Sellers
Guide to FinCEN Reporting for Sellers
What is this required FinCEN report?
A new federal law requires a Department of Treasury / FinCEN Real Estate Report whenever a residential property is purchased without a bank loan and the buyer is an entity or trust. As a seller in this transaction, some limited information must be collected from you for this filing. This common report applies to closings starting March 1st, 2026 and impacts one million transactions each year. There is no need to worry, the filing will be handled for you from the information you provide. This page explains what to expect and the video below will walk through the submission process.
What do sellers need to do?
Sellers will submit information about themselves as the current owner of the property. This requires less than five minutes. You’ll receive a secure link from the Southern Title FinCEN Team to enter these details online. The process is safer and easier than paper forms. Once submitted, the required report is prepared and filed with FinCEN. No further steps are required from you.
Can I skip this or will it slow down my closing?
This closing step cannot be skipped. All U.S. settlement agents are required to file FinCEN Real Estate Reports for triggering transactions and cannot close a property transfer until the required information is collected. You can review the regulation further on FinCEN’s official website. Completing the form will not delay your closing. Just follow the secure link sent to your email and complete the short submission. Guided instructions and support are available in the portal and there’s a video link at the bottom of this page.
What information will I submit?
Sellers only need to provide information about themselves as the owner of the property being sold. This includes information about an entity or trust if it is owned under one of those. Please note: Some sensitive information is required by FinCEN including Social Security numbers or EINs. This information goes to the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Sellers must provide accurate information as federal penalties can occur if false information is provided.