FinCEN Reporting Services

Simplifying Geographic Targeting Order (GTO) Reporting

Who We Are

FinCEN Reporting Services (FRS) is a dedicated compliance solution created by Stewart to support title companies and agents. Our role is to handle the collection and reporting of required information under the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) Geographic Targeting Orders (GTOs).

For Individuals and Companies Involved in a Real Estate Transaction

If you’ve been contacted by FinCEN Reporting Services, rest assured that we are a trusted Stewart group, and the information we request is required by federal law.

For Title Companies

By partnering with us, you can focus on running your business while we manage the details of validating transactions, securely gathering required data and filing reports with FinCEN.

What Are Geographic Targeting Orders (GTOs)?

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), part of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, issues GTOs to strengthen oversight of certain real estate transactions. These orders require title companies to collect and report details of residential real estate purchases when:

• The buyer is a legal entity (corporation, LLC, partnership, or similar).
• The property is located in a designated U.S. county, city or borough.
• The purchase price meets or exceeds $300,000 (or $50,000 in Baltimore, MD).
• The purchase is made without a loan from an institutional lender or bank.
• The purchase price is paid using cash, checks, money orders or wire transfers.

View the current GTO Order on FinCEN.gov

What types of transactions must be reported?

Any transaction that involves all of the following elements must be reported:

• The buyer is a legal entity – either a corporation, limited liability company, partnership or other similar business entity
  • Residential real property is located in one of the following:
  • The New York Counties/Boroughs of Manhattan, Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, or Staten Island;
  • The Texas Counties of Bexar, Tarrant, Dallas, Harris, Montgomery, Webb, or Travis;
  • The Florida Counties of Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas, Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, Lee, or Collier;
  • The California Counties of San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Mateo, or Santa Clara;
  • The Nevada County of Clark
  • The Washington County of King;
  • The Massachusetts Counties of Suffolk, Middlesex, Bristol, Essex, Norfolk, or Plymouth;
  • The Illinois County of Cook;
  • The Hawaii Counties of Hawaii, Maui, Kauai, or Honolulu, or the City of Honolulu;
  • The Maryland Cities or Counties of Baltimore, Montgomery, Anne Arundel, Prince George’s, or Howard;
  • The Virginia Counties of Arlington or Fairfax, or the Cities of Alexandria, Falls Church, or Fairfax;
  • The Connecticut Counties of Fairfield or Litchfield;
  • The Colorado Counties of Adams, Arapahoe, Clear Creek, Denver, Douglas, Eagle, Elbert, El Paso, Fremont, Jefferson, Mesa, Pitkin, Pueblo, or Summit; or
  • The District of Columbia
• A purchase price at or above $300,000*
• A purchase without a loan from an institutional lender or bank
• The purchase price is paid using cash, checks, money orders or wire transfers from non-institutional lenders.

* A purchase price at or above $300,000 for all locations except property located in the City or County of Baltimore, Maryland, where the purchase price is at or above $50,000.

How FinCEN Reporting Services Works

Our role is to make compliance simple for title offices and clear for transaction participants.

For Title Companies & Agents:

• We reduce the administrative work of validating which transactions qualify for GTO reporting.
• We gather all required information directly from the parties to the transaction.
• We prepare and submit the report to FinCEN on your behalf, accurately and on time.
• We help you remain compliant while minimizing disruption to your business.

For Buyers, Sellers & Other Transaction Parties:

• If we reach out to you, it is because your transaction may qualify under a GTO.
• The information we request is required by federal regulation.
• Your data is collected through a secure electronic process and is used only for reporting to FinCEN.
• By providing this information, you are helping the title company comply with federal law.

Why Stewart?

Trusted expertise: Backed by one of the most respected names in title and settlement services.

Proven process: A technology-enabled system designed specifically for FinCEN reporting.

Confidence & compliance: Ensures reporting obligations are met without slowing down your transaction.

Questions?

If you’d like to learn more about FinCEN Reporting Services or have questions about our GTO reporting process, please contact us at: customerservice@fincenreportingservices.com.