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Recent Decision Finding CTA Unconstitutional Casts Doubt on Its Fate

Ansell Grimm April 10, 2024

As we recently discussed in this blog post, homeowner and condominium associations (“Community Associations”), are subject to the detailed and complicated reporting requirements of the federal Corporate Transparency Act (CTA). The compliance deadlines for Community Associations to disclose their “beneficial ownership information” are approaching. However, a March 1 decision by a U.S. district court judge in Alabama, issued just 60 days after the CTA’s effective date, has called into question the ultimate enforceability and constitutionality of the law.

In National Small Business United v. Yellen, Judge Liles C. Burke granted summary judgment in favor of the plaintiffs, finding that “the CTA is unconstitutional because it ‘exceeds the Constitution’s limits on the legislative branch and lacks a sufficient nexus to any enumerated power to be a necessary or proper means of achieving Congress’ policy goals.'”

Critically, the court’s order enjoining enforcement of the CTA applies only to the plaintiffs, including the National Small Business Association (NSBA) and its approximately 60,000 members. While the decision is limited to the plaintiffs in the case, the decision is seen as a positive one from the perspective of Community Associations as it sets groundwork for other courts to follow suit concerning enforceability. Community Associations throughout the country have serious concerns about the intrusive reporting requirements of the CTA given that those who serve on the boards of associations are volunteer homeowners. The extensive and invasive reporting requirements of the CTA are likely to deter participation on Community Association boards. This decision provides some hope to Community Associations that the law will ultimately not be enforceable and/or will be amended as to those required to report.

Unsurprisingly, the U.S. Department of Justice and FinCEN, the government agency tasked with the CTA’s implementation and enforcement, quickly filed a notice of appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. Whatever the appellate court decides, there is a decent chance that the CTA’s fate will wind up in the hands of the U.S. Supreme Court.

Until then, or there is an amendment to the CTA, Community Associations should presume they will need to report their beneficial ownership information to FinCEN by the dates outlined in our earlier blog post.

For further information and assistance with your Community Association’s CTA compliance, please contact Nicole Miller in Ansell.Law’s Community Association practice group.

Most Commercial Property-Owning Entities and HOAs Must Now Report Ownership Information to the Federal Government Under the Corporate Transparency Act

Ansell Grimm February 13, 2024

By Nicole D. Miller and Melanie J. Scroble

Most entities that own commercial property, as well as homeowner and condominium associations (“Community Associations”), are among the over 36 million other American businesses and organizations that must now provide the federal government with detailed information about their ownership and controlling interests.

That is because the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), which became effective on January 1, 2024, mandates that all “Reporting Companies” covered by the law disclose “Beneficial Ownership Information” (BOI) to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) division of the U.S. Treasury Department.

With an effective date of January 1, 2024, and with mandatory reporting deadlines approaching, commercial property owners and Community Associations need to understand what obligations, if any, they have under the CTA, whether they are a covered “Reporting Company,” and what information they need to provide FinCEN by the applicable deadline.

What Is the Corporate Transparency Act?

Signed into law in 2021, the CTA is part of an expansive federal government effort to crack down on illegal money laundering and “the use of shell and front companies by illicit actors who use them to obfuscate their identities and launder ill-gotten gains through the United States.” Unlike most federal regulatory schemes that primarily apply to larger companies, the CTA targets “smaller, more lightly regulated entities,” according to FinCEN. This focus on small entities is one reason FinCEN estimated that 90% of businesses and organizations in the U.S. are subject to the CTA’s disclosure requirements.

Almost All Property Owning-Entities and HOAs Are Covered “Reporting Companies”

Subject to significant exceptions, as discussed below, a “Reporting Company” that must comply with the CTA is any corporation, limited liability company, or any other entity created by filing a document (e.g., Articles of Incorporation) with a secretary of state or equivalent agency. Entities like general partnerships or sole proprietorships that can be established without such filings are not subject to the CTA’s disclosure and reporting requirements.

Accordingly, individuals and general partnerships that own commercial property have no obligations under the act. But, unless they fall within one of the listed exceptions, all other property-owning entities will need to provide their BOI to FinCEN.

