Home/Compliance Audits/OFAC Screening
Compliance Audits
SDN list · consolidated lists · sectoral

Screen customers and vendors against US sanctions. OFAC SDN. Sectoral. Country.

OFAC (Office of Foreign Assets Control) administers US economic sanctions. The SDN (Specially Designated Nationals) list, sectoral sanctions, and country programs prohibit US persons from doing business with sanctioned parties. Violations carry strict-liability civil penalties (up to $250K+ per transaction or 2x transaction value) and potential criminal charges. We screen at onboarding, monitor changes, and re-screen periodically.

All 50 states + DC 60-day money-back SOC 2 Type II
How it works

How we handle OFAC Screening, end-to-end.

OFAC (Office of Foreign Assets Control) administers US economic sanctions.

1

Initial screening

We screen your existing customer and vendor list against the OFAC SDN list, sectoral sanctions, country programs, and consolidated US lists. Exact-match and fuzzy-match (handles transliteration variations).

2

Onboarding integration

API integration with your customer onboarding system (Stripe, Plaid, your CRM) to screen at signup. Blocked matches stop the onboarding immediately.

3

Periodic re-screening

OFAC lists update frequently. We re-screen your customer and vendor base quarterly (or monthly for high-risk industries) and alert on new matches.

4

Match adjudication

Every match triggers manual review. Most matches are false positives (common names). We help adjudicate and document the review for audit purposes.

What we'll set up for you

A clean handoff, in four steps.

You give us the basics. We handle the state, the IRS, and the compliance clock so you can focus on the business.

01 · Name + Brand

A name that's actually available.

Real-time check against the state register, USPTO trademark database, and matching domains.

02 · State filing

Filed with the Secretary of State.

We submit your Articles, pay the state fee on your behalf, and return the stamped certificate.

03 · Federal IDs

EIN + the right tax setup.

Federal Employer ID with the IRS, plus state tax accounts when your business needs them.

04 · Stay compliant

Registered Agent + deadline tracking.

Your agent on file in every state, with every renewal and annual report tracked in one calendar.

Pricing

Transparent ofac screening pricing.

Government fees pass through at cost. No upsells.

Pro

$4999
Up to 25,000 screenings/year.

API screening, monthly re-screening, dedicated reviewer for match adjudication. For mid-market businesses with consumer or international flows.

Get started

Enterprise

$29999
Unlimited screenings + custom rules.

Unlimited screening, real-time monitoring, custom rule configuration, dedicated compliance officer. For high-risk industries (fintech, crypto, defense, international trade).

Get started
FAQ

About the OFAC Sanctions Screening Service.

Who needs OFAC screening?
Every US business is subject to OFAC. Practical exposure scales with industry: financial services, crypto, defense, international trade, e-commerce with international shipping all need rigorous screening. Domestic B2B with US-only customers has lower exposure but still has obligations.
What is the SDN list?
Specially Designated Nationals - OFAC's main sanctions list. US persons cannot do business with anyone on it, or with any entity 50%+ owned by listed parties (the '50 Percent Rule').
What is strict liability?
OFAC violations are strict liability - no intent required. If you process a transaction with a sanctioned party, you violate regardless of whether you knew. The only defense is having a reasonable compliance program (which screening is part of).
How often does OFAC update?
Daily for SDN list. Major updates monthly. New designations are immediately enforceable. We monitor and re-screen continuously.
What is fuzzy matching?
Matching that handles name variations (initials vs. full names), transliteration (Vladimir vs. Wladimir), and minor spelling errors. Reduces missed matches but creates more false positives. Our service tunes for the right balance.
Do I need to block sanctioned customers?
Yes. Block any matched transaction and report to OFAC via the OFAC Reporting System within 10 days. Continue blocking until OFAC issues a license to release or until the customer is delisted.
Why File.Business

Premium compliance, no service-fee markup.

Trust you can verify

SOC 2 Type II audited platform. 220,000+ businesses served. 60-day money-back on service fees. State fees passed through at cost with no hidden markup. Explicit AUP on restricted industries.

A compliance partner, not a transaction

Most providers go quiet after checkout. We auto-track every annual report, registered agent renewal, and license deadline across your entities. The Business OS dashboard keeps your compliance score visible year-round.

Premium experience competitors cannot match

Premium positioning, transparent pricing, no service-fee markup on state or federal filings. Premium positioning, transparent pricing, no service-fee markup on state filings.

Start your business in the next 5 minutes.

No state-fee markup. Pay only the state fee. 60-day money-back guarantee.

No state-fee markup 60-day money-back Cancel anytime
$0 + state fee Start my business