📄Updated Legal Framework for Patent Electronic System by USPTO
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) published on its website an updated legal framework for its Patent Electronic System. The updated legal framework defines the USPTO patent electronic filing system requirements, and provides guidance on the relevant statutes, regulations, and policies that support the USPTO's Patent Electronic System. The Patent Electronic System currently comprises Patent Center. Patent Center includes both the USPTO patent electronic filing system, which is a web-based patent application and document submission system, and the USPTO's web-based means for electronically viewing the status of, and documents filed in or associated with, patent applications and proceedings. The updated legal framework also discusses the two-step authentication method now in place for accessing the Patent Electronic System. The updated legal framework serves as a reference for applicants, patentees, parties in reexamination proceedings, attorneys, and agents.
Learn More📈SEC Extends Compliance Dates for Electronic Submission Regulations
The Securities and Exchange Commission ("Commission") is extending by twelve months the compliance dates for certain of the rule amendments the Commission adopted on December 16, 2024, regarding the electronic submission of certain materials under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Exchange Act") and amendments to the FOCUS Report (Form X-17A-5), a periodic financial and operational report filed by broker-dealers and security-based swap dealers.
Learn More🏛️IRS Electronic Tax Administration Advisory Committee Meeting Notice
The Electronic Tax Administration Advisory Committee will hold a public meeting.
Learn More📉Treasury Direct Final Rule on Eliminating Unnecessary Regulations
Pursuant to an Executive order, the Department of the Treasury (Treasury) is conducting a review of existing regulations, with the goal of reducing regulatory burden by revoking or revising existing regulations that meet the criteria set forth in the Executive order. In support of that objective, this direct final rule streamlines titles 12 and 31 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) by removing regulations that are no longer necessary or no longer have any current or future applicability.
Learn More📄Update on Beneficial Ownership Reporting Requirements and Exemptions
FinCEN is adopting this interim final rule to narrow the existing beneficial ownership information (BOI) reporting requirements under the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) to require only entities previously defined as "foreign reporting companies" to report BOI. Under this interim final rule, entities previously defined as "domestic reporting companies" are exempted from the reporting requirements and do not have to report BOI to FinCEN, or update or correct BOI previously reported to FinCEN. With limited exceptions, the interim final rule does not change the existing requirement for foreign reporting companies to file BOI reports, but it extends the deadline to file initial BOI reports, and to update or correct previously filed BOI reports, to 30 days from the date of this publication to give foreign reporting companies additional time to comply. However, the interim final rule exempts foreign reporting companies from having to report the BOI of any U.S. persons who are beneficial owners of the foreign reporting company and exempts U.S. persons from having to provide such information to any foreign reporting company for which they are a beneficial owner. FinCEN is accepting comments on this interim final rule. FinCEN will assess the exemptions, as appropriate, in light of those comments and intends to issue a final rule this year.
Learn More📊IRS Notice on Business Electronic Filing and Tax Guidance
The Internal Revenue Service, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The IRS is soliciting comments concerning guidance necessary to facilitate business electronic filing under section 1561, guidance necessary to facilitate business electronic filing and reduction, guidance necessary to facilitate business election filing; finalization of controlled group qualification rules, and limitations on the importation of net built-in Losses.
Learn More📜Technical Amendments to SEC Rules
The Securities and Exchange Commission ("Commission") is adopting technical amendments to various rules and forms under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These amendments correct errors that are technical in nature, including typographical errors and erroneous cross-references in various Commission rules and forms.
Learn More📈SEC Updates EDGAR Filer Manual
The Securities and Exchange Commission ("Commission") is adopting amendments to Volume II of the Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval system Filer Manual ("EDGAR Filer Manual" or "Filer Manual") and related rules and forms. EDGAR Release 24.4 will be deployed in the EDGAR system on December 16, 2024.
Learn More📄SEC Mandates Electronic Filing for Regulatory Compliance
The Securities and Exchange Commission ("Commission" or "SEC") is amending its rules to require electronic filing or submission of certain forms and other filings or submissions that are required to be filed with or submitted to the Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Exchange Act") and the rules and regulations under the Exchange Act. The amendments require the electronic filing or submission on the Commission's Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval ("EDGAR") system, using structured data where appropriate, for certain forms filed or submitted by self- regulatory organizations ("SROs"). The amendments require the information currently contained in Form 19b-4(e) to be publicly posted on the SRO's website and remove the manual signature requirements for SRO proposed rule change filings. The Commission is also requiring that a clearing agency post supplemental material to its website. In addition, the Commission is amending rules under the Exchange Act and the Securities Act of 1933 ("Securities Act") to require the electronic filing or submission on EDGAR, using structured data where appropriate, of certain forms, reports, and notices provided by broker- dealers, security-based swap dealers, and major security-based swap participants. The amendments also require withdrawal in certain circumstances of notices filed in connection with an exception to counting certain dealing transactions toward determining whether a person is a security-based swap dealer. Finally, the Commission is allowing electronic signatures in certain broker-dealer filings, and amending the Financial and Operational Combined Uniform Single Report ("FOCUS Report") to harmonize with other rules, make technical corrections, and provide clarifications.
Learn More⚖️FinCEN Final Rule
FinCEN is publishing this final rule to reflect inflation adjustments to its civil monetary penalties as mandated by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990, as amended. This rule adjusts certain maximum civil monetary penalties within the jurisdiction of FinCEN to the amounts required by that Act.
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