Beneficial Ownership Information​ (BOI)

Beneficial Ownership Information​

If you intend to engage MBE CPAs to assist with fulfilling your Beneficial Ownership Information Filing Requirement for your US entity, please fill out our engagement letters Here.

Understanding the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA): What You Need to Know​

Is your business aware of a new regulation called the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA)?

The Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) is a new law aimed at preventing money laundering and other illegal activities. It requires certain businesses to report information about their “beneficial owners” to the government. This one-page guide will explain the basics of the CTA and help you determine if your business is affected.

This page will guide you through the key points of the CTA and Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) reporting, including:

  • What the CTA is and its purpose.
  • Who needs to file a BOI report?
  • What information needs to be reported?
  • Deadlines for filing and updating reports.

Don’t wait until it’s too late!

Non-compliance with the CTA can result in hefty penalties.

Beneficial Ownership Information​

Are some Companies Exempt?

A total of 23 types of entities are exempt from the reporting requirements for beneficial ownership information. These encompass publicly traded companies that meet specific criteria, non-profits, and select large operating companies.

Who Needs to File a BOI Report?

Who Needs to File a BOI Report?

Most businesses formed after January 1, 2024, will need to report beneficial ownership information within 90 days of formation. Existing businesses have until January 1, 2025, to report. There are exceptions, though, such as publicly traded companies and certain regulated institutions. Unless exempt, most businesses created by filing documents with a Secretary of State (corporations, LLCs, etc.) need to file a BOI report.
To determine if your company falls under the category of a ‘Reporting Company’ as defined by the CTA, take a moment to review the informative flowchart below. If your company meets the criteria outlined in the “reporting company” definition and does not qualify for an exemption, it would be considered a reporting company. Our goal is to provide you with the necessary resources and guidance to navigate these regulations successfully. Feel free to reach out to us if you require any assistance or clarification on this matter.

BOI Report

CTA Advisory Services

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Does this agreement cover multiple parties?*
Name*
Are you signing for a Business?*

