What is beneficial ownership information?
Beneficial ownership information refers to identifying information about the individuals who directly or indirectly own or control a company.
Why do companies have to report beneficial ownership information to the U.S. Department of the Treasury?
In 2021, Congress passed the Corporate Transparency Act on a bipartisan basis. This law creates a new beneficial ownership information reporting requirement as part of the U.S. government’s efforts to make it harder for bad actors to hide or benefit from their ill-gotten gains through shell companies or other opaque ownership structures.
Should my company report beneficial ownership information now?
Companies created or registered to do business before January 1, 2024, will have until January 1, 2025, to file its initial BOI report.
A reporting company created or registered in 2024 will have 90 calendar days to file after receiving actual or public notice that its creation or registration is effective.
What penalties do individuals face for violating BOI reporting requirements?
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.
[Issued December 12, 2023]