FinCEN issues final rule on beneficial ownership identifiers

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network issued a final rule that specifies the circumstances in which a reporting company may report an entity’s FinCEN identifier in lieu of information about individual beneficial owners.

Details: A FinCEN identifier is a unique number that FinCEN will issue upon request after receiving required information. Although there is no requirement to obtain a FinCEN identifier, the agency said doing so can simplify the reporting process.

Background: Starting Jan. 1, 2024, many U.S. companies will have to report information about their beneficial owners—the individuals who ultimately own or control the company.

ICBA View: ICBA has repeatedly called on FinCEN to withdraw beneficial ownership requirements for banks now that it is required to collect this information directly from reporting companies, including in a written statement to Congress and a comment letter to the agency earlier this year.