Dear Client: This letter is to confirm our understanding of the terms and objectives of our engagement and the nature and limitations of the services we will provide. Please read this letter carefully, as it is important to both MBE CPAs (“Firm”) and (“Client”) that you understand and accept the terms under which we have agreed to perform our services, as well as Management’s responsibilities under this agreement. Services You have asked for our firm’s assistance to help you submit Client’s initial Beneficial Ownership Information (“BOI”) report to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”), as required under the Corporate Transparency Act (“CTA”). The BOI report is required to be submitted using FinCEN’s electronic filing system. For reporting companies in existence prior to January 1, 2024, the BOI report is due no later than January 1, 2025, and for reporting companies created on or after January 1, 2024, the BOI report is required to be filed within 90 days after their formation or registration. It is important that your company’s specific facts and circumstances be considered to assess the applicability of the CTA-related provisions given the current guidance as promulgated. You have asked for our assistance to help you with your determination whether an exemption may apply to your entity or whether any relationships constitute “beneficial ownership.” Our limited advisory services for purposes of filing your initial BOI report under the terms of this agreement will be performed based on our professional judgment as accountants given the facts provided to us and the CTA provisions as currently promulgated. As we are not attorneys, we will not be rendering any legal advice or providing legal interpretation as part of this engagement. Subsequent developments changing the facts provided to us, or updated guidance from FinCEN or other regulatory agencies, may affect the advice previously provided. These effects may be material. Client agrees to provide us with all the required information and documentation deemed necessary to comply with applicable CTA regulations for your entity, all beneficial owners, and if applicable, the company applicant(s), for purposes of your BOI report filing. In connection with the performance of our limited services, we will rely on the accuracy and completeness of the information and documentation provided by Client and your representatives. As Firm will not audit, review, or otherwise verify the information and documentation you provide, we cannot provide assurance on the accuracy and completeness of the information provided. Further, as we are not attorneys, we will not be responsible for making any legal determinations that may be required or for certifying or opining on your company’s compliance with the CTA. Management Responsibilities and Representations It is our understanding that Management has designated qualified individuals with suitable skills, knowledge and/or experience, preferably within senior management, to be responsible and accountable for overseeing the specified limited advisory services and the filing of Client’s initial BOI report performed as part of this engagement. By your signature below, you acknowledge that Management agrees to evaluate the adequacy of, and accept responsibility for, the results of all the services performed as part of this agreement. By your signature below, you represent, certify, and warrant to Firm that all information provided to us for purposes of this engagement will be true, correct, and complete, and agree that Firm may rely solely, without independent verification, on the accuracy and completeness of the information provided. As our services are limited in nature, our engagement cannot be relied on to disclose errors, fraud, or noncompliance with laws and regulations that may exist. Client also understands and acknowledges that the Firm’s advisory services are limited in nature per the terms of this agreement and will be performed as accountants and not attorneys, and as such, the Firm will not be rendering any legal advice. Therefore, Management accepts responsibility to engage separate legal counsel to assist in addressing any legal issues that may arise, which would include, but not be limited to, legal advice or interpretation with respect to determining if an exemption applies to the nature of your entity or whether certain legal relationships constitute “beneficial ownership.” Client acknowledges and understands that under the terms of this agreement, Firm will not be responsible for providing any further services related to Client’s ongoing requirement to update and/or correct reports with FinCEN. Management accepts full responsibility for monitoring all reportable changes for its company and its beneficial owners (e.g., a change in beneficial owners; any change to a beneficial owner’s name, address, or unique identifying number; or any other information previously provided to FinCEN) and for ensuring that such changes are timely reported to FinCEN. Note that Reporting Companies must file updated or corrected reports within thirty (30) days of reportable changes or discovery of inaccurate information in previously filed reports. Penalties for noncompliance can be significant. If you need our assistance to prepare updated or corrected reports, Management agrees to advise us in writing at least fifteen (15) business days prior to the due date for submission and, if we agree to perform such services, we will confirm that in writing to you under a separate engagement letter. Before we can submit your initial BOI report to FinCEN, we will require a letter from Management that confirms Management’s responsibilities and representations made for purposes of this engagement, as well as Management’s authorization for Firm to file Client’s BOI report on your behalf. Fees Our fees will be based on the time required for work performed, the complexity of any technical issues addressed, the need to confirm information or to perform accounting work as a precondition to our services, and the impact of receipt of necessary information less than thirty (30) days prior to the filing due date. You must also pay other expenses (e.g. postage, shipping, travel, software etc.) relating to the services on top of our normal hourly rates. Each invoice is payable upon receipt of the invoice. We will assess a 1.5% monthly late fee on all invoices unpaid after thirty (30) days of the invoice date. In accordance with our firm policies, work may be suspended if your account becomes sixty (60) days or more overdue and will not be resumed until your account is paid in full. We will not perform any work on your current year services until all your prior invoices are paid in full or a sufficient payment plan is in place. Other Matters Because of the importance of oral and written management representations to the effective performance of our services, Client releases and indemnifies Firm and its personnel from any and all claims, liabilities, costs and expenses attributable to any misrepresentation by Management and its representatives. We may from time to time, and depending on the circumstances and nature of the services we are providing, share Client’s confidential information with third-party service providers, some of whom may be cloud-based, but we remain committed to maintaining the confidentiality and security of your information. Accordingly, we maintain internal policies, procedures and safeguards to protect the confidentiality of your personal information. In addition, we will secure confidentiality terms with all service providers to maintain the confidentiality of your information and will take reasonable precautions to determine that they have appropriate procedures in place to prevent the unauthorized release of your confidential information to others. In the event that we are unable to secure appropriate confidentiality terms with a third-party service provider, you will be asked to provide your consent prior to the sharing of your confidential information with the third-party service provider. Although we will use our best efforts to make the sharing of your information with such third parties secure from unauthorized access, no completely secure system for electronic data transfer exists. As such, by your signature below, you understand that Firm makes no warranty, expressed or implied, on the security of electronic data transfers. In connection with this engagement, we may communicate with you or others via email transmission. We take reasonable measures to secure your confidential information in our email transmissions. However, as emails can be intercepted and read, disclosed, or otherwise used or communicated by an unintended third party, or may not be delivered to each of the parties to whom they are directed and only to such parties, we cannot guarantee or warrant that emails from us will be properly delivered and read only by the addressee. Therefore, we specifically disclaim and waive any liability or responsibility whatsoever for interception or unintentional disclosure or communication of email transmissions, or for the unauthorized use or failed delivery of emails transmitted by us in connection with the performance of this engagement. In that regard, Client agrees that Firm shall have no liability for any loss or damage to any person or entity resulting from the use of email transmissions, including any consequential, incidental, direct, indirect, or special damages, such as loss of sales or anticipated profits, or disclosure or communication of confidential or proprietary information. It is our policy to keep records related to this engagement for three years. However, Firm does not keep any original client records, so we will return those to you at the completion of the services rendered under this engagement. It is your responsibility to retain and protect your records (which includes any work product we provide to you as well as any records that we return) for possible future use, including potential examination by any government or regulatory agencies. Firm does not accept responsibility for hosting client information; therefore, you have the sole responsibility for ensuring you retain and maintain in your possession all your financial and non-financial information, data and records. By your signature below, you acknowledge and agree that upon the expiration of the three-year period, Firm shall be free to destroy our records related to this engagement. If any dispute arises among the parties hereto, the parties agree to first try in good faith to settle the dispute by mediation administered by the American Arbitration Association under its applicable rules for resolving professional accounting and related services disputes before resorting to litigation. The costs of any mediation proceeding shall be shared equally by all parties. Client and Firm both agree that any dispute over fees charged by the accountant to the client will be submitted for resolution by arbitration in accordance with the applicable rules for resolving professional accounting and related services disputes of the American Arbitration Association, except that under all circumstances the arbitrator must follow the laws of the state in which Firm services are rendered. Such arbitration shall be binding and final. IN AGREEING TO ARBITRATION, WE BOTH ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IN THE EVENT OF A DISPUTE OVER FEES CHARGED BY THE ACCOUNTANT, EACH OF US IS GIVING UP THE RIGHT TO HAVE THE DISPUTE DECIDED IN A COURT OF LAW BEFORE A JUDGE OR JURY AND INSTEAD WE ARE ACCEPTING THE USE OF ARBITRATION FOR RESOLUTION. The prevailing party shall be entitled to an award of reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs incurred in connection with the arbitration of the dispute in an amount to be determined by the arbitrator. We appreciate the opportunity to be of service to your company and believe this letter accurately summarizes the significant terms of our engagement. If you have any questions, please let us know. Very truly yours, MBE CPAs, LLP
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What Information Needs to be Reported?

