The Corporate Transparency Act: A New Era of Accountability Begins January 1, 2024

As previously posted by Jonathan Milgrom the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) come into effect when the clock struck midnight on January 1, 2024. This transformative piece of legislation will reshape the corporate landscape, ushering in a new era of transparency and accountability. This landmark legislation marks a significant step forward in the fight against financial crime and anonymous corporate activities. The central tenet of the CTA is to enhance corporate transparency by requiring companies to disclose their beneficial ownership information (BOI) to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), a bureau of the U.S. Department of the Treasury. 

 Key Provisions: 

• Beneficial Ownership Reporting: 
  • Companies are now obligated to report information on their beneficial owners, including names, addresses, dates of birth, and unique identification numbers. 
  • Beneficial owners are individuals who directly or indirectly control a significant portion of the company’s ownership or have substantial control over its operations. Significant is described as ownership of 25% or more of a company – although of course a full analysis of the circumstances must be conducted. 

• FinCEN Database: 
  • Collected information will be stored in a confidential database managed by FinCEN, accessible only to authorized government agencies and financial institutions.  
  • This database aims to provide law enforcement agencies with the tools to trace and investigate suspicious financial activities more effectively.

• Penalties for Non-Compliance:
  • Strict penalties, including fines and imprisonment, will be imposed on companies and individuals failing to comply with the reporting requirements. 
  • The penalties are intended to serve as a deterrent against attempts to evade the disclosure obligations outlined in the CTA. 

Keep in mind that the regulatory landscape is subject to change, and staying informed through official channels is crucial to ensure compliance with any modifications to the CTA or related regulations. As we step into this new era of corporate transparency, the hope is that the CTA will contribute to a more secure and ethical business landscape for the benefit of all stakeholders.  

 As of January 1, 2024, FinCEN launched the BOI reporting system so please stay tuned as our team here at Milgrom & Daskam navigates the ins and outs of this new process.