BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP INFORMATION
Keep your business compliant and avoid penalties with the help of Block Advisors
Block Advisors can help you comply with the Corporate Transparency Act — a new law that took effect in 2024.
Under the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), if you formed a qualifying business in 2024, you must report Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) within 90 days of formation. If you formed a qualifying business before 2024, you have until January 1, 2025 to report Beneficial Ownership Information.
32 million+ businesses are required to report Beneficial Ownership Information in 2024
Answer a few simple questions to determine if your business is one of them.
Does this apply to my business?
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All domestic businesses created by registering with a state will be subject to the Corporate Transparency Act. This includes corporations, LLCs, limited partnerships, and limited liability partnerships (LLPs) to name a few. Foreign businesses that are registered to do business in any state are also subject to the CTA.
Businesses formed before January 1, 2024 will have until January 1, 2025 to file.
Businesses formed on or after January 1, 2024 will have 90 days after receiving the notice of their formation to stay compliant.
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Most business entities are not exempt from the Corporate Transparency Act. Exemptions generally include:
- Businesses that are already federally regulated, such as financial institutions, publicly traded companies, and insurance companies.
- Large businesses with at least 20 full-time employees, over $5 million in gross receipts, and a substantial U.S. presence.
Common business owners who are required to report
ReallyState, LLC
If you registered a real estate business before 2024, you are likely required to report Beneficial Ownership Information by January 1, 2025.
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Owners: Natasha and Elaine
TLC Caregiving Inc.
If you registered a caregiving business in 2024, you are likely required to report Beneficial Ownership Information within 90 days of formation.
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Owner: Gretchen
FAQs
Due to a recent court decision, beneficial ownership information (BOI) reporting requirements under the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) are once again back in effect. However, because FinCEN and the Department of the Treasury recognize that reporting companies may need additional time to comply with their BOI reporting obligations, FinCEN is generally extending the deadline 30 calendar days from February 19, 2025 (or until March 21, 2025), for most companies. According to FinCEN:
- For the vast majority of reporting companies, the new deadline to file an initial, updated, and/or corrected BOI report is now March 21, 2025. FinCEN will provide an update before then of any further modification of this deadline, recognizing that reporting companies may need additional time to comply with their BOI reporting obligations once this update is provided.
- Reporting companies that were previously given a reporting deadline later than the March 21, 2025 deadline must file their initial BOI report by that later deadline. For example, if a company’s reporting deadline is in April 2025 because it qualifies for certain disaster relief extensions, it should follow the April deadline, not the March deadline.
As of January 1, 2024, the Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) requires certain entities to report their beneficial ownership information which includes the entity’s ownership and control structure. The BOI Report provides information about the individuals who ultimately own or substantially control the business entity. This is important because entities are formed through state governments and information about these entities is not necessarily communicated to the federal government by the state government.
Beneficial ownership refers to the individuals who own or control the entity directly or indirectly, regardless of whether their names appear on official documentation. This includes those individuals who exercise significant control over the company’s operations, decision making and financial matters, even if they don’t have an ownership interest. According to FinCEN, reporting beneficial ownership information is important to promote transparency, prevent financial crimes, and ensure accountability within businesses.
The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) is a bureau within the U.S. Treasury Department. Its role is to safeguard the U.S. financial system by identifying and providing information about financial crimes, including money laundering and financial terrorism, to the government bodies that prosecute these crimes.
The “Reporting Company” definition generally includes entities that were created by filing organizing documents with a secretary of state or similar office, such as LLCs, corporations, limited partnerships, and foreign entities registered to do business in any U.S. state. Some entities, like heavily regulated financial institutions, tax-exempt organizations, inactive businesses, and others that meet specific operating criteria, are exempt from the BOI Report requirement.
Reporting Companies formed in 2023 or earlier will have until January 1, 2025, to submit their BOI Report. Qualified entities formed after January 1, 2024, will be required to file their BOI Report within 90 days of entity formation.
After the first BOI Report is filed, updated BOI Reports must be filed within 30 days when there are changes or corrections to any information provided in the BOI Report or changes to exemption eligibility.
Failing to file your BOI Report in a timely manner could lead to civil penalties of up to $500 per day for ongoing violations with a maximum penalty of $10,000. Individuals might also face criminal penalties, including imprisonment for up to two years.
A BOI Report typically requires disclosing the names, addresses, birthdates, and ownership percentages of individuals who directly or indirectly own or control the business. Owners are also required to report an identification number, such as a driver’s license or passport number, along with a picture of the document. A social security number cannot be used for a BOI Report.
Yes, you can file your own BOI Report directly with FinCEN beginning January 1, 2024. However, using a service, like Block Advisors, provides an easy-to-use platform and resources to help you navigate the information gathering and filing process, saving you time and reducing the risk of harsh penalties.