Blog Layout

What You Need to Know About the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA)

Jul 15, 2024

The Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) was passed in 2021 and became effective on January 1st, 2024. See what this means for small business owners.


The bipartisan CTA was enacted to squash illicit finance. Although there are limited exceptions, this law will affect most domestic reporting companies (LLCs, Corporations, etc.). Each company must now report its ownership to the government through a Beneficial Owner Information Report (BOI report).

Beneficial Ownership

Who is Considered a Beneficial Owner?


A person will be considered a beneficial owner if:

  • They have a major influence on the company's operations and decisions.
  • They own at least 25% of company shares.

And/or

  • They have a similar level of control over the company's equity


What Information Does the Beneficial Owner Report?

In the BOI report, businesses must give information about their beneficial owner(s), which includes owners and applicants':


  • Names
  • Dates of birth (DOBs)
  • Addresses
  • ID # numbers (from U.S. driver's licenses, Passports, or ID cards)
  • Additional Information


Businesses must also report changes in ownership to the government within 30 days of the change(s).


Penalties will apply when businesses fail to satisfy filing requirements, so small business owners must stay aware and informed.


Reporting Timelines

Any businesses operating before January 1st, 2024, have until January 1st, 2025, to file the BOI report.

Businesses formed between January 1st, 2024, and January 1st, 2025, will have 90 days from formation to fill out the BOI report.

All businesses formed after January 1st, 2025, will have 30 days from formation to fill out the BOI report.

Filing is secure and free of charge.


Resources and Documents

The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) accepts BOI reports. It wants to provide American small businesses with the necessary resources to make filing painless.

Check out their Small Entity Compliance Guide and learn more about reporting at https://www.fincen.gov/boi

Clayton Financial Group is Here to Help

There's much to keep straight when running a small business or investing in one. We want to ensure our clients stay well-informed and know they can contact us with questions.


If you would like further assistance understanding the Corporate Transparency Act or have questions about filing a BOI report, we can help—contact us today.

01 Nov, 2024
The IRS encourages taxpayers to sign up for an IP PIN for the 2025 tax season
A baby is laying on the floor looking at a piggy bank.
11 Oct, 2024
When planning for the financial aspects of parenthood, it's wise to be as proactive as possible. Many expenses are associated with having a child, so take some time to consider the long-term implications and create a budget that will allow you to save for your future life.
11 Oct, 2024
The Senior Property Tax Credit Program is a Saint Louis County program authorized by §137.1050 of the Revised Statutes of the State of Missouri. It freezes certain real property taxes for eligible seniors.
13 Sep, 2024
These ten questions address some of the most common sources of confusion around Medicare: when to sign up, what to do if you are still working, how much it costs, and more.
08 Aug, 2024
College tuition is so expensive that even high-income families can get financial aid offers. Your first step is to complete the federal forms and then contact the school directly to negotiate a financial aid package further.
15 Jul, 2024
It's difficult to detect when you are being victimized. Many scams target older people, and awareness is the first step in protecting yourself or your loved ones.
15 Jul, 2024
Each domestic reporting company must now report its ownership to the government through a Beneficial Owner Information Report (BOI report).
14 Jun, 2024
You May Be Surprised at Some of the Documents We Recommend When It Comes to Estate Planning and Generational Wealth Transfer. 
08 May, 2024
Becoming a caregiver to a family member or loved one may occur at some point in your life, whether due to unexpected circumstances or old age. If you already are a caregiver or know someone who is, you may have some stories about how overwhelming it can be—emotionally and otherwise. Caregiving requires love, time, and patience, but the financial aspect of caregiving often doesn't get the proper attention it needs. Discuss this side of caregiving with your financial professional, who can offer you various resources and guidance to make things easier. These 11 tips can also help you manage your loved one's finances more effectively. 1. Talk About It Now Before It’s Too Late We must prepare for the unexpected, which means having a financial discussion with the person you are caring for in advance. While discussing money with them can seem complicated, it doesn't have to be. As a current or future caregiver, you need answers to some key questions. Let your loved one know that it's in their best interest to address these things now: Has your loved one saved money? If so, how much? What's their source of income? Do they have investments or insurance policies? Who is their financial professional/attorney/CPA? Do they want to live in an assisted living home or prefer to live at home? Have they planned for elder care (or can they pay for it)? Do they have long-term care insurance? Discussing these things when the aging parent is healthier and able to make decisions can make it easier for you to take action when the time comes. 2. Review Estate Planning Documents Find out if your loved one has prepared estate planning documents, and ensure that their will and power of attorney are current. A living will and health care proxy are critical estate planning documents to take care of immediately. They entail how you should handle medical treatment while your loved one is still living but can no longer express their health care wishes or make medical decisions on their own. Again, the best time to do this is while all parties are healthy and of sound mind. But if that time passes, it should still be a priority; it's never too late to get these in order. 3. Keep Financial Documents Organized and Accessible Necessary documents, such as wills, powers of attorney, investment statements, insurance policies, and bank account statements, should be reviewed, updated, and kept in a secure, accessible place. Ensure they are all kept together in one place with relevant passwords. 4. Know What’s Important to Your Loved One Generally, a caregiver's top priority should be to do what their loved one wants. For that reason, take the time to talk with them about their preferences for receiving care. Is it important to them to not be a burden on their children? Are they okay with living in an assisted living or nursing home? Would they rather live at home? Another option is to ask your loved one to write a letter expressing their desires and reasons. While living wills or health care proxies often cover wishes and instructions, they don't cover feelings. A personal letter can remind you of the sentiment behind your loved one's wishes. While you, as a caregiver, may not be able to fulfill all their wishes, you can still make the best possible decisions for them. Knowing what your loved one wants also helps you understand and empathize with them. 5. Seek Professional Advice When planning for your loved one, you should seek two types of professional advice – financial and legal. Ask your financial professional to recommend an attorney for legal consultation (and a tax professional for tax advice, if necessary).
12 Apr, 2024
If your employer health plan is a health savings account (HSA) paired with a high-deductible health plan (HDHP), you may have a problem when you turn 65.
More Posts
Share by: