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Corporate Transparency Act: Business Owners Must Act Now

Client Alert

The Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) has been in effect since January 1, 2024. It is vital for reporting companies to file their beneficial ownership information (BOI) report before the year ends. Reporting companies formed prior to January 1, 2024, have less than six (6) months left to file. It is important to act now in order to avoid facing steep penalties for failing to comply with the CTA. Business owners should identify whether their company must report and if so, which individuals within the business entity are required to disclose the personal information designated under the CTA.

The CTA requires reporting companies to file a BOI report. Reporting companies must provide information regarding their entity, beneficial owners, and in some cases, the professional advisor(s) that helped form the entity. Reporting companies must submit the information to the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). Domestic reporting companies include corporations, LLPs, LLCs, and other similar entities that were formed through a filing with the secretary of state or similar office under the law of a state. Foreign reporting companies are those formed under the law of another country and are registered to do business in any U.S. state through filing with a secretary of state or any similar office under the law of a state.

Under the CTA, reporting companies that were formed prior to January 1, 2024, have one (1) year to comply and file their beneficial ownership information report. Reporting companies formed in 2024, must file their report within ninety (90) days of their formation. Reporting companies formed on or after January 1, 2025, will have only thirty (30) days to file their report following their formation.

The purpose of the CTA is to safeguard the U.S. financial system from fraud, money laundering, and other illegal activities. There has been a concern in recent years that the U.S. has become a jurisdiction of choice for bad actors to create shell companies that hide the ultimate beneficiaries. Through the CTA, a national registry will be created that will allow the U.S. to obtain all relevant ownership information regarding reporting companies. The registry will enable the U.S. to crack down on illegal activity such as tax fraud, money laundering, terrorist financing, and more.

There are harsh penalties for reporting companies that fail to file a timely report to FinCEN. Civil and criminal penalties may result in fines up to $10,000, imprisonment for up to two (2) years, or both. Any person who (i) willfully provides or attempts to provide false/fraudulent information, or (ii) fails to report and/or update a report previously made, may be subject to the aforementioned penalties.

For more information about the CTA or how to comply, please contact BMD Member Blake Gerney at brgerney@bmdllc.com.


First-of-Its-Kind Federal Ruling Finds Use of Consumer AI Tool May Destroy Attorney-Client Privilege

On February 10, 2026, Judge Jed Rakoff of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York issued a first-of-its-kind ruling finding that documents generated by a criminal defendant using a consumer AI platform were not protected by attorney-client privilege after being shared with counsel. The court treated the AI tool as a third party, concluding that entering sensitive information into a publicly available platform may waive confidentiality. The ruling also suggests that the work product doctrine may not apply where AI-generated materials are created independently by a client rather than at counsel’s direction. The decision signals that parties should exercise caution when using consumer AI tools in connection with legal matters.

Your Golden Chance for H-1B Lottery Registration - March 2026

USCIS H-1B registration opens March 4–19, 2026. U.S.-based employees on valid nonimmigrant status are exempt from the $100,000 fee for change of status petitions. The new weighted lottery favors higher-skilled and higher-paid employees, improving odds for advanced degree holders and Wage Level 3 or 4 workers.

Invisible Algorithms: The Hidden Role of Artificial Intelligence in USCIS Immigration Processing

The Department of Homeland Security has confirmed that artificial intelligence and machine learning tools are now integrated into numerous operational functions within U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). These tools are described as mechanisms to improve efficiency, reduce backlogs, and assist officers in managing an unprecedented volume of applications. DHS emphasizes that human adjudicators retain decision-making authority and that AI systems do not independently grant or deny immigration benefits. Find out how AI affects the U.S. immigration process.

OAAPN | Year In Review: 2026 Ohio Board of Nursing and Ohio Law Rules

Find out key changes to Ohio law and the Ohio Board of Nursing rules that have directly impacted APRN practice over the past year, including Psychiatric Inpatient Documents, Intimate Examinations, Signature Authority, Duties Related to Fetal Death, Retail IV Therapy Clinics, Release from Permanent Restrictions, Disciplinary Action, Course on Drugs and Prescriptive Authority, Overdose Reversal Drugs, Office Based Opioid Treatment, Withdrawal Management for Substance Use Disorder, Safe Haven Program, and more.

Ohio House Bill 537: Proposed Regulations for Midwives and Birthing Centers

House Bill 537, introduced in the Ohio House of Representatives, proposes a comprehensive regulatory framework for certified nurse-midwives, certified midwives, licensed midwives, and traditional midwives. The legislation would clarify scope of practice, establish licensure standards, and impose new requirements for freestanding birthing centers and home births. Healthcare providers and facilities should be aware of the proposed changes and their potential operational impact.