Join NSBA in the fight against the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA)
NSBA is seeking to overturn the CTA to protect the small business community to protect small-business owners from the costly, duplicative, and cumbersome burdens of the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA).
What is the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA)
The Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) is a federal law that aims to curtail money laundering and other illegal activities. Passed in 2021, the CTA requires most types of businesses, including corporations, limited liability companies, and other business entities created by a filing with the secretary of state or similar office, to report beneficial ownership information to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN)
- Shapes how easily small businesses can access loans, credit, and investment.
- Determines whether trade, exporting, and government contracting are realistic growth paths.
- Impacts the strength of local economies, infrastructure, and workforce pipelines that small firms depend on.
Why it Matters
The average small-business owner is looking at compliance costs of nearly $8,000 - in the first year alone. Failure of a small business to comply—intentional or not—could result in up to $10,000 in fines and up to two years in prison.
- Shapes how easily small businesses can access loans, credit, and investment.
- Determines whether trade, exporting, and government contracting are realistic growth paths.
- Impacts the strength of local economies, infrastructure, and workforce pipelines that small firms depend on.
NSBA lawsuit heads to Supreme Court of The United States
On Wednesday, April 15, 2026, NSBA filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari in our ongoing lawsuit over the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) with the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS).
As it currently stands, the CTA remains the law of the land. Fortunately, Treasury has opted NOT to take any enforcement actions under the CTA, but that could change.
America’s small businesses need the Supreme Court to intervene and issue a final ruling on this deeply flawed law and NSBA is working hard to make that happen.
- Shapes how easily small businesses can access loans, credit, and investment.
- Determines whether trade, exporting, and government contracting are realistic growth paths.
- Impacts the strength of local economies, infrastructure, and workforce pipelines that small firms depend on.
Historical Action Against CTA
November 14, 2022
November 19, 2023
February 29, 2024
September 26, 2024
December 2, 2024
December 16, 2024
December 21, 2024
December 22, 2024
December 25, 2024
January 14, 2025
January 22, 2025
February 5, 2025
February 9, 2025
February 27, 2025
December 15, 2025
April 14, 2026
Supporters
Defeat of the CTA is a victory for law-abiding small-business owners
Among key data from NSBA's Member Survey on the CTA: the average small-business owner is looking at compliance costs of nearly $8,000 — in the first year alone.
Watch NSBA's latest briefing on our lawsuit and efforts over the CTA.
Think the CTA doesn't affect or apply to you? Think again, and read the frequently asked questions NSBA receives on our efforts to defeat the CTA.
Briefly describe your degree and any other highlights about your studies you want to share. Be sure to include relevant skills you gained, accomplishments you achieved or milestones you reached during your education.
NSBA supported announcements from the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) indicating the agency's pause on enforcement of the unconstitutional CTA.
On Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2022, NSBA announced the filing of a constitutional challenge to the Corporate Transparency Act of 2019, which requires small-business owners to undergo a duplicative and burdensome paperwork process. Read our first press release on our suit.
Download the formal complaint NSBA filed challenging the Corporate Transparency Act.
Efforts to stem money laundering are important, but this version of the CTA is not the way. Read more on NSBA's position and support for repeal in our CTA Issue Brief.
Think the CTA doesn't affect or apply to you?
Think again, and read the frequently asked questions NSBA receives on our efforts to defeat the CTA.
Defeat the CTA
Please consider supporting our efforts. Fighting against the might of the federal government takes focused strategy and strong resources, and we need your help in defeating the CTA once and for all.
- Shapes how easily small businesses can access loans, credit, and investment.
- Determines whether trade, exporting, and government contracting are realistic growth paths.
- Impacts the strength of local economies, infrastructure, and workforce pipelines that small firms depend on.