Guidance Note 5C – Submitting CTRs to the FIC

FIC

Financial Intelligence Centre

GUIDANCE NOTE

GUIDANCE NOTE 5C

ON CASH THRESHOLD REPORTING TO THE FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE CENTRE IN TERMS OF SECTION 28 OF THE FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE CENTRE ACT, 2001

(ACT 38 OF 2001)



The Financial Intelligence Centre is established in terms of section 2 of the Financial Intelligence Centre Act, Act 38 of 2001

PREFACE

i) The Financial Intelligence Centre (the Centre) has published draft guidance that will be required to support the implementation of the Financial Intelligence Centre Act, 2001 (Act 38 of 2001) (the FIC Act).

ii) The FIC Act established the Centre which as the national point for the gathering, analysis and dissemination of financial intelligence. The Centre was established to identify proceeds of crime, combat money laundering and the financing of terrorism, and in so doing has a primary role to protect the integrity of South Africa's financial system. The Centre develops and provides financial intelligence to a range of agencies supporting the investigation and prosecution of criminal activity by helping to identify the proceeds of crime, combat money laundering and the financing of terrorism. The FIC Act is a key component of the regulatory architecture that protects the integrity of the South African financial system and (together with legislation such as the Prevention of Organised Crime Act, 1998 (Act 121 of 1998) and the Prevention of Constitutional Democracy Against Terrorism and Related Activities Act, 2004 (Act 32 of 2004) that supports the administration of the criminal justice system.

iii) This guidance is issued in terms of section 4(c) of the FIC Act read with regulation 28 of the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Control Regulations (MLTFC Regulations) which empowers the Centre to provide guidance in relation to a number of matters concerning compliance with the obligations of the FIC Act. Guidance provided by the Centre is the only form of guidance formally recognised in terms of the FIC Act and the MLTFC Regulations issued under the FIC Act. Guidance issued by the Centre is authoritative in nature which means that accountable institutions must take the guidance issued by the Centre into account in respect of their compliance with the relevant provisions of the FIC Act and the MLTFC Regulations. If an accountable institution does not follow the guidance issued by the Centre, it should be able to demonstrate that it nonetheless achieves an equivalent level of compliance with the relevant provisions of the FIC Act and the MLTFC Regulations. It is important to note that enforcement action may emanate as a result of non-compliance with the FIC Act and the MLTFC Regulations where it is found that an accountable institution has not followed the guidance issued by the Centre.

GUIDANCE NOTE 05C ON CASH THRESHOLD REPORTING TO THE FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE CENTRE IN TERMS OF SECTION 28 OF THE FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE CENTRE ACT, 2001 (ACT 38 OF 2001)

iv) The guidance provided by the Centre may be updated and revised from time to time. The Centre therefore advises accountable institutions to regularly monitor communications from the Centre so as to stay abreast of the current guidance developments.

Disclaimer

v) Guidance which the Centre provides, does not relieve the user from the responsibility to exercise their own skill and care in relation to the users' legal position. This guidance does not provide legal advice and is not intended to replace the FIC Act or the MLTFC Regulations issued under the FIC Act. The Centre accepts no liability for any loss suffered as a result of reliance on this publication.

Copyright notice

vi) This guidance is copyright. The material in guidance may be used and reproduced in an unaltered form only for non-commercial use. Apart from any use permitted under the Copyright Act, 1978 (Act 98 of 1978), all other rights are reserved.

GUIDANCE NOTE 05C ON CASH THRESHOLD REPORTING TO THE FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE CENTRE IN TERMS OF SECTION 28 OF THE FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE CENTRE ACT, 2001 (ACT 38 OF 2001)

GUIDANCE NOTE 5C ON CASH THRESHOLD REPORTING TO THE FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE CENTRE IN TERMS OF SECTION 28 OF THE FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE CENTRE ACT, 2001 (ACT 38 OF 2001)

Contents

PREFACE... ii

APPLICATION OF THIS GUIDANCE NOTE... 5

GLOSSARY... 6

INTRODUCTION... 7

PART 1 - WHO MUST REPORT?... 8

PART 2 – WHEN DOES THE REPORTING OBLIGATION ARISE IN TERMS OF SECTION 28 OF THE FIC ACT?... 9

The obligation to report in terms of section 28 of the FIC Act... 9

The reporting of “cash” as defined in the FIC Act... 9

Prescribed particulars contained in the MLTFC Regulations – full particulars and readily available information... 10