Most Community Associations are “Reporting Companies” under the act since they are usually organized by filing articles of incorporation with a secretary of state. Their tax-exempt status under Section 528 of the Internal Revenue Code does not spare Community Associations from their reporting obligations. While the CTA specifically exempts 501(c) non-profit organizations from reporting requirements, it does not exempt Section 528 organizations.

Entities Excluded From the CTA’s Reporting Requirements

Most entities excluded from the CTA’s reporting requirements are already subject to beneficial ownership reporting and disclosure obligations under other laws, so filing such disclosures under the CTA would be redundant.

As stated in Section(a)(11)(B) of the CTA, these entities do not have to comply with the CTA’s BOI reporting requirements:

Banks.
Bank holding companies.
Credit unions.
Insurance companies.
Issuers of securities registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or that must file supplementary and periodic information under Section 15(d) of the 1934 Act.
Brokers, dealers, and any other entities registered with the SEC under the 1934 Act.
Registered investment advisors under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.
Public accounting firms.
Companies employing more than 20 people full-time in the U.S. or that filed a federal income tax return in the prior year showing more than $5 million in gross sales or receipts and have an operating presence in the U.S.
Any entity that:
- Has existed for over one year.
- Has not sent or received funds over $1,000 or experienced an ownership change in the previous 12 months.
- Is not actively engaged in business.
- Is not owned by a foreign individual.

and

Does not otherwise hold any assets, including ownership interests, in any corporation, limited liability company, or other entity.

Disclosures Required About “Company Applicants” and “Beneficial Owners”

In addition to basic corporate information such as name, address, and tax ID number, Reporting Companies must provide FinCEN with BOI about two groups of individuals: “Company Applicants” and “Beneficial Owners.”

As defined in the Final Rule, a “company applicant” is “the individual who directly files the document that first creates the domestic reporting company” and “the individual who is primarily responsible for directing or controlling such filing if more than one individual is involved in the filing of the document.” Effectively, the person who filed the documents required to create the entity will be considered the “Company Applicant,” whose BOI must be reported.

Notably, the reporting of applicant information only applies to Reporting Companies created from and after January 1, 2024. Such new Reporting Companies need not provide FinCEN with updates regarding Company Applicant information after their initial disclosure.

“Beneficial Owner” = 25% Ownership OR “Substantial Control” Over Entity

All Reporting Companies must disclose information about their “Beneficial Owners.” As defined in the Final Rule, a “Beneficial Owner” is any person who, directly or indirectly, either:

Owns or controls at least 25% of a reporting company’s ownership interests; or
Exercises substantial control over a reporting company.

Importantly, ownership interests through intermediary entities qualify as ownership of a Reporting Company. As specified in the Final Rule, a person may be deemed a beneficial owner “through ownership or control of one or more intermediary entities, or ownership or control of the ownership interests of any such entities, that separately or collectively own or control ownership interests of the reporting company.”

“Substantial Control”

Determining whether a person exercises “substantial control” over an entity so they are considered a “Beneficial Owner” involves an analysis of the person’s actual authority and the actions they are empowered to take on behalf of an entity. Under the Final Rule, an individual has “Substantial Control” over an entity if they:

Serve as a senior officer of the entity.
Have authority over the appointment or removal of any senior officer or a majority of the board of directors (or similar body) of the entity or
Direct, determine, or have substantial influence over important decisions made by the entity, such as:
- Entry into and termination of contracts.
- Acquisition, sale, or lease of the company’s principal assets.
- Reorganization, dissolution, or merger.
- Selection or termination of business lines or venture.
- Amendment of any governance documents of the reporting company.

For Community Associations, this means that the voluntary members of the board of directors or board of trustees will be considered individuals with “substantial control” over the covered entity, i.e. the association.

Information That Must Be Reported to FinCEN

Non-exempt Reporting Companies must provide FinCEN with the following information regarding individuals who qualify as Company Applicants or Beneficial Owners:

Full legal name.
Date of birth.
Street addresses (identified as a current residential or business street address).
Non-expired state identification document or passport.

Reporting Deadlines

As noted, the CTA’s compliance deadlines largely depend on when the “Reporting Company” was formed.

