OFAC Penalties FAQs

Answers to common questions about OFAC sanctions penalties, strict liability, and how screening reduces the risk.

TL;DR

TL;DR: OFAC civil penalties start at $356,000 per violation and apply under strict liability, meaning intent is not required. Screening prevents the payment that creates the violation.

How penalties work

OFAC, the Office of Foreign Assets Control inside the US Treasury, can impose civil penalties for sanctions violations. Penalties start at $356,000 per violation, and the standard is strict liability: a violation exists even without knowledge or intent. That is why an automated agent paying a designated wallet exposes its operator the same as a deliberate payment would.

Common questions

• Is intent required for a violation? No, OFAC applies strict liability.
• What is the 50 Percent Rule? Entities owned 50 percent or more by a blocked person are also blocked.
• How does SanctionsAI help? It blocks flagged counterparties before payment, and paid plans include a $10K legal-fee guarantee.