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Corporate Transparency Act 101

The Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), which went into effect on January 1, 2024, requires entities within its scope to disclose information, including information regarding beneficial owners, to the United States Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (also known as “FinCEN”). Enacted as part of the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020, the CTA requires covered entities to file a Beneficial Ownership Information Report (BOI report) within a specific statutory timeframe.

Entities Subject to the CTA

The CTA’s reporting requirements apply to “reporting companies.” The term “reporting companies” is defined in the CTA as any domestic or foreign corporation, limited liability company or other entity formed or registered (for foreign entities) to do business in any state or tribal jurisdiction within the U.S. 

Despite the broad definition of “reporting companies” there is an equally-broad set of entities that are exempt from the CTA’s reporting requirements. Those entities include:

  • “Large operating companies” with a U.S. presence
  • Companies registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Investment Company Act of 1940 or the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. 
  • Companies whose ownership interests are controlled or wholly owned, directly or indirectly, by one or more entities that themselves qualify for certain exemptions.

CTA Reporting Deadlines

The reporting requirements under the CTA fluctuate depending primarily on when a covered entity was formed or registered. For example, an entity formed or registered prior to January 1, 2024 that is subject to the CTA must file an initial BOI report no later than January 1, 2025. In contrast, an entity formed or registered on or after January 1, 2024—but prior to January 1, 2025—that is subject to the CTA must file an initial BOI report within 90 calendar days of its formation or registration becoming effective.

An entity formed or registered to do business in the United States on or after January 1, 2025 that is subject to the CTA must file an initial BOI report within 30 days of its formation or registration becoming effective.

Information That Must Be Reported Under the CTA

Under the CTA, a reporting company is obligated to disclose certain information about the reporting company itself, any “beneficial owners” and a maximum of two “company applicants” (for reporting companies formed on or after January 1, 2024). The reporting company is required to report the following information about itself in its initial BOI report:

  • The full legal name of the reporting company, including any alternative names.
  • Current U.S. business street address or primary location in the U.S.
  • Jurisdiction where the company was formed or registered.
  • Taxpayer Identification Number.

Beneficial Owners of a Reporting Company

According to the CTA, a “beneficial owner” of a reporting company is defined as any individual who, directly or indirectly, either (i) exercises “substantial control” over the reporting company; or (ii) owns or controls at least 25 percent of the “ownership interests” of the reporting company.

A reporting company is required to report the following information for each beneficial owner:

  • The beneficial owner’s full legal name.
  • The beneficial owner’s date of birth.
  • The beneficial owner’s current residential address.
  • A unique identifying number from a valid U.S. passport, valid U.S. identification document or valid U.S. driver’s license or, if an individual does not possess any of these documents, a valid foreign passport.
  • A scanned copy of the document from which the unique identifying number was obtained.

Though, it is important to note that the CTA allows a beneficial owner or company applicant to obtain a FinCEN identifier, which is a unique identifying number assigned to an individual, rather than disclose the beneficial owner’s personal information.

Company Applicants of a Reporting Company

According to the CTA, a “company applicant” is defined as the individual who files, on or after January 1, 2024, the document forming a domestic reporting company or first registers a foreign reporting company to do business in the U.S. and, if more than one individual is involved in that filing, the individual primarily responsible for directing or controlling the filing. 

As a result, a reporting company can have a maximum of two company applicants: (1) the individual who actually files the formation or registration document; and (2) if applicable, the individual responsible for directing or controlling the BOI report filing.

Penalties for CTA Violations

Under the CTA, it is a violation for someone to “willfully provide, or attempt to provide, false or fraudulent [information] … or to willfully fail to report complete or updated beneficial ownership information to FinCEN.” In effect, the reporting company itself (not its beneficial owners or any other party) is responsible for complying with the CTA’s reporting requirements. Nevertheless, individuals or other entities would be in violation of the CTA if they take actions that cause the reporting company to fail to meet its reporting obligations.

When a CTA violation is found, the violator could be subject to civil penalties of up to $500 for each day a violation continues or has not been remedied. Individuals found to have criminally violated the CTA may be ordered to pay fines of up to $10,000 and/or have to serve up to two years in prison.

Have Questions About the Corporate Transparency Act? Contact Ultimate Asset Protection

As you can tell by the information provided above, the Corporate Transparency Act 2024 is significant and has the potential to impact your hard-earned assets. This is why you should contact Ultimate Asset Protection to discuss your options and chart a path forward. 

We stand ready to work with you now and in the future to develop an asset protection plan that works for you, your family, and your wealth.

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