Wolters Kluwer survey reveals low awareness and high uncertainty among small businesses in navigating new Beneficial Ownership requirement

Lack of preparedness among those subject to impending Corporate Transparency Act obligations poses substantial compliance risks and consequences

Despite an effective date less than 90 days away, a significant portion of businesses subject to new U.S. “beneficial ownership” rules under the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) are either unaware of the reporting obligations they face or are unsure about how they will comply. This exposes them to substantial compliance risk, according to a new Wolters Kluwer survey, with non-compliance resulting in hefty fines and, potentially, incarceration. The U.S. Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) estimates that the rule will impact approximately 32.6 million reporting companies in 2024 alone, with five million new reporting companies formed and registered every year going forward.

The survey findings, reflecting input from 669 U.S.-based companies, as well as 328 law firms and accounting firms, are based on a questionnaire exploring general awareness of and readiness for complying with the CTA’s new beneficial ownership rule. While the rule will apply to half (51%) of the firms that participated in the survey, 74% of those companies for which the CTA rule will be applicable indicated they only became aware of the rule by having taken the survey. Many respondents aware of the CTA were unsure (41%) whether the beneficial ownership rule, as implemented by FinCEN, would apply to them, despite their company’s reporting status and revenue size.

“Lack of understanding regarding the applicability of beneficial ownership reporting is significant—41% are ‘unsure’ among companies we surveyed—as is the lack of awareness about the CTA in general,” said George May, Vice President and Segment Leader, Small Business, for CT Corporation, a Wolters Kluwer business.

Among those respondents who felt the CTA applies to their organization, only 27% anticipate doing their own reporting, with 48% anticipating using third parties, and another 25% are unsure as to their plans.

“These are troubling figures, given both the percentage of businesses that are subject to the reporting requirements and where their organizations stand today in terms of preparing for an effective date that is right around the corner,” May added.

Feedback among CPA firms and law firms surveyed was similar, with only 54% confirming awareness of the CTA before having taken the survey, versus 46% who were unaware.

“Small businesses will look to their CPA firms and law firms for guidance on the CTA. Yet among those advisors, awareness of the Act is mixed and there is a high degree of uncertainty on the part they want to play in supporting their clients,” said Ross Aronowitz, Vice President, CT Corporation Law Firm segment, Wolters Kluwer. “Determining a plan of action and executing on that plan will be essential for professional advisory firms subject to the rule—and for their clients—in complying with this new law.”

The survey was conducted from June 15 to July 5 via Qualtrics, with Wolters Kluwer identified as the study sponsor.

The beneficial ownership reporting rule, part of the CTA and issued by FinCEN in September 2022, will require companies to collect, document and monitor previously unreported data on a company’s primary owners via completion of a Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) report. Every person who owns or manages a limited liability company (LLC) needs to be aware of the new reporting requirement, first to determine if their company is subject to BOI reporting and, if so, to begin preparing to comply.

More information on navigating the new beneficial ownership rule is available by visiting the CTA Resources page.

For more than 130 years, Wolters Kluwer CT Corporation has been the leading provider of registered agent services, incorporation services, and legal entity compliance. It is part of Wolters Kluwer’s Financial & Corporate Compliance (FCC) division and has a global reach into over 150 countries. More than 75 percent of Fortune 500 companies, 95 percent of AmLaw 100 law firms, and 350,000 small businesses trust CT Corporation to handle their compliance needs with the help of innovative solutions such as UCC Hub, an end-to-end due diligence workflow solution for corporate transactions. Wolters Kluwer Compliance Solutions, also part of Wolters Kluwer FCC, is a market leader and trusted provider of risk management and regulatory compliance solutions and services to U.S. banks, credit unions, insurers and securities firms.

About Wolters Kluwer

Wolters Kluwer (EURONEXT: WKL) is a global leader in information, software, and services for professionals in healthcare, tax and accounting, financial and corporate compliance, legal and regulatory, and corporate performance and ESG. We help our customers make critical decisions every day by providing expert solutions that combine deep domain knowledge with specialized technology and services.

Wolters Kluwer reported 2022 annual revenues of €5.5 billion. The group serves customers in over 180 countries, maintains operations in over 40 countries, and employs approximately 20,900 people worldwide. The company is headquartered in Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands.

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