You’ll need to report the legal name, address, date of birth, and government ID for each beneficial owner. The information you report depends on when your business was created:

What is a Beneficial Owner?

A beneficial owner is anyone who ultimately owns or controls a company, even if they don’t have ownership on paper. This can include individuals with significant ownership stakes (of at least 25%) or those with the power to make important decisions.

What is a Company Applicant?

This is the person who filed the paperwork to create the business.

When are BOI Reports Due?

The deadline depends on when your business was created. See the full details on this page, but generally, it’s within 30-90 days of formation or when a change occurs.

How to File a BOI Report

Reports are filed electronically through FinCEN’s website. There is no filing fee.

What is a Beneficial Owner?

MBE CBOI Rep

CTA Management Representation

"*" indicates required fields

Are you signing for a Business?*
Name*
Does this agreement cover multiple parties?*

Dear MBE CPAs: This representation letter is provided to MBE CPAs (“Firm”) in connection with the preparation and filing of the initial Beneficial Ownership Information (“BOI”) report for (herein referred to as “Management,” “we,” “our,” or “us”) to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”) as required by the Corporate Transparency Act (“CTA”). To the best of our knowledge and belief, Management confirms the following representations: 1. Management understands and acknowledges that Firm’s engagement is limited solely to providing limited advisory services to our company for the preparation and submission of our initial BOI report to FinCEN as required under the CTA. 2. Management understands that Firm’s limited services do not include providing legal advice with respect to determining if an exemption applies to our company or whether any relationships constitute “beneficial ownership.” As such, Management understands that the Firm will not be responsible for certifying or opining on our company’s compliance with the CTA. Management accepts full responsibility to engage separate legal counsel to assist in addressing any legal issues that may arise. 3. Management has made available to Firm all the required information and documentation necessary under applicable CTA regulations for the company, our beneficial owners, and if applicable, any company applicant(s). 4. Management acknowledges and understands that Firm will not be responsible for providing any further services related to our company’s ongoing requirement to update and/or correct BOI reports with FinCEN. Management accepts full responsibility for monitoring all reportable changes for our company and our beneficial owners (e.g., a change in beneficial owners; any change to a beneficial owner’s name, address, or unique identifying number; or any other information previously provided to FinCEN) and for ensuring that such changes are timely reported to FinCEN. 5. Management agrees to notify Firm in writing at least fifteen (15) business days prior to the due date for submission if we require assistance from Firm in filing an updated and/or corrected report on our behalf. Management acknowledges that Firm is under no obligation to provide such additional services unless mutually agreed to under a separate written agreement. 6. Management authorizes Firm to file our initial BOI report on our behalf. 7. Management represents, certifies, and warrants to Firm that all information provided to the Firm for purposes of the preparation and submission of the initial BOI report as required under the CTA is true, correct, and complete, and we agree that Firm may rely solely, without independent verification, on the accuracy and completeness of the information provided. 8. Management acknowledges the importance of oral and written management representations in the performance of Firm’s limited services and agrees to release and indemnify Firm and its personnel from any and all claims, liabilities, costs, and expenses attributable to any misrepresentation by Management and our representatives.
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Get the Help You Need

The CTA and BOI reporting can seem complex. Contact MBE CPAs today for assistance in understanding and complying with these regulations.