Category: Articles

H&R Block fined over consumer practices

FTC Cracks Down on H&R Block Over Unfair Consumer Practices

The Federal Trade Commission announced that it is requiring H&R Block to make a number of changes for the 2025 tax filing season in addition to longer-term changes. The settlement also requires the company to pay $7 million to be used to compensate its customers that were harmed by the Read More

SEC seal

SEC Enforcement Actions Surge, Likely to Reverse Under Trump

The Securities and Exchange Commission announced that it had filed 200 total enforcement actions in the first quarter of fiscal year 2025, which ran from October through December 2024, including 118 standalone enforcement proceedings. The SEC filed a total of 75 enforcement actions in October 2024 alone. Those numbers represent Read More

CFTC Chair Rostin Behnam

CFTC Chair Behnam to Resign as President Trump Prepares Pro-Crypto Agenda

Commodity Futures Trading Commission Chair, Rostin Benham, announced that he plans on stepping down from his position as President-elect Trump takes office on January 20th.  Benham served as the CFTC’s chairman for close to three years. He took the position in 2022 after his predecessor resigned when President Biden took Read More

false claims act violation

Independent Health to Pay $98 Million to Resolve Medicare Fraud Allegations

Independent Health Association agreed to pay up to $98 million to settle allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by knowingly submitting invalid diagnosis codes to Medicare for Medicare Advantage Plan enrollees in order to increase payments that Independent Health received from Medicare. Medicare Advantage, also known as Medicare Read More

Compliance Spending on AI to increase

CAEs to Face Rising Pressure with the Emergence of AI

W ith the rise of AI and regulatory uncertainty, Chief Audit Executives (CAEs) are expected to face mounting pressure from the Board to address emerging risks and strengthen mitigation efforts. According to Gartner, a technological research and consulting firm, as AI has emerged as both a valuable business asset and Read More

fines against banks declined in 2021

Fifth Circuit Halts Corporate Transparency Act Amid Constitutional Challenge

The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit ruled that the Corporate Transparency Act (“CTA”) is once again being put on hold as the court assesses its constitutional validity. The CTA is a law that is purposed for requiring businesses to disclose the identities of their beneficial owners. Read More

Bank of America Settles OCC Cease-and-Desist Order Over Compliance Deficiencies

Bank of America announced that it has settled with the Office of Comptroller of the Currency regarding a cease-and-desist order against the bank for deficiencies related to the Bank Secrecy Act and sanctions compliance programs. The settlement does not require that Bank of America pay a fine but rather take Read More

CFPB Sues Major Banks and Zelle Operator for Alleged Fraud

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau announced that it has sued Bank of America, JPMorgan, Wells Fargo, and the operator of Zelle, Early Warning Services, for failing to protect consumers from widespread fraud.  Zelle is America’s most widely available payment network. According to the lawsuit, customers of the three banks have Read More

Board diversity rules repealed

Court Invalidates Nasdaq Board Diversity Requirements

A U.S. Court of Appeals court ruled that Nasdaq can no longer enforce its board diversity rules, vacating the Securities and Exchange Commission’s approval of a rule that requires disclosure of each board member’s racial, gender, and LGBTQ+ identification. The court found that the SEC went beyond the scope of Read More

Looking for hidden Junk Fees

FTC Finalizes Rule that Aims to End Hidden ‘Junk Fees’

The Federal Trade Commission announced that it has finalized a Junk Fees Rule which essentially prohibits businesses in the live-event ticketing and short-term lodging industries from using bait-and-switch pricing and other tactics used to hide total prices and bury “junk fees.” The rule will ensure that pricing information is provided Read More