BOI Reporting Update: What Bloggers & Online Business Owners Need to Know in 2025
If you’ve registered your blog or online business with your state as a Limited Liability Company (LLC), corporation, or another type of business entity, then until recently you were required under the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) to file a BOI report.
Here’s a simple breakdown of what changed, why it matters, and what to keep an eye on moving forward.
What Is BOI Reporting?
BOI stands for Beneficial Ownership Information.
Why did this rule exist?
It was part of a law called the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) passed to:
- Stop money laundering
- Prevent fraud and terrorist financing
- Make it harder for criminals to hide behind fake business names
States vary greatly in what information is required to register a business entity—which allowed bad actors to hide behind “shell companies.”
The CTA was created to establish national standard to fix that. It required most businesses to tell the government who actually benefits from or controls the company.
Who Did BOI Reporting Apply To Before?
If you formed a U.S. business entity with your state such as a:
- LLC
- Corporation
- Partnership
… you had to report who owned or controlled it to FinCEN (the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network) via a BOI report.
What Changed in March 2025?
As of March 26, 2025, a new rule from FinCEN changed everything.
Now, most U.S.-based small businesses are exempt. 🙌
Here’s what the update says:
| Before | Now |
| Almost all U.S. business entities had to report their owners to FinCEN | Only foreign entities doing business in the U.S. must report |
| Bloggers with LLCs needed to file BOI reports | Bloggers no longer need to report ownership info |
So… Do You Still Need to File?
If your business:
- Is based in the U.S.
- Was formed in the U.S.
Then you’re off the hook. No BOI report needed. ✅
You still need to file if you are:
- A foreign company
- Registered to be doing business in the U.S.
- Not exempt under other rules
What Would BOI Reporting Have Required?
Even though you’re probably exempt now, it’s still good to know what would’ve been required.
Business Info:
- Legal business name + trade names/DBAs
- Business address
- State of formation
- EIN (Employer Identification Number)
Owner Info (for each “beneficial owner”):
- Full legal name
- Date of birth
- Home address
- Government ID (like a driver’s license)
- A scanned copy of that ID
If you’re a single-member LLC, this means you would have reported your own info.
When to File (If You Still Have To)
If BOI reporting does apply to you, here’s what the timeline looks like:
- Registered before March 26, 2025? You’ve got until April 25, 2025 to file your BOI report.
- Newly formed after January 1, 2024? You need to file within 30 calendar days of formation.
- Ownership or control changes? You’ve got 30 days to update your report after the change happens.
File online at: fincen.gov/boi
Bottom Line: Stay Informed, Even If You’re Exempt
Just because BOI reporting is no longer required for you, doesn’t mean you should stop paying attention to legal changes.
Make it part of your business routine to stay updated on:
- LLC filings
- Website policies
- Disclosures
- Business-finance separation
Legal stuff can change fast—and being informed helps you protect your business and avoid panic later.
