Got a BOI Letter or Email? How to Check It
Be cautious. FinCEN says letters citing a 'Form 4022' or 'Form 5102' are fraudulent, that there's no fee to file BOI directly with FinCEN, and that it doesn't send correspondence requesting payment to file. US companies don't file BOI reports at all now. Verify through fincen.gov, not through links or numbers in the message.
Many business owners are still getting letters, emails and calls about "BOI compliance." Some are outdated reminders, some are paid services, and some are scams. This post covers what FinCEN itself says about fraudulent BOI correspondence and a simple way to check anything you receive.
Everything here comes from FinCEN's own BOI and scams pages (linked in Sources). Nothing below is a guess about a specific letter. If in doubt, verify directly with FinCEN.
First: does your company even need to file?
Start here, because it settles most letters on its own. Under FinCEN's final rule, published and effective August 14, 2026, companies created in the United States and US persons are exempt from BOI reporting. Only companies formed under foreign law and registered to do business in a US state or tribal jurisdiction must report.
If your company was formed in a US state, any letter saying you must file a BOI report, pay a BOI fee or face BOI penalties doesn't match the current rules. Confirm your status in 30 seconds with the BOI Reporting Checker, or read Does My US LLC Need a BOI Report?.
What does FinCEN say about BOI scams?
FinCEN's BOI page carries a scam alert. It says FinCEN "has learned of fraudulent attempts to solicit information" from people who may be subject to CTA reporting. Its specific warnings:
| FinCEN's warning | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Correspondence referencing a "Form 4022" or "Form 5102" is fraudulent. FinCEN has no such forms. | Don't complete or return these forms, and don't send BOI to anyone through them. |
| Correspondence referencing a "US Business Regulations Dept." is fraudulent. There is no government entity by that name. | Treat it as a scam. |
| There is NO fee to file BOI directly with FinCEN. FinCEN does NOT send correspondence requesting payment to file BOI. | Don't send money in response to a BOI mailing that claims to be from FinCEN or another government agency. |
| Be cautious of messages asking you to click a suspicious URL or scan a suspicious QR code. | Don't click links or scan codes in unexpected BOI messages. |
| FinCEN does NOT send initial correspondence about CTA penalties by email or phone. | Don't pay penalties by phone, mail or website in response to such a request. |
FinCEN also published a public alert on December 18, 2024 about fraud schemes that abuse FinCEN's name, insignia and authorities, including schemes exploiting BOI reporting.
FinCEN's general scams page adds that FinCEN does not contact members of the public to request payment by phone, text, email or mail, or demand immediate payment. It urges caution with any unsolicited message claiming to be from FinCEN.
How can you check a BOI letter or email?
Use these steps for anything you receive:
- Check whether you're even covered. US-created company? The current rule doesn't require a BOI report. That alone means a "you must file" message is outdated or not legitimate.
- Look for the red flags above. Form 4022 or 5102, "US Business Regulations Dept.", a fee, a QR code, a penalty demand by email or phone.
- Don't use the contact details in the message. Go to fincen.gov yourself by typing the address. Official filing happens at boiefiling.fincen.gov, and FinCEN IDs at fincenid.fincen.gov.
- Verify with FinCEN directly. FinCEN's scams page says you can check whether a message is real by submitting an inquiry at fincen.gov/contact.
- Don't send personal information. FinCEN advises never giving personal or beneficial ownership information to anyone unless you trust the other party.
- Keep a copy. Save the letter, envelope or email (with headers) in case you report it.
Is a paid BOI filing service a scam?
Not necessarily. Some private companies legitimately offer to prepare BOI reports. The questions to ask are:
- Does your company need to file at all? A US-created company doesn't.
- Is the service honest about who it is? A private service shouldn't look like a government agency. FinCEN warns about schemes that misuse its name and insignia.
- Do you understand the cost? FinCEN says filing directly with FinCEN is free.
