Corporate Transparency Act Is Back in Effect: Are You Ready?
Client AlertOn December 5, 2024, the Federal Government was enjoined from enforcing the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) in Texas Top Cop Shop, Inc., et al v. Garland et al, No. 4:2024 cv 00478 - Document 30 (E.D. Tex. 2024). At least for now, that prior ruling has been overturned and the filing requirements under the CTA are back in effect.
On December 23, 2024, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit granted the Federal Government’s emergency motion for a stay of the nationwide injunction pending appeal. According to the Fifth Circuit, the Federal Government “met its burden” for it to issue a stay and reinstate the obligations under the CTA.
In addition to the widely circulated court opinion, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) website gives businesses the following guidelines:
- First, reporting companies that were created or registered prior to January 1, 2024, now have until January 13, 2025, to file their initial beneficial ownership information reports with FinCEN (it was previously January 1, 2025).
- Second, reporting companies created or registered on or after September 4, 2024, that had a filing deadline between December 3, 2024, and December 23, 2024, have until January 13, 2025, to file their initial beneficial ownership information reports with FinCEN (it was previously 30 days from creation or registration).
- Third, reporting companies created or registered on or after December 3, 2024, and on or before December 23, 2024, have an additional 21 days from their original filing deadline to file their initial beneficial ownership information reports with FinCEN (it was previously 90 days from creation or registration).
What to do now?
Based on the Court ruling and update to the FinCEN website, reporting companies are required to comply with the law and file beneficial ownership reports as provided in FinCEN’s regulations, albeit with the updated deadlines described above.
For guidance on complying with these updated requirements, business owners should reach out to their BMD legal advisors or contact BMD Member Blake Gerney at brgerney@bmdllc.com.