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BOI Basics

Beginning in 2024, nearly all small businesses will have to report information about
their owners to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (commonly referred to as
FinCEN), a bureau of the U.S. Department of the Treasury that collects and analyzes
information to help fight financial crimes. Here is what you need to know.

Who Does This Affect?

Determine if your business must comply with the new reporting rules. Any company created in the United States that has registered with a secretary of state or any similar office under the laws of a state or Indian tribe, or foreign companies registered to do business in the U.S., must comply with these new reporting requirements.

Many small businesses that are LLCs (including single-member LLCs), S corporations, partnerships, or C corporation must comply. There are, however, nearly two dozen types of businesses that are exempt from these new reporting requirements, including insurance companies, banks, certain large businesses, and tax-exempt entities.

When Is The Reporting Deadline:

Know when you MUST report. The reporting deadline varies depending on when your business was created or registered:

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  • Created before January 1, 2024. For existing companies that were created before January 1, 2024, you must file your FinCEN report, commonly referred to as a Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) report, sometime this year (before January 1, 2025).

  • Created during 2024. Companies formed this year have 90 days to file their FinCEN BOI report after being registered or legally created. FinCEN BOI report after they are created or registered.

  • Created in 2025 and beyond. The BOI report must be filed within 30 days of being registered or legally created.​

 

Immediately report any changes. After your initial BOI report is filed, an updated BOI report must be filed within 30 days following any change in information previously filed with FinCEN. Any inaccuracies discovered on previously filed reports must also be reported within 30 days.

Why Is This A Federal Requirement?

The Federal government wants to know who owns or is a beneficial owner of businesses in the U.S. This information is meant to protect national security by making it easier to find corruption, money laundering operations, tax evasion, and drug trafficking organizations. They will be sharing this information with approved agencies including Federal and State law enforcement and Federal tax authorities.

What Are The Penalties For Noncompliance?

There are penalties for noncompliance. You may be liable for civil penalties of up to $591 per day for each violation of non-compliance or false information provided on the form. Additionally, criminal penalties can include up to two years imprisonment and a fine of up to $10,000 for willfully violating reporting requirements.

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