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FinCEN proposes Beneficial Ownership Reporting Rule

FinCEN has announced it has published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to implement the beneficial ownership information reporting provisions of the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA). The proposed rule is designed to protect the U.S. financial system from illicit use and impede malign actors from abusing legal entities, like shell companies, to conceal proceeds of corrupt and criminal acts. Such abuses undermine U.S. national security, economic fairness, and the integrity of the U.S. financial system.

The proposed rule addresses, among other things, who must report beneficial ownership information, when they must report, and what information they must provide. Collecting this information and providing access to law enforcement, financial institutions, and other authorized users will diminish the ability of malign actors to hide, move, and enjoy the proceeds of illicit activities. The proposed rule also reflects stated concerns in the newly released U.S. Government Strategy on Countering Corruption, which addresses the money laundering risks posed by anonymous shell companies as well as the need to protect the international financial system from abuse by corrupt and other illicit actors. It is also consistent with the efforts of the Financial Action Task Force and G7 and G20 leaders to curtail the ability of illicit actors to hide wealth behind anonymous shell companies.

FinCEN will engage in additional rulemakings to (1) establish rules for who may access BOI, for what purposes, and what safeguards will be required to ensure that the information is secured and protected; and (2) revise FinCEN’s customer due diligence rule following the promulgation of the BOI reporting final rule. In addition, FinCEN is developing the infrastructure to administer these requirements, such as the beneficial ownership information technology system.

The proposal was published on December 8, 2021, in the Federal Register, with comments due by February 7, 2022.