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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.

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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.

Starter

$999
Up to 1,000 screenings/year.

API screening + quarterly re-screening of existing base. For early-stage B2B businesses or low-volume merchants.

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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.

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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.

What is OFAC sanctions screening?
OFAC sanctions screening checks your customers, vendors, and partners against US government sanctions lists to ensure you are not doing business with prohibited individuals, entities, or countries. It is a legal obligation for US businesses, and violations are strictly enforced. We keep your entity organized so screening fits your operations.
Who has to screen against sanctions?
US businesses generally may not transact with sanctioned parties or countries, so any company with customers, vendors, or payments, especially internationally, has an obligation to avoid prohibited dealings. Payment processors also screen. We flag it as a consideration, especially for international activity.
What are the OFAC lists?
OFAC maintains lists of Specially Designated Nationals and blocked persons, plus country-based sanctions programs, that US businesses must not deal with. Screening against them is how you avoid prohibited transactions. We flag when your customer and vendor base warrants systematic screening.
What happens if I deal with a sanctioned party?
Sanctions violations are strict-liability in many cases and can bring severe penalties even without intent, so inadvertently transacting with a prohibited party is a real risk. We flag the exposure so screening is in place before a transaction creates liability.
How do businesses screen for sanctions?
Through screening software or services that check names against OFAC and other lists at onboarding and periodically, scaled to your risk. Payment providers screen too. We flag the need so a business with international exposure has appropriate screening rather than none.
Does this apply to a US-only business?
It can still apply, since sanctioned individuals can appear anywhere and certain transactions are prohibited regardless, though the risk is higher with international customers or payments. We flag your likely exposure so screening matches your actual risk.
How does this relate to FCPA and AML?
OFAC screening, FCPA anti-bribery, and anti-money-laundering are related international-compliance obligations that internationally active businesses often address together. We flag which apply to your operations so controls are built to cover them.
When should I set up screening?
Before you onboard customers or vendors where sanctions risk exists, so screening is part of your process rather than a gap discovered after a prohibited transaction. We flag it as your business takes on the international or payment activity that raises the risk.
Can File.Business help me address sanctions risk?
We keep your entity organized and flag when sanctions screening and related international-compliance obligations apply to your operations, so you build appropriate screening, coordinating with a compliance specialist for the program itself.

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