Who is subject to FCPA?

US companies (incorporated in US, principal place of business in US, or securities listed on US exchanges), US citizens, US residents, and non-US persons taking action within the US in furtherance of bribery. Broad jurisdictional reach.

Who is a 'foreign official'?

Broadly defined: government employees, officers of state-owned enterprises, employees of public international organizations, candidates for political office, royalty in some contexts. SOE employees are the most common surprise (Chinese SOE employees, Petrobras employees in Brazil).

What is the third-party risk?

Most FCPA cases involve third parties (agents, distributors, JV partners) paying bribes on behalf of US companies. US companies are liable if they knew or had reason to know. Strong third-party DD is the most important FCPA control.

What are facilitation payments?

Small payments to expedite routine government action (visa processing, customs clearance). Narrowly permitted under FCPA but illegal under UK Bribery Act and most other countries' anti-corruption laws. Most US companies prohibit them entirely.

What about UK Bribery Act / other laws?

Many countries have anti-corruption laws now (UK Bribery Act, French Sapin II, German). They typically have broader scope and stricter penalties than FCPA. Multinational companies build programs that cover the strictest applicable law.

What is voluntary self-disclosure?

DOJ's VSD program offers significant penalty reductions (50-100%) for companies that proactively disclose FCPA violations, cooperate fully, and remediate. Not always the right call; we help evaluate.

What does FCPA compliance involve?

This page covers FCPA compliance — including what it is, who needs it, how to file or apply, typical costs, deadlines, and how File.Business handles it for you end-to-end.

How much does FCPA compliance cost with File.Business?

Pricing is shown on this page. We always disclose state filing fees separately from our service fee, with no surprise add-ons at checkout.

How long does FCPA compliance take?

Turnaround depends on the state agency. Standard processing typically takes a few business days; rush options are available where the agency offers expedited service.

Is this service available in all 50 states?

File.Business handles filings across all 50 US states and DC. State-specific rules, fees, and forms are built into the workflow so you don't have to research them yourself.

Home/Compliance Audits/FCPA Compliance

Compliance Audits

Anti-bribery · third-party DD · training

Build an FCPA program. For international operations.

FCPA (Foreign Corrupt Practices Act) prohibits US businesses from paying bribes to foreign officials. Two prongs: anti-bribery (no payments to foreign officials for business advantage) and accounting (books and records must accurately reflect transactions). Enforcement is aggressive: DOJ + SEC bring cases jointly, settlements average $25M+. US businesses with any international operations need a compliance program.

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

FCPA risk matrix

Country CPI × engagement-type exposure

2 high-risk routes

Direct sale

Local agent

Distrib.

JV / SOE

SingaporeCPI 83 · LOW

MexicoCPI 31 · MED

BrazilCPI 36 · MED

UAECPI 67 · LOW-MED

IndonesiaCPI 34 · MED

L1 · Standard

L2 · Enhanced DD

L3 · Pre-clear counsel

L4 · Exec approval

Active engagements20 countries · 84 partners

2 ⚐ flagged

How it works

How we handle FCPA Compliance, end-to-end.

FCPA (Foreign Corrupt Practices Act) prohibits US businesses from paying bribes to foreign officials.

Risk assessment

We assess your international footprint: countries of operation (CPI scores), business model (government contracts, regulatory permits), third-party intermediaries (highest risk vector for FCPA violations).

Anti-bribery policy

Written policy prohibiting bribes, defining facilitation payments narrowly, requiring approvals for hospitality and gifts above thresholds. Distributed to all employees and third parties.

Third-party due diligence

Most FCPA cases involve third parties (agents, distributors, joint venture partners). We build a risk-based DD program: questionnaires, sanctions screening, beneficial ownership analysis, ongoing monitoring.

Training + monitoring

Annual training for all employees with international exposure. Quarterly transaction monitoring for red flags. Anonymous reporting channel.

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 fcpa compliance pricing.

Government fees pass through at cost. No upsells.

Initial program

$4999

Build the program from scratch.

Risk assessment, anti-bribery policy, third-party DD framework, training rollout. Documented program by 90 days.

Get started

Initial + 12 mo monitoring

$12999

Initial + ongoing program management.

Initial build plus 12 months of program management: quarterly transaction monitoring, training delivery, third-party DD execution, annual program review.

