BE WARY OF EMAILS ABOUT FILING A BOI REPORT – BOI IS NO LONGER REQUIRED

The Beneficial Ownership Information report (BOI), which was a new report required for small businesses nationwide, was officially abolished on March 21, 2025 by the United States Treasury Department. The report is now required only for foreign businesses. 

Even though the BOI has been dead for over a month, private companies are still sending emails to small businesses about filing the BOI.

Be aware: These emails are not from the government. They are solicitations from private companies with names like Corporate Filings USA, FLrenewals.com, or EZBOIfilings. These emails imply that your business needs to file a BOI report. 

Because the BOI status has been on-again-off-again so many times in the last year, small businesses may be confused by these BOI emails.

Here’s the bottom line: Small businesses DO NOT have to file a BOI report.

And you don’t have to take our word for it: the government’s own website at boiefiling.fincen.gov makes it clear that the BOI is no longer required. It says: 

All entities created in the United States and their beneficial owners are now exempt from the requirement to report beneficial ownership information to FinCEN.

ANOTHER SCAM ALERT: FAKE EMAILS TARGETING BUSINESS OWNERS

Some FUBA members have received “urgent” emails that they are about to lose the right to use their company’s name. Please know that these emails are not legitimate! You can safely ignore them.

Here’s how it works: You receive an “urgent” email that looks like it is from a law firm with the subject line Trademark Dispute: Immediate Action required. The email claims that your business has not properly trademarked its name or brand with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and that another company is currently trying to register your company’s name.

At the bottom of the email, there is even a person’s name with the title Intellectual Property Attorney. The email even lists a phone number, address, and website.

The email warns that someone in a different state has submitted an application to trademark your company’s name with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. It says that you have to respond within 48 hours or else your company name/trademark will be assigned to someone else. 

The email may also say “Kindly inform me if you wish to proceed; otherwise, we will withdraw from your case, resulting in the mark being awarded to a third party, which will lead to the loss of your ownership.”

These emails are spam/phishing emails trying to get money from you. Please don’t fall for this scam. Emails trying to create an urgent situation and pressure you into acting quickly are often fake. 

FUBA can help you determine if an email is a scam. Members can always call our offices at 800-262-4483 to get our expert advice. Let FUBA be your first call when you get a suspicious email!

DOES YOUR BUSINESS HIRE TEENS FOR THE SUMMER?

If your business will have teenagers working for you this summer, here is what you need to know:  
 1.    Teens must be at least 14 years old to work in Florida.  
 
2.    No special documentation or permission is needed for your business to hire a teenager. Parents do not have to give permission for their child to work for your business, nor do you need to get a special work permit. 

3.    You should keep a copy of their driver’s license or birth certificate as proof of their age. 

4.    You must have a Child Labor poster at your workplace if you have employees under 18. This poster is available from FUBA free of charge for members. Call us at 800-262-4483 or email us at FUBA@FUBA.org to request one. 

5.    Minors working at a business owned by their parents have no restrictions on the number of hours they can work, but they cannot work in a job that is considered hazardous.

6.    No one under 18 can work as a delivery driver or operate a motor vehicle as a regular part of their job. 17-year olds may drive for work but only occasionally and not routinely.

7.    No one under 18 can prepare or serve alcoholic beverages on the job.  

8.    16- and 17-year olds can work in residential construction if they have an OSHA 10 certification and are directly supervised by someone 21 or older who has at least 2 years of related experience and who has their OSHA 10 certification.

9.    No one under 18 can work on roofs, scaffolding or ladders higher than 6 feet. They also are prohibited from doing demolitions, wrecking, or excavation. They cannot install or service TV/cable/satellite equipment and cannot service HVAC equipment attached to roofs. They also cannot work around toxic substances including pesticides or herbicides.

10.    Minors can work additional hours during the summer. Here are the guidelines:

 During the summer, 14- and 15-year olds:

  • Can work up to 8 hours a day and up to 40 hours a week.
  • Cannot work more than 40 hours a week.
  • Can work between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m.
  • Cannot work more than 6 days in a row.
  • Must get a 30-minute break after working 4 consecutive hours. The break does not have to be paid.

During the summer, 16- and 17-year olds:

  • Can work unlimited hours. 
  • Can work unlimited days in a row.
  • Must get overtime pay (time and a half) if they work more than 40 hours in one week.
  • Must get a 30-minute break after working 4 consecutive hours only if their shift is 8 or more hours.  The break can be unpaid.

FUBA members with questions about hiring an employee under 18 years old can contact the FUBA team of experts at 800-262-4483 or FUBA@FUBA.org.