TITLE Act

True Incorporation Transparency for Law Enforcement Act or the TITLE Act

This bill requires a state that receives funding under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant program to implement certain incorporation practices, including a requirement for an entity that forms a corporation or limited liability company to provide information about its beneficial owners.

The bill imposes a civil penalty and authorizes criminal penalties—a fine, a prison term for up to three years, or both—for providing false or fraudulent beneficial ownership information or for willfully failing to provide complete or updated beneficial ownership information.

The bill broadens the term financial institution to include a person engaged in the business of forming corporations or limited liability companies. It directs the Department of the Treasury to require persons engaged in the business of forming corporations or limited liability companies to establish anti-money laundering programs.

The Government Accountability Office must study and report on (1) the availability of beneficial ownership information for other legal entities (e.g., partnerships), and (2) the effectiveness of incorporation practices implemented under this bill.