The U.S. Supreme Court has reinstated the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) at the federal government’s request, while legal challenges continue. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson was the only dissenter as the court lifted a temporary block on the law.
The Biden-era Justice Department sought the Supreme Court’s intervention last month. The ruling came just three days after President Trump’s inauguration. Although Trump’s Justice Department did not withdraw the request, “he had opposed the CTA during his first term.”
Passed as part of the 2021 defense bill, the CTA requires small business owners to report personal information—such as birth dates and addresses—to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. The law’s goal is to “curb money laundering by increasing transparency in company ownership.”
Business groups and anti-regulatory advocates strongly oppose the CTA. Critics argue it “imposes excessive burdens on small businesses,” raising privacy concerns and compliance costs.
For now, reinstating the law means businesses must comply with its requirements unless further court decisions change its status. As the legal fight unfolds, “the CTA’s future remains uncertain.”