Ownership Transparency

The U.S. is the easiest place in the world for a criminal, terrorist, tax cheat, or kleptocrat to open an anonymous shell company to launder their money with impunity. Anonymous corporations are great ways to hide money and other assets — they can hold a bank account or buy a yacht. Criminals often layer anonymous corporations, with one owning another and so on, making it even harder for law enforcement to “trace the money” and figure out who is directing the company’s activity. It’s time to ending the use of anonymous shell companies as vehicles for illicit activity by requiring that the true owners of U.S. companies be disclosed at the time of formation and updated upon any change.

42 Attorneys General Urge Senate to Pass Law to Fight Shell Companies

Representing Attorneys General from 42 states, the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) wrote to Senate Banking Committee leadership supporting the beneficial ownership provisions in the ILLICIT CASH Act (S. 2563). Similar provisions are currently under consideration in the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020 (S.Amdt.2198 to S.4049).

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