Regulations last checked for updates: Nov 25, 2024

Title 31 - Money and Finance: Treasury last revised: Nov 18, 2024
§ 551.401 - Reference to amended sections.

(a) Reference to any section in this part is a reference to the same as currently amended, unless the reference includes a specific date. See 44 U.S.C. 1510.

(b) Reference to any ruling, order, instruction, direction, or license issued pursuant to this part is a reference to the same as currently amended unless otherwise so specified.

§ 551.402 - Effect of amendment.

Unless otherwise specifically provided, any amendment, modification, or revocation of any provision in or appendix to this part or chapter or of any order, regulation, ruling, instruction, or license issued by OFAC does not affect any act done or omitted, or any civil or criminal proceeding commenced or pending, prior to such amendment, modification, or revocation. All penalties, forfeitures, and liabilities under any such order, regulation, ruling, instruction, or license continue and may be enforced as if such amendment, modification, or revocation had not been made.

§ 551.403 - Termination and acquisition of an interest in blocked property.

(a) Whenever a transaction licensed or authorized by or pursuant to this part results in the transfer of property (including any property interest) away from a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to § 551.201, such property shall no longer be deemed to be property blocked pursuant to § 551.201, unless there exists in the property another interest that is blocked pursuant to § 551.201, the transfer of which has not been effected pursuant to license or other authorization.

(b) Unless otherwise specifically provided in a license or authorization issued pursuant to this part, if property (including any property interest) is transferred or attempted to be transferred to a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to § 551.201, such property shall be deemed to be property in which such person has an interest and therefore blocked.

§ 551.404 - Transactions ordinarily incident to a licensed transaction.

(a) Any transaction ordinarily incident to a licensed transaction and necessary to give effect thereto is also authorized, except:

(1) An ordinarily incident transaction, not explicitly authorized within the terms of the license, by or with a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to § 551.201; or

(2) An ordinarily incident transaction, not explicitly authorized within the terms of the license, involving a debit to a blocked account or a transfer of blocked property.

(b) For example, a license authorizing a person to complete a securities sale involving Company A, whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to § 551.201, also authorizes other persons to engage in activities that are ordinarily incident and necessary to complete the sale, including transactions by the buyer, broker, transfer agents, and banks, provided that such other persons are not themselves persons whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to § 551.201.

§ 551.405 - Provision of services.

(a) The prohibitions on transactions contained in § 551.201 apply to services performed in the United States or by U.S. persons, wherever located, including by a foreign branch of an entity located in the United States:

(1) On behalf of or for the benefit of a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to § 551.201; or

(2) With respect to property interests of any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to § 551.201.

(b) For example, U.S. persons may not, except as authorized by or pursuant to this part, provide legal, accounting, financial, brokering, freight forwarding, transportation, public relations, or other services to a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to § 551.201.

Note 1 to § 551.405.

See §§ 551.507 and 551.509 on licensing policy with regard to the provision of certain legal and emergency medical services.

§ 551.406 - Offshore transactions involving blocked property.

The prohibitions in § 551.201 on transactions or dealings involving blocked property, as defined in § 551.303, apply to transactions by any U.S. person in a location outside the United States.

§ 551.407 - Payments from blocked accounts to satisfy obligations prohibited.

Pursuant to § 551.201, no debits may be made to a blocked account to pay obligations to U.S. persons or other persons, except as authorized by or pursuant to this part.

Note 1 to § 551.407.

See also § 551.502(e), which provides that no license or other authorization contained in or issued pursuant to this part authorizes transfers of or payments from blocked property or debits to blocked accounts unless the license or other authorization explicitly authorizes the transfer of or payment from blocked property or the debit to a blocked account.

§ 551.408 - Charitable contributions.

Unless specifically authorized by OFAC pursuant to this part, no charitable contribution of funds, goods, services, or technology, including contributions to relieve human suffering, such as food, clothing, or medicine, may be made by, to, or for the benefit of, or received from, a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to § 551.201. For the purposes of this part, a contribution is made by, to, or for the benefit of, or received from, a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to § 551.201 if made by, to, or in the name of, or received from or in the name of, such a person; if made by, to, or in the name of, or received from or in the name of, an entity or individual acting for or on behalf of, or owned or controlled by, such a person; or if made in an attempt to violate, to evade, or to avoid the bar on the provision of contributions by, to, or for the benefit of such a person, or the receipt of contributions from such a person.

§ 551.409 - Credit extended and cards issued by financial institutions to a person whose property and interests in property are blocked.

The prohibition in § 551.201 on dealing in property subject to that section prohibits U.S. financial institutions from performing under any existing credit agreements, including charge cards, debit cards, or other credit facilities issued by a financial institution to a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to § 551.201.

§ 551.410 - Setoffs prohibited.

A setoff against blocked property (including a blocked account), whether by a U.S. bank or other U.S. person, is a prohibited transfer under § 551.201 if effected after the effective date.

§ 551.411 - Entities owned by one or more persons whose property and interests in property are blocked.

Persons whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to § 551.201 have an interest in all property and interests in property of an entity in which such persons directly or indirectly own, whether individually or in the aggregate, a 50 percent or greater interest. The property and interests in property of such an entity, therefore, are blocked, and such an entity is a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to § 551.201, regardless of whether the name of the entity is incorporated into OFAC's Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (SDN List).

authority: 3 U.S.C. 301; 31 U.S.C. 321(b); 50 U.S.C. 1601-1651,1701; 22 U.S.C. 287c; Pub. L. 101-410, 104 Stat. 890, as amended (28 U.S.C. 2461 note); E.O. 13536, 75 FR 19869, 3 CFR, 2010 Comp., p. 203; E.O. 13620, 77 FR 43483, 3 CFR, 2012 Comp., p. 281
source: 86 FR 22348, Apr. 28, 2021, unless otherwise noted.
cite as: 31 CFR 551.408