On October 14, 2020, FinCEN posted an incorrect message on its Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) E-Filing website. The message incorrectly stated there was a new filing extension until December 31, 2020, for all filers of Reports of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBARs). The extension until December 31, 2020, however, was intended only as an
FinCEN Extends FBAR Deadline to December 31 for Victims of Recent Natural Disasters
The Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) has announced that victims of the California Wildfires, the Iowa Derecho, Hurricane Laura, the Oregon Wildfires, and Hurricane Sally have until December 31, 2020, to file Reports of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (commonly referred to the FBAR form) for the 2019 calendar year. The FBAR for
Treasury Secretary Announces Federal Tax Filing Deadline Extended to July 15 Due to COVID-19
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin announced on Twitter this morning that the April 15 tax filing deadline has been extended to July 15 due to the health crisis caused by the coronavirus outbreak. All taxpayers (both individuals and businesses) will have extra time to file and pay their taxes without being subject to penalties and interest.
FinCEN Unveils New Global Investigations Division to Target Foreign Money Laundering Threats
The Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) announced today that it has launched a new Global Investigations Division (GID), which will be responsible for implementing targeted investigation strategies to combat illicit finance threats and related crimes, both domestically and internationally. Matthew Stiglitz, a former Principal Deputy Chief in the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division,
FinCEN Unveils New Efforts to Combat Widespread Business Email Compromise Fraud Scams As Losses Reach $300 Million Per Month
The Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) has announced new efforts to crack down on Business Email Compromise (BEC) schemes and those who profit from such scams. BEC fraud schemes generally involve attempts to compromise the email accounts of victims to send fraudulent payment instructions to financial institutions or business associates in order to
FinCEN Announces First-Ever Enforcement Action Against Bitcoin Trader for Violations of BSA
Last week, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) announced its first-ever civil penalty against a cryptocurrency exchanger for willful violations of the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA). According to the FinCEN Assessment of Civil Money Penalty (Assessment), California-based Eric Powers failed to register with FinCEN as a money services business (MSB); develop, implement, and maintain an
FinCEN Grants Further Extension of FBAR Deadline for Certain Financial Professionals
On December 4, 2018, the Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) announced a further extension of time for Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR) filings for certain individuals with signature authority over, but no financial interest in, one or more foreign financial accounts. The extension was granted in light of the notice
FinCEN Remains Mum on Details Regarding New Geographic Targeting Orders
We previously reported that the Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) had quietly extended its Geographic Targeting Orders directed at the luxury residential real estate market for another six months. In a break from its recent practice of making public announcements about GTOs, FinCEN evidently opted not to publicize this latest extension. A Miami
FinCEN Quietly Extends Real Estate Geographic Targeting Orders for Another Six Months
Breaking from its recent practice of making public announcements about Geographic Targeting Orders, the Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) last month quietly extended its real estate GTOs for another six months. The new expiration date is September 16, 2018. FinCEN’s move to continue the GTOs a fourth time suggests that the orders are
Treasury Official Warns of Risks to Financial System Posed by Illicit Use of Virtual Currencies
In a recent speech, the Under Secretary of Treasury’s Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence (TFI) warned of the growing threats to the U.S. financial system posed by virtual currencies. Addressing the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association’s Anti-Money Laundering & Financial Crimes Conference, Sigal Mandelker spoke broadly of the U.S. government’s efforts to