Background on OFAC's Frequently Asked Questions
OFAC FAQs On One Page: for in-page searching using your browser's find (CTRL-F) function
Access the FAQ Archive - to search historical amendments made to OFAC's FAQs.
Featured FAQs
5. How do I determine if I have a valid OFAC match?
If you are calling about a wire transfer or other "live" transaction:Step 1. Is the "hit" or "match" against OFAC's Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list, one of its other sanctions lists, or …
Read more
401. OFAC’s 50 Percent Rule states that the property and interests in property of entities directly or indirectly owned 50 percent or more in the aggregate by one or more blocked persons are considered blocked. How does OFAC interpret indirect ownership as it relates to certain complex ownership structures?
"Indirectly," as used in OFAC’s 50 Percent Rule, refers to one or more blocked persons' ownership of shares of an entity through another entity or entities that are 50 percent or more owned in the …
Read more
Recently Added FAQs
1246. Does General License 52 authorize the sale of certain shares of CITGO that are the subject of Crystallex International Corporation v. Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela?
No. A specific license will be required before any sale is executed in the Crystallex case.
Notwithstanding the existence of any general licenses under the Venezuela Sanctions Regulations (VSR), a …
Read more
1245. What activities are authorized by Venezuela General License (GL) 52, "Authorizing Certain Transactions Involving Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A."?
GL 52 authorizes, subject to its conditions and exclusions, transactions prohibited by Executive Orders (E.O.s) 13884 or 13850 with Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PdVSA) and any entity in which PdVSA …
Read more
General Questions
Sanctions Programs
- Afghanistan-Related Sanctions
- Balkans-Related Sanctions
- Belarus Sanctions
- Burma Sanctions
- Chinese Military Companies Sanctions
- Counter Terrorism Sanctions
- Cuba Sanctions
- Cyber-related Sanctions
- Ethiopia-Related Sanctions
- Global Magnitsky Sanctions
- Hong Kong-related Sanctions
- Iran Sanctions
- Nicaragua-related Sanctions
- North Korea Sanctions
- Promoting Accountability for Assad and Regional Stabilization Sanctions (PAARSS)
- Russian Harmful Foreign Activities Sanctions
- Somalia Sanctions
- Sudan, Darfur, and South Sudan-related Sanctions
- Ukraine-/Russia-related Sanctions
- Venezuela Sanctions
Sanctions Compliance
- Assessing OFAC Name Matches
- Starting an OFAC Compliance Program
- Blocking and Rejecting Transactions
- Filing Reports with OFAC
- Compliance for Internet, Web Based Activities, and Personal Communications
- Compliance for the Insurance Industry
- Additional Questions from Financial Institutions
- Questions on Virtual Currency