Incorporation Transparency and Law Enforcement Assistance Act

Bill: 114-hr-4450
Sponsor: Rep. Maloney, Carolyn B. [D-NY-12]
Introduced: 2016-02-03 in the House
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Business records
Civil actions and liability
Congressional oversight
Corporate finance and management
Currency
Department of the Treasury
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Government information and archives
Immigration status and procedures
Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
Public contracts and procurement
Terrorism

Summary:
action_date: 2016-02-03
text: 

Incorporation Transparency and Law Enforcement Assistance Act

 
This bill directs the Department of the Treasury to: (1) issue regulations requiring corporations and limited liability companies formed in a state that does not have a formation system providing for the disclosure, updating, and verification of beneficial ownership information to file with Treasury information about their beneficial ownership as required by this bill; and (2) provide such information pursuant to a civil or criminal subpoena or summons from a federal or state agency or a congressional committee or a written request by a federal agency on behalf of another country or by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network.
 
It sets forth requirements for state formation systems regarding beneficial ownership information, including: (1) the identification of beneficial owners by name, residential or business address, and identifying number from a passport or driver's license; and (2) the updating of lists of beneficial owners not later than 60 days after any change in information. It requires retention of such information for five years after a corporation or limited liability company terminates. 
 
The bill authorizes a state that maintains a formal licensing system for formation agents to permit an applicant to form a corporation or limited liability company, or a corporation or company formed under the laws of the state, to provide such information to such an agent residing in that state instead of to that state directly, under certain conditions. It prescribes penalties for: (1) providing false or fraudulent beneficial ownership information; (2) willfully failing to provide complete or updated information; (3) disclosing the existence of a subpoena, summons, or other request for beneficial ownership information, with exceptions; and (4) a formation agent failing to obtain or maintain credible, legible, and updated beneficial ownership information.
 
 Treasury must publish a proposed and final rule to require persons engaged in the business of forming corporations to establish anti-money laundering programs.
 
 The Government Accountability Office must study and report to Congress on: (1) state requirements for the disclosure of beneficial ownership information; (2) whether the lack of such information has impeded investigations into entities suspected of terrorism, money laundering, and other criminal activities; (3) whether the failure to require beneficial ownership information for partnerships and trusts formed or registered in the United States has elicited international criticism and what steps the United States has taken or is planning to take in response; and (4) the effectiveness of incorporation practices implemented under this bill in aiding law enforcement.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-02-03
text: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
action_date: 2016-02-03
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H507)
action_date: 2016-02-03
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2016-02-03
text: Introduced in House