Entities Formed in Calendar Year 2024: Covered Reporting Companies created or registered on or after January 1, 2024, and before January 1, 2025, must submit their BOI report within 90 days after the date of the entity’s formation (i.e., the filing date of its Articles or Certificate).
Entities Formed Before January 1, 2024: Covered Reporting Companies formed before 2024 must report their BOI on or before January 1, 2025.
Entities Formed on or After January 1, 2025: Covered Reporting Companies formed after 2024 must file their BOI within 30 days after its date of formation.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

Commercial property owners and Community Associations that fail to comply with the CTA’s reporting requirements face significant penalties. Any entity or person that “willfully provides, or attempts to provide, false or fraudulent information or willfully fails to report when required” faces civil penalties of $500 per day, criminal fines of up to $250,000, and a maximum of five years in federal prison.

Given the complexities in determining an entity’s beneficial ownership and non-compliance consequences, property-owning entities and Community Associations should consult with experienced counsel to ensure they satisfy any reporting obligations under the CTA. For further information and assistance with your entity’s CTA compliance, please contact one of the attorneys in Ansell Grimm & Aaron’s Commercial Real Estate or Community Association practice groups.

New Jersey Enacts Stringent New Inspection, Evaluation, and Maintenance Requirements for Condominium and Co-Op Buildings

Ansell Grimm January 11, 2024

By Elysa D. Bergenfeld and Nicole D. Miller

On January 8, 2024, New Jersey’s already-stringent building codes for residential construction became even more so when Gov. Phil Murphy signed S2760/A4384 into law. The sweeping legislation establishes additional requirements for the regular inspection, evaluation, and maintenance of certain types of condominiums and cooperative apartments in the state.

The new law was enacted in the wake of the 2021 condominium tragedy in Surfside, Florida, where 98 lives were lost due to structural issues that were not addressed. Accordingly, much of the law focuses on early detection of potential structural flaws and deficiencies.

Owners of property covered by the law must now ensure their buildings undergo routine structural inspections to ensure the safety and stability of the building. These inspections must be performed by licensed engineers and architects and adhere to industry best practices and standards. The law requires periodic reserve studies and allows for a ten-year “catch up” for reserves.

As outlined in the law, its requirements apply to any residential condominium or cooperative building with a primary load-bearing system comprised of a concrete, masonry, steel, or hybrid structure including, but not limited to, heavy timber and a building with podium decks, but not including an “excluded structure” as defined in the law.

All condo and co-op boards in New Jersey should consult with experienced community association counsel to determine whether the new law applies to their buildings and what to do to ensure compliance. If you have questions or concerns, please contact one of the attorneys in Ansell Grimm & Aaron’s Community Association Law practice group.

David J. Byrne to Present at CAI Webinar on April 20

Ansell Grimm April 13, 2022

David J. Byrne Esq., Chair of Ansell Grimm & Aaron’s Community Association Law Group, will be a featured presenter at the Community Associations Institute of New Jersey’s Wednesday, April 20th, Webinar.

The one-hour webinars focus on important issues affecting the rights, operations, and business of common interest communities. Mr. Byrne’s presentation, on April 20^th, will focus on the rights of — and strategies available to — community associations facing the demands of owners and/or residents who claim to be disabled, including those who seek accommodations with respect to animals characterized as service or emotional support

Registration is free and currently open for all CAI-NJ members via the CAI-NJ website. Community association managers will receive 1 CEU credit for attending.

Hudson Valley CAI In-Person Expo slated for September 30

Ansell Grimm September 16, 2021

Hudson Valley CAI Chapter President Stacey R. Patterson Esq., and the entire Hudson Valley Board is pleased to announce the return of our IN-PERSON Expo on Sept. 30, 2021 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Expo will be held at Homewood Suites in New Windsor, NY Our Hudson Valley vendors from attorneys to accountants, engineers to insurance agents, and everyone in between will be there to welcome back our loyal members and greet new members. The Expo promises to be filled with education and entertainment including interactive games, door prizes, and refreshments.

Ms. Patterson says: “I am looking forward to seeing familiar faces and getting acquainted with the new ones. It’s been way too long since we’ve been able to get together.”

Registration is free and open until the day of the event. Those who register prior to Sept. 23 are eligible for a $200 drawing.

