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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.

Bipartisan Momentum Builds as Senators Introduce Measure to Curb Money Laundering, Terror Financing

Sen. Wyden and Sen. Rubio’s “Corporate Transparency Act” — Companion to Rep. Maloney and Rep. King’s H.R.3089 — Would End Incorporation of Anonymous Companies
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Momentum continued to build towards curbing criminal money laundering and terror finance Thursday as Sens. Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) introduced the Corporate Transparency Act (S.1717), the Senate companion to a bipartisan House bill (H.R.3089) aimed at ending the abuse of anonymous shell companies.

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FACT Sheet: Differences in Beneficial Ownership Legislation

Creating a U.S. shell company takes less information than acquiring a library card.  A 2014 academic study found that the U.S. is the easiest country in the world for terrorists and criminals to open anonymous shell companies to launder their money with impunity.

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From Pakistan to Park Lane via Panama

How Prime Minister Sharif’s Family Used Anonymous Companies
Over a year on and the effect of the Panama Papers continues to reverberate.

 Last week, the leaks claimed another political scalp: Pakistan’s Supreme Court has removed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif from office. The leaks showed how Sharif and his children were linked to prestigious Park Lane apartments in London through a complex web of anonymously owned British Virgin Island (BVI) companies.

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Bipartisan Bill Seeks to Secure Airways from Criminals and Terrorists

FACT Coalition Supports ‘Aircraft Ownership Transparency Act of 2017’
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced a bill Friday to secure the U.S. aviation system from criminal actors and terrorists hiding behind anonymous shell companies, in a move welcomed by the Financial Accountability and Corporate Transparency Coalition.

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Letter to Reps. Lynch, King, and Maloney Supporting Aircraft Ownership Transparency Act (H.R. 3544)

The Financial Accountability and Corporate Transparency Coalition (FACT Coalition) sent a letter to Reps. Lynch, Maloney, and King thanking them for their support regarding Aircraft Ownership Transparency Act of 2017 (H.R.3544) which aims to secure the U.S. aviation system from criminal actors and terrorists hiding behind anonymous shell companies. The full letter can be read below or downloaded here.

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