For a foreign company that really must report, a professional may help. That's a choice, not a government requirement.
What if the message is about taxes, not BOI?
Some owners confuse FinCEN BOI with IRS letters. They're separate agencies with separate rules. If you received an IRS notice, look for its notice code (such as CP2000 or CP14) printed on the notice. Our IRS Notice Decoder explains common codes and response deadlines.
If you're a foreign owner of a US LLC, the IRS filing you most need to know about is Form 5472. BOI isn't required for your US LLC, but Form 5472 may be, and the penalty for not filing it is $25,000 per tax year (IRC 6038A(d)). Check with the Form 5472 Checker.
Where do you report a BOI scam?
FinCEN's scams page says to report anyone impersonating FinCEN or its employees to:
- Treasury's Office of Inspector General: oig.treasury.gov/report-fraud-waste-and-abuse
- the Federal Trade Commission (FTC): reportfraud.ftc.gov
It says to file reports as quickly as possible. The FTC also has general guidance on recognising scams at consumer.ftc.gov/scams.
If you already paid or shared information, consider contacting your bank or card issuer promptly and keeping records of what you sent.
Quick reference: real vs red flag
| Feature | Consistent with FinCEN | Red flag |
|---|---|---|
| Filing location | boiefiling.fincen.gov | A link or QR code in an unexpected message |
| Cost | No fee to file directly with FinCEN | "Pay now to complete your BOI filing" |
| Form names | BOI report filed online | "Form 4022", "Form 5102" |
| Sender | FinCEN (verify via fincen.gov) | "US Business Regulations Dept." |
| Penalties | Not first raised by email or phone | Email or call demanding penalty payment |
| Who must file | Foreign companies registered in a US state | Any message telling a US LLC it must file |
Need a second opinion?
If you're a foreign owner and want your BOI status and Form 5472 position checked together, RAHA offers a Foreign-Owned LLC Compliance Review (BOI + Form 5472). It's a fixed price, quoted upfront. Request a consultation, or see our global services. For the full rules, read BOI Reporting in 2026: Who Still Has to File? and Foreign Company Registered in the US: BOI Requirements.
Frequently asked questions
Is "Form 4022" a real FinCEN form?
No. FinCEN says correspondence referencing a "Form 4022" or "Form 5102" is fraudulent, and it has no such forms.
Does FinCEN charge a fee to file a BOI report?
No. FinCEN says there is no fee to file BOI directly with FinCEN, and it doesn't send correspondence requesting payment to file BOI.
I got an email saying my LLC faces BOI penalties. Is it real?
Be cautious. FinCEN says it doesn't send initial correspondence about CTA penalties by email or phone. Also, US-created companies are exempt from BOI reporting under the current rule.
How do I confirm a message really came from FinCEN?
Don't use the contact details in the message. FinCEN's scams page says you can verify by submitting an inquiry at fincen.gov/contact.
Where do I report a BOI scam?
FinCEN says to report anyone impersonating FinCEN to Treasury's Office of Inspector General and the FTC.
My US LLC got a "BOI compliance" letter from a private company. Do I have to respond?
A US-created company has no BOI reporting obligation under the current rule. You aren't required to buy a private filing service.
Sources
- FinCEN BOI page (scam alert, filing links, current rule): https://www.fincen.gov/boi
- FinCEN scams page: https://www.fincen.gov/resources/scams
- FinCEN alert on fraud schemes (Dec. 2024, PDF): https://www.fincen.gov/system/files/2024-12/Alert-FinCEN-Scams-FINAL508.pdf
- Final rule, 91 FR 52508 (Aug. 14, 2026): https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/08/14/2026-16576/beneficial-ownership-information-reporting-requirement-revision
- Treasury OIG, report fraud: https://oig.treasury.gov/report-fraud-waste-and-abuse
- FTC, report fraud: https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/
This guide provides general information for educational purposes and is not tax, legal or accounting advice. Consult a qualified professional before acting.
