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Search the party’s legal name and known aliases in OFAC’s Sanctions List Search, then compare any possible match against the full list entry and reliable identifying information. Also investigate relevant owners: under OFAC’s 50 Percent Rule, an entity can be blocked even if it is not listed in its own name. A search result is a screening alert, not by itself a legal determination that a transaction is prohibited or permitted.
What to identify before you search
Start with the actual parties and payment route, not just the brand name on a website or invoice. A payment may involve a contracting provider, its parent or owners, banks, processors, beneficiaries, and other intermediaries. The relevant party can differ at each point in the transaction.
- Record the provider’s or counterparty’s exact legal name, jurisdiction, registration details, known aliases, and former names.
- Identify relevant owners and, where available, the ownership chain above the contracting entity.
- Map the payment route and identify the other parties involved, including the beneficiary and any banks or processors.
- Note where the parties are located and what service or activity the transaction involves.
These details help distinguish a genuine match from an unrelated business with a similar name and help establish which sanctions rules may apply.
How to search OFAC’s lists
- Open OFAC’s Sanctions List Search.
- Search the legal name, then try known aliases or former names. The tool uses fuzzy name matching to surface potential matches; a result is not a final match decision.
- Open each plausible result and review its full entry, including the list type, program tags, aliases, and available identifying details.
- Compare the entry with reliable information about the party. Depending on what is available, compare registration numbers, addresses, nationality, date or place of birth, passport or tax identifiers, and other relevant details.
- Record the date and terms searched, the entry reviewed, the identifiers compared, and the reason for clearing or escalating the result.
OFAC’s search covers the SDN List and consolidated non-SDN lists. For list data and download options, consult the Sanctions List Service and OFAC’s FAQ on the lists it maintains. OFAC describes the public search as an individual lookup tool; organizations that need recurring or automated screening should use appropriate data and systems rather than configure continuous queries through that single-user search page. See OFAC’s guidance on searching its sanctions lists.
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How to decide whether a result is a real match
A similar name alone is not enough to establish that the listed party and your counterparty are the same person or entity. OFAC notes that many potential matches found through screening are false positives and does not confirm matches or false positives for users. Its FAQ on determining whether a match is valid explains the need to assess the available identifying information.
- Compare multiple identifiers. Use all relevant details available for both parties, not just the name or a match score.
- Assess conflicting information. Differences in registration details, location, or other identifiers may help resolve an alert, but do not assume a mismatch settles the question if important information is missing.
- Escalate unresolved or strong matches. Follow your organization’s sanctions procedures and get qualified compliance or legal review where needed before proceeding.
- Document the decision. Keep the information reviewed and the basis for deciding to clear or escalate the alert.
OFAC’s search provides a screening input, not a ruling on whether a specific provider or transaction is legally permissible.
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Why a clean name search does not settle ownership
Check known owners and investigate the ownership chain, not only the provider’s own name. Under OFAC’s 50 Percent Rule, an entity is blocked when one or more blocked persons own 50 percent or more of it in aggregate, directly or indirectly. The rule can apply even when the entity is not separately named on a sanctions list. OFAC explains indirect ownership and how qualifying interests can aggregate in FAQ 401; its list guidance also addresses the relationship between listed persons and blocked entities.
Do not assume that every indirect or partial ownership chain has the same result. Trace the actual interests and apply OFAC’s rule to the ownership facts. If ownership information is incomplete or the calculation is unclear, treat that as an unresolved screening issue rather than proof that the entity is unblocked.
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How to assess the sanctions program and payment route
There is no single OFAC list of countries where all business is prohibited. U.S. sanctions can be broad or targeted, and restrictions may apply to particular persons, sectors, activities, locations, or services. Check the current program information and implementing rules for the parties and transaction involved. OFAC’s page on where to find its country and program information explains why a country-name checklist alone is not sufficient.
Consider the full payment chain as well as the provider. A provider’s status does not, by itself, answer whether every transaction it handles is prohibited; nor does an intermediary’s involvement create a blanket exemption. Review the restrictions applicable to each relevant party and activity, the transaction’s jurisdictional facts, and whether a specific authorization or exemption applies.
Payment providers subject to OFAC jurisdiction must avoid unauthorized dealings and should build controls suited to their business and risk profile. OFAC says there is no single compliance program suitable for every circumstance; see FAQ 560 and its compliance-program guidance. A provider’s marketing statement or a third party’s “clean” screening result does not replace assessment of the actual parties, ownership, payment route, and applicable rules.
What to do when a match is confirmed
Do not treat blocking and rejecting as interchangeable. Depending on the applicable program and transaction facts, a rule may require blocking property in which a blocked person has an interest; a prohibited transaction without a blockable interest may instead need to be rejected or stopped. Review any applicable authorization or exemption and the governing program rules before deciding what action is required. OFAC’s match guidance addresses follow-up, reporting, and recordkeeping.
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OFAC’s FAQ 5, updated September 9, 2026, says blocking or rejection actions due to sanctions must be reported within 10 business days, subject to the applicable regulations and reporting process. Confirm the current requirements for the particular action and program rather than treating that general guidance as a substitute for the governing rule.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Choosing a screening approach for your organization
A manual lookup may be workable for an occasional individual check. Organizations screening many counterparties or transactions repeatedly need a process that can keep data current, route alerts for review, and preserve a record of decisions. OFAC does not prescribe one universal screening system, match threshold, or screening frequency. Choose controls based on transaction volume, timing, business risk, and applicable internal or regulatory requirements.
| Consideration | Individual manual lookup | Recurring business screening |
|---|---|---|
| Typical fit | Occasional one-off checks using the public search | Repeated or higher-volume screening handled through suitable data and systems |
| List data | Search OFAC’s SDN and consolidated non-SDN lists in the public tool | Use appropriate current list data; OFAC’s Sanctions List Service provides download options |
| Alert handling | Review each potential result and document the decision | Provide a workflow to investigate, escalate, and resolve alerts |
| Other needs to assess | Whether the search covers the relevant name variations and parties | Update frequency, aliases and ownership information, audit records, integrations, transaction timing, and the organization’s requirements |
OFAC notes that compliance controls should be tailored to the organization’s circumstances. The public search is not a substitute for a business screening process where the organization’s volume, timing, or risk calls for one.
What to retain and when to check again
Keep accurate investigation records: the date searched, names and aliases checked, lists or program information consulted, identifiers compared, ownership evidence, source data, and the decision and its rationale. Refresh checks according to a risk-based policy and when material facts change, such as ownership, the payment route, or the transaction. Lists and sanctions programs can change, so an earlier clean result does not establish current status.
This process is general due diligence, not a determination about a named provider or transaction. The outcome depends on the actual legal identities, ownership, payment chain, applicable jurisdiction and program, and any relevant authorization or exemption.
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