Patterson Appointed HVCAI President

Ansell Grimm January 12, 2021

Stacey R. Patterson, Esq. has been appointed as the 2021 President of the Community Association Institute Hudson Valley Chapter Board of Directors. Ms. Patterson has been an active member of the Chapter since 2010 and a member of its Board of Directors since 2017. Ms. Patterson previously served on the Chapter’s executive committee, taking on leadership roles in numerous seminars and educational sessions offered by the Chapter. In her new role as President, she is looking forward to implementing new ways to increase membership and to convey important information to its current members during these unprecedented times.

Ms. Patterson has served as counsel with Ansell Grimm & Aaron PC in the Community Association Law practice group for the past 6 years. Since 2000, she has represented community associations in transactional, litigation, and government-related matters. Ms. Patterson has extensive experience in dealing with issues pertaining to the Non-Profit Corporations Acts, Condominium Acts, and Real Property Acts in New York and New Jersey.

Radburn Regulations bring new rules for Board Meetings & Minutes

Ansell Grimm June 3, 2020

In 2017, New Jersey’s legislature amended New Jersey’s Planned Real Estate Development Full Disclosure Act, commonly known as PREDFDA. These amendments have been labeled the “Radburn Amendments”. PREDFDA has always been administered by parts of New Jersey’s Department of Community Affairs (“DCA”). To that end, DCA has adopted regulations it claims are necessary to “implement” and/or “enable” relevant owners to “more easily and fully comply with” the Radburn Amendments. These regulations will likely be known as the “Radburn Regulations”.

The Radburn Regulations attempt to ensure that, no matter what, every “binding” decision of a board is first and only made at a board meeting open to attendance. These regulations define “binding vote” as a vote “made with a quorum of the executive board members present”. A board vote occurring at a “closed meeting” or via another forum has been expressly declared to be NOT binding. Now, owners can only be excluded for a “discussion” concerning a limited group of matters including those matters involving an unwarranted invasion of privacy and matters involving communications that should be confidential in light of the association’s attorney-client privilege. Any actual binding decisions concerning any of those matters must be first and only made at a board meeting open to attendance of owners. For every board vote, the board must provide to those in attendance a “brief explanation” of the basis for and “cost entailed” in the vote. There are a variety of strategies and arguments available to an association that hopes to minimize the burdens that the Radburn Regulations will place on associations in this regard.

The association must produce minutes concerning every board meeting open to attendance of owners. These minutes must be “legible”, noting the board members that participated. The minutes must clearly identify any “matters addressed”, any matters voted on, along with the basis for “and cost entailed in the matter which” was the “subject of the vote”. The minutes must be available to owners before the next board meeting, even if those minutes have to be identified as “draft”. Lastly, if a board elects to record its meeting, the recording must be available to owners.

New Rules for Notification of Board Meetings Under Radburn

Ansell Grimm June 2, 2020

The Radburn Regulations expressly address how “notice” of “board meetings” must be done. After the “annual meeting” – which the Radburn Regulations now make mandatory – the association has 7 days to “post, and maintain posted throughout the year, an open meeting schedule of the” board meetings. This annual schedule must identify the “time, date, and locations of each” meeting and be posted in at least 1 location identified by the Radburn Regulations. Any changes to the annual schedule of board meetings “shall be made at least 7 days prior to the scheduled date and posted and maintained” like the original schedule. Even if the association posts this “schedule” it still must give “all members” direct notice of every board meeting at least 7 days prior. This individual notice must also be posted publicly and on any “website and included in any newsletter”. Additionally, the association must provide each notice “personally” to every owner “by mail, hand-delivery, or electronic means”. Lastly, this “notice” must include certain details concerning the board meeting’s time, etc. and agenda details that note particular discussion, action, and reoccurring items. The association must even post a notice of “cancellation at the meeting site”, at a location within the association and on the website if a meeting noted on the overall annual meeting has been canceled.