Get started

Continuous program

$24999

Annual subscription.

Full continuous FCPA program management. Quarterly monitoring, quarterly training refresh, ongoing third-party DD, FCPA inquiry response. For US businesses with material international operations.

Get started

FAQ

About the FCPA Compliance Service.

What is FCPA compliance?

The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act prohibits US businesses and individuals from bribing foreign officials to win or keep business, and requires accurate books and records, so companies operating internationally need controls to prevent and detect improper payments. We keep your entity organized so anti-corruption controls have a foundation.

Who has to comply with the FCPA?

US companies and citizens, and often foreign companies with US ties, that do business internationally, especially through agents, distributors, or in high-risk markets. If you operate abroad or use foreign intermediaries, it applies. We flag it as a consideration for internationally active businesses.

What does the FCPA prohibit?

Offering or giving anything of value to a foreign official to obtain or retain business, directly or through third parties, and it requires accurate accounting so improper payments cannot be hidden. Even facilitation through agents can create liability. We flag the exposure so controls are considered.

Why do third parties create FCPA risk?

Because you can be liable for bribes paid by agents, distributors, or partners acting on your behalf, so vetting and controlling third parties is central to FCPA compliance. We flag this so your international relationships are structured with due diligence in mind.

What controls reduce FCPA risk?

Anti-corruption policies, third-party due diligence, training, and accurate books and records that make improper payments visible, scaled to your international footprint. We keep your entity's records organized so the accounting side of compliance has a foundation, and flag the policy needs.

What are the penalties?

FCPA violations can bring severe criminal and civil penalties for both companies and individuals, plus reputational damage, which is why internationally active businesses invest in compliance. We flag the exposure so it is addressed before an issue arises.

Does this apply to a small international business?

It can: the FCPA applies regardless of size if you do business abroad, particularly through intermediaries in higher-risk markets, so even a small exporter should be aware. We flag it so a growing international business builds appropriate controls.

How does FCPA relate to sanctions screening?

They are related international-compliance concerns: FCPA addresses bribery, while OFAC sanctions screening addresses dealing with prohibited parties and countries, and an internationally active business often needs both. We flag which apply to your operations.

Can File.Business help my international business stay compliant?

We keep your entity and records organized so the accounting side of FCPA has a foundation, and flag the anti-corruption and sanctions considerations for internationally active businesses, coordinating with compliance counsel for a full program.

SOC 2 Type II audited

220,000+ businesses. 60-day money-back. State fees passed through at cost.

Your operating system, not a transaction

Every deadline auto-tracked across your entities. Compliance Score visible year-round.

Transparent pricing

No hidden fees. No upsells at checkout. State fees disclosed upfront.

Business Operating System

I'm starting something

I have a deadline

Something is changing

I need to prove / protect

Build with File.Business

I serve clients

I run a [industry]

I manage multiple entities

I'm integrating or referring

BosAI · your compliance brain

I want intelligence

I need communications

I run money & people

I operate at scale

State of Business Compliance 2026

I want to learn

I want to compare / calculate

I want to research deeper

I need help

Build an FCPA program. For international operations.

How we handle FCPA Compliance, end-to-end.

Risk assessment

Anti-bribery policy

Third-party due diligence

Training + monitoring

A clean handoff, in four steps.

A name that's actually available.

Filed with the Secretary of State.

EIN + the right tax setup.

Registered Agent + deadline tracking.

Transparent fcpa compliance pricing.

Initial program

Initial + 12 mo monitoring

Continuous program

About the FCPA Compliance Service.

Start your business in the next 5 minutes.

I'm starting something

I have a deadline

Something is changing

I need to prove / protect

I serve clients

I run a [industry]

I manage multiple entities

I'm integrating or referring

I want intelligence

I need communications

I run money & people

I operate at scale

I want to learn

I want to compare / calculate

I want to research deeper

I need help

Build an FCPA program. For international operations.

How we handle FCPA Compliance, end-to-end.

Risk assessment

Anti-bribery policy

Third-party due diligence

Training + monitoring

A clean handoff, in four steps.

A name that's actually available.

Filed with the Secretary of State.

EIN + the right tax setup.

Registered Agent + deadline tracking.

Transparent fcpa compliance pricing.

Initial program

Initial + 12 mo monitoring

Continuous program

About the FCPA Compliance Service.

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