The CTA is Back in Play, with a Slight Extension

UPDATE 12.27.2024

BREAKING: The Fifth Circuit has vacated a portion of its December 23 order which reinstated the CTA’s reporting obligations. As of now, reporting companies are no longer subject to the CTA’s reporting obligations while the Fifth Circuit expedites a decision on the constitutionality of the law. Stay tuned for further updates to come.

On Monday, December 23, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit revived the immediate enforceability of the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA). In Texas Top Cop Shop, Inc. v. Garland, the Fifth Circuit stayed the lower court’s nationwide preliminary injunction against the CTA, which was issued on December 3, 2024.

Later that day, FinCEN responded to the Fifth Circuit’s order by issuing an advisory extending the reporting deadline as follows:

• Reporting companies that were created or registered prior to January 1, 2024, have until January 13, 2025, to file their initial beneficial ownership information reports with FinCEN. (These companies would otherwise have been required to report by January 1, 2025.)

• Reporting companies created or registered in the United States on or after September 4, 2024, that had a filing deadline between December 3, 2024, and December 23, 202,4 have until January 13, 2025, to file their initial beneficial ownership information reports with FinCEN. (These companies would otherwise have been required to report within 90 days from the date they were created or registered.)

• Reporting companies created or registered in the United States on or after December 3, 2024, and on or before December 23, 2024, have an additional 21 days from their original filing deadline to file their initial beneficial ownership information reports with FinCEN. (These companies would otherwise have been required to report within 90 days from the date they were created or registered.)

• Reporting companies that are created or registered in the United States on or after January 1, 2025, have 30 days to file their initial beneficial ownership information reports with FinCEN after receiving actual or public notice that their creation or registration is effective.

There are several anticipated challenges to this latest ruling, so please stay tuned!