The Radburn Regulations do allow a board meeting to deal with “matters of such urgency and importance that delay for the purpose of providing 7 days advance notice would” likely result in “substantial harm” if that board “meeting is limited to discussion of, and acting with respect to” the urgent and important matter. In that case, notice must be “provided as soon as possible following the calling of the meeting”. That notice must also be posted publicly, posted on any association “website” (and included in any newsletter), and provided “personally” to every owner “by mail, hand-delivery, or electronic means”. The board must make certain records vis-a-vis this meeting and respect other controls.

Important Information About the New Radburn Regulations & Elections For Associations Consisting of Less than 50 Units

Ansell Grimm June 1, 2020

The Radburn Regulations expressly address “board elections” of associations with fewer than 50 units. The Radburn Regulations govern the use of proxies and absentee ballots by these small associations. If the association utilizes proxies, it must contain certain disclosures. An owner can revoke such a proxy prior to the casting of a vote. If the association utilizes proxies, it “must also make absentee ballots available”. Associations consisting of less than 50 units may permit electronic voting so long as the association can “verify the eligibility of the voters” and “count the ballots in a non-fraudulent and verifiable way”. DCA considers the following to be the “non-fraudulent and verifiable way” to count ballots:

any physical location for ballots must be “secured”;
ballot “tallying” must “occur publicly, with the ballots “open to inspection” for not less than 90 days from the election’s date;
ballots must be “cast in an anonymous manner”; and,
if the bylaws allow, and the particular member agrees, a ballot can be cast “electronically if “it is administered by a neutral 3^rd party and anonymity is maintained”.

Because of the Radburn Regulations, associations of less than 50 units must provide a notice of election that includes certain information and be provided within a tight 15-day window. Every owner in “good standing” can nominate himself or another owner in “good standing” to be a candidate for election and “good standing” is the only “criterion” that can be employed concerning a nominee’s eligibility. Owners of these associations must have the chance to review each candidate’s “qualifications”. An association of less than 50 units is not required to allow for “write-in candidates”. Lastly, any owner that the association considers to be not in “good standing” must be notified of that within a specific time frame prior to the election.

Brief Discussion Re: Radburn Regulations, Elections & Associations Consisting of 50+ Units

Ansell Grimm May 29, 2020

The Radburn Regulations expressly address “board elections” of associations with 50+ units. The Radburn Regulations govern the use of proxies and absentee ballots by these associations. If the association utilizes proxies, it must contain certain disclosures. An owner can revoke such a proxy prior to the casting of a vote. If the association utilizes proxies, it “must also make absentee ballots available”. Associations consisting of more than 50 units may permit electronic voting so long as the association can “verify the eligibility of the voters” and “count the ballots in a non-fraudulent and verifiable way”. DCA considers the following to be the “non-fraudulent and verifiable way” to count ballots: (1) any physical location for ballots must be “secured”; (2) ballot “tallying” must “occur publicly, with the ballots “open to inspection” for not less than 90 days from the election’s date; (3) ballots must be “cast in an anonymous manner”; and, (4) if the bylaws allow, and the particular member agrees, a ballot can be cast “electronically if “it is administered by a neutral 3^rd party and anonymity is maintained”.

Because of the Radburn Regulations, associations of 50+ units must employ both a notice soliciting nominations and a notice of the election itself. The notice soliciting nominations must be provided within a tight 30-day window. Every owner in “good standing” can nominate himself or another owner in “good standing” to be a candidate for election. Thereafter, owners have at least 14 days, counted from the notice’s mailing, to submit a nomination. “Good standing” is the only “criterion” that can be employed concerning a nominee’s eligibility. The association is prohibited from mailing “ballots or proxies” until at least 1 day has passed since the end of the “nomination period”. After the nomination period expires, each owner is entitled to another election notice, sent by “personal delivery, by mail, or electronically”. Notice by electronic means can be sent only when the owner has agreed to this in writing or when the relevant governing documents permit such notices. This notice must “contain” a ballot. Also, if the bylaws permit, the notice must also include “an absentee ballot”. If the particular bylaws provide for a “proxy ballot”, an “absentee ballot” has to be there too. Candidates must be listed alphabetically and the “ballot” must “include space for write-in candidates for as many seats as are up for election.” Persons elected as “write-ins” also have to be in “good standing”. Lastly, any owner that the association considers to be not in “good standing” must be notified of that within a specific time frame prior to the election.

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