Financial Crimes Enforcement Network December 2021 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

FinCEN is amending the Bank Secrecy Act civil penalty regulations relating to the requirements for reporting foreign financial accounts and for reporting transactions with foreign financial agencies. The amendments remove civil penalty language, which was made obsolete with the enactment of the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004. The American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 revised the manner for computing the penalty, including providing a greater maximum penalty for willful violations than was previously authorized.

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) is issuing this request for information (RFI) to solicit comment on ways to streamline, modernize, and update the anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) regime of the United States. In particular, FinCEN seeks comment on ways to modernize risk- based AML/CFT regulations and guidance, issued pursuant to the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), so that they, on a continuing basis, protect U.S. national security in a cost-effective and efficient manner. This RFI also supports FinCEN's ongoing formal review of BSA regulations and guidance required pursuant to Section 6216 of the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020 (the AML Act). Section 6216 requires the Secretary of the Treasury (the Secretary) to solicit public comment and submit a report, in consultation with specified stakeholders, to Congress by January 1, 2022, that contains the findings and determinations that result from the formal review, including administrative and legislative recommendations.

FinCEN is promulgating proposed regulations to require certain entities to file reports with FinCEN that identify two categories of individuals: The beneficial owners of the entity; and individuals who have filed an application with specified governmental authorities to form the entity or register it to do business. The proposed regulations would implement Section 6403 of the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), enacted into law as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (NDAA), and describe who must file a report, what information must be provided, and when a report is due. Requiring entities to submit beneficial ownership and company applicant information to FinCEN is intended to help prevent and combat money laundering, terrorist financing, tax fraud, and other illicit activity. Once finalized, these proposed regulations will affect a large number of entities doing business in the United States. This document also invites comments from the public regarding all aspects of the proposed regulations as well as comments in response to specific questions.