Emergency Video Notarization
Emergency Video Notarization is Back! Following a vote in the NC Senate to override the veto of House Bill 556, Emergency Video Notarization (EVN) is again available to all NC Notaries. Emergency Video Notarizations are extended until July 1, 2025 at 12:01 am.
Save Time, File Online
The NC Department of Secretary of State is entering its seasonal busy season. Combined with continued staffing shortages, this means there will be delays processing Annual Reports and other business organization documents. The delays are greatest for mailed filings. We strongly urge our customers to save time and file their documents online if at all possible. Mailed filings currently require 10 to 15 days to process, compared to 5 days or less for documents filed online. Save time, file online.
Beneficial Ownership Information Reporting
The federal Corporate Transparency Act (“CTA”) establishes a new beneficial ownership reporting requirement for limited liability companies, corporations, and other similar entities formed or registered to do business in the United States. Beneficial ownership reports must be filed with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), a bureau within the U.S. Department of Treasury. For more information on the beneficial ownership information requirements. The North Carolina Secretary of State does not administer and has no responsibility for enforcing the CTA or the beneficial ownership information reporting program.
Scam Alert
The NC Secretary of State has learned of a new scam targeting small business owners. Scammers impersonating various law enforcement agencies are contacting business owners claiming they are being investigated for fraudulently obtaining Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, regardless of whether or not they have been repaid or forgiven. To legitimize the claim, the scammers provide elaborate phony court and/or legal documentation, including documents describing an arrest warrant that purports to require the posting of a cash bond and then instructions to make a payment (through a cryptocurrency kiosk) to resolve the warrant and avoid jail time. Legitimate law enforcement agencies do not collect money over the phone.
