CTASafe on Corporate Transparency Act
Jay O'Neil is the CEO of CTASafe, Inc. a compliance technology and consulting company focused on helping small and closely held businesses meet the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) reporting requirements. With a background in law, Jay combines legal expertise with practical solutions for businesses facing new regulatory obligations. His experience includes guiding clients through complex compliance laws, and he works closely with accountants and business attorneys to streamline CTA compliance and ensure accuracy in reporting.
Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:
- [02:33] The origins and global influence of the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA)
- [04:12] Why Jay O'Neil chose to focus on CTA in his practice
- [06:08] Which businesses should comply with CTA requirements?
- [08:47] What needs reporting under the new CTA rules
- [09:49] Common CTA compliance pitfalls
- [18:41] The price of missing the CTA deadline
- [23:14] Why many professionals are unprepared for CTA compliance
- [30:41] How CTASafe simplifies ongoing compliance and reporting
In this episode…
Navigating the complexities of new regulations can be daunting for small business owners, especially when the stakes are high. The Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), recently enacted, requires businesses to report detailed ownership information to avoid hefty fines. But what exactly does this mean for your business, and how can you ensure compliance?
According to Jay O'Neil, a seasoned attorney and expert in compliance law, the CTA aims to create a comprehensive database to help prevent money laundering and other financial crimes. He highlights that the law applies to any small business entity registered with the Secretary of State, provided it meets specific size and revenue thresholds. While the Act’s intentions are clear, the details are complex, from identifying beneficial owners to understanding filing deadlines. Jay emphasizes that missing the January 1, 2025, deadline could result in severe financial penalties, making it crucial for business owners to understand and address these requirements now.
In this episode of the Pillar6 Podcast, host Roman Polnar speaks with Jay O'Neil, CEO of CTASafe, to discuss the challenges and obligations of CTA compliance. They cover essential details on reporting requirements, potential penalties for non-compliance, and how CTASafe’s platform helps streamline the process for small businesses. Jay also shares practical advice for staying compliant in the face of evolving regulations.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- Roman M. Polnar on LinkedIn
- Pillar6 Advisors
- James (Jay) O'Neil:LinkedIn | Email
- CTASafe: Website | Free Consultation | Email | Pricing
- CTASafe Coupon Codes: $20 off of one time filing (PILLAR61FILE) | $400 off of concierge consulting options (PILLAR61124)
- CTASafe: preparing your filing fact sheet
- CTASafe: CTA fundamentals fact sheet
- CTASafe: email template for info sharing and CTA services
- Law Offices of James O'Neil
Special Mentions
- Corporate Transparency Act (CTA)
- Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN)
- Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel García Márquez
Quotable Moments
- "The Corporate Transparency Act is essentially an attempt by the federal government to create a database of small businesses and their owners."
- "Easy to do wrong, hard to do right. If your test is whether you filled in something on each of the boxes, you're going to be able to do that pretty easily."
- "You have 30 days to file an update, or you're subject to the same penalties. Filing incorrect has the same consequence as failing to file."
- "So you can imagine if you had to call up eight different owners and officers of a company and say, hey, can you mail me your driver's license?"
- "This is a law enforcement database. We need to know within 30 days of where the money launderers are so we can go after them."
Action Steps
- Understand the requirements: This foundational knowledge helps you identify if your business is a mandatory reporter, thereby avoiding potential penalties.
- Conduct a beneficial ownership analysis: Analyze your business structure to identify all beneficial owners, including those with substantial control, community property interests, and any complex ownership scenarios to ensure accurate reporting and mitigate the risk of underreporting, which could result in fines.
- Implement a compliance monitoring system: Set up a system to monitor and update any changes in ownership or company information within the required 30-day period to avoid lapses in compliance due to overlooked updates or changes in business operations.
- Engage professional help: Leveraging professional expertise can simplify the process and provide clarity, especially regarding complex ownership structures and legal nuances.
- Schedule regular compliance reviews: This routine helps maintain vigilance against any unreported changes and keeps your business aligned with evolving legal requirements.
Sponsor for this episode
This episode is brought to you by Pillar6. Pillar6 is a wealth advisory firm for successful individuals and families with active lifestyles.
Our clients appreciate having clarity and control over their finances and the peace of mind in knowing that their financial decisions are aligned with their core values, goals, and priorities. We provide financial planning services and wealth management services.
Schedule your complimentary discovery call to talk to us.
To learn more, go to www.pillar6.com or you can email us at hello@pillar6.com.