  • they are a senior officer;
  • they have authority to appoint or remove certain officers or a majority of directors;
  • they are an important decision maker; or
  • they have any other form of substantial control over a company.
  • Note for trusts: a trustee, beneficiary, or grantor, in certain circumstances, may exercise substantial control over a company.

An ownership interest includes one or more of the following:

  • equity, stock, or voting rights;
  • a capital or profit interest;
  • convertible instruments;
  • options or other nonbinding privileges to buy or sell any of the foregoing;
  • any other instrument, contract, or other mechanism used to establish ownership.

WHAT INFORMATION SHOULD MY COMPANY REPORT?

Reporting Companies Beneficial Owners Company Applicants
1.   Legal Name 1.   Legal name Same information as required for beneficial owners
2.   Trade Name, if any 2.   Date of Birth (but address can be a business address)
3.   US address 3.   Residential address
4.   Jurisdiction of formation 4.   Identifying number, jurisdiction, and image of
5.   Tax ID Number (TIN)       a.  US Passport
      b.  State driver’s license; or
      c.  State-issued ID

FinCEN is accepting reports electronically beginning January 1, 2024, through its website at www.fincen.gov/boi

DO I HAVE TO REPORT A COMPANY APPLICANT?

Company applicant information is only required for entities created or registered on or after January 1, 2024.

COMPANY APPLICANT

  1. The individual who filed the document that created or first registered the reporting company.
  2. The individual who was primarily responsible for directing or controlling the filing.

WHEN DOES MY COMPANY NEED TO REPORT?

Company Type Date Created Due Date
Existing BEFORE Jan. 1, 2024 December 31, 2024
Existing DURING 2024 90 days after entity creation
New AFTER 2024 30 days after entity creation

Changes, updates, and corrections to previously filed information are due 30 days after change or inaccuracy!

PENALTIES FOR FAILURE TO REPORT

CIVIL Penalties CRIMINAL Penalties
$500 per day; $10,000 maximum Two years imprisonment

Note – Senior company officers may be held personally liable for penalties.

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