Submitting full particulars and readily available information on the reporting platform of the Centre... 11

Aggregation of cash amounts leading to suspicious transaction reporting... 12

Foreign exchange rate conversion... 13

PART 3 – MULTIPLE REPORTING WHERE CASH IS RECEIVED... 14

The obligation to report in terms of section 28 of the FIC Act... 14

Multiple cash transaction reporting obligations arising from the same transaction:... 14

PART 4 – METHODS FOR SUBMITTING CASH THRESHOLD REPORTS TO THE CENTRE... 16

Method of filing a CTR... 16

Time period for submitting a cash threshold report... 18

Knowledge of the transaction... 19

PART 5 – RECOMMENDATIONS TO FACILITATE PRACTICAL IMPLEMENTATION... 20

All accountable and reporting institutions... 20

Banks... 20

Status of user guides on electronic reporting of cash threshold transactions... 20

APPLICATION OF THIS GUIDANCE NOTE

1. The objective of this guidance note is to assist accountable and reporting institutions to meet their cash threshold reporting obligations in terms of the FIC Act and the MLTFC Regulations. It provides general guidance on the obligations in terms of section 28 of the FIC Act. In particular, the guidance note explains reporting timelines, how reports have to be sent to the Centre, what information has to be included in these reports and how to use the electronic reporting mechanism.

2. This Guidance Note 5C replaces Guidance Note 5B. Guidance Note 5B is therefore retracted.

3. This Guidance Note 5C takes effect on the date of commencement of Regulations 1, 22B, 22C and 24 of the FIC Act, as stipulated in the Government Gazette as 14 November 2022.

GUIDANCE NOTE 5C ON CASH THRESHOLD REPORTING TO THE FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE CENTRE IN TERMS OF SECTION 28 OF THE FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE CENTRE ACT, 2001 (ACT 38 OF 2001)

GLOSSARY

"The Centre" means the Financial Intelligence Centre established in terms of section 2 of the FIC Act.

"FIC Act" refers to the Financial Intelligence Centre Act, 2001 (Act 38 of 2001).

"MLTFC Regulations" refer to the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Control Regulations, 2002, made in terms of section 77 of the FIC Act and published in Government Notice 1595 in Government Gazette 24176 of 20 December 2002, as amended by Government Notice R456 in Government Gazette 27580 of 20 May 2005, and Government Notice R867 in Government Gazette 33596 of 01 October 2010 and Government Notice 1107 in Government Gazette 33781 of 26 November 2010 and Government notice 1062 in Government Gazette 41154 of 29 September 2017.

"POC Act" refers to the Prevention of Organised Crime Act, 1998 (Act 121 of 1998).

"Reporter" refers to the person or entity making the report.

"CTR" refers to a cash threshold report submitted in terms of section 28 of the FIC Act.

GUIDANCE NOTE 5C ON CASH THRESHOLD REPORTING TO THE FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE CENTRE IN TERMS OF SECTION 28 OF THE FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE CENTRE ACT, 2001 (ACT 38 OF 2001)

INTRODUCTION

4. The FIC Act provides for the obligation on accountable and reporting institutions to report cash transactions above a prescribed threshold to the Centre in the prescribed form.

5. Cash threshold reporting in terms of section 28 of the FIC Act provides the Centre with a mechanism to proactively monitor and report on cash transactions which may be linked to money laundering or terrorist financing activities so that potential proceeds of crime are timeously identified and investigated.

6. This guidance note consists of five parts:

- Part 1 explains that accountable and reporting institutions have a reporting obligation in terms of section 28 of the FIC Act.

- Part 2 explains when the reporting obligation arises.

- Part 3 provides practical examples of when multiple reports must be sent to the Centre in terms of section 28 of the FIC Act.

- Part 4 provides for the methods of submitting cash threshold reports to the Centre.

- Part 5 provides recommendations to facilitate practical implementation.

GUIDANCE NOTE 5C ON CASH THRESHOLD REPORTING TO THE FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE CENTRE IN TERMS OF SECTION 28 OF THE FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE CENTRE ACT, 2001 (ACT 38 OF 2001)

PART 1 - WHO MUST REPORT?

7. The obligation to report cash transactions above the prescribed threshold in terms of section 28 of the FIC Act applies to:

- Accountable institutions (as listed in Schedule 1 to the FIC Act); and

- Reporting institutions (as listed in Schedule 3 to the FIC Act).

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PART 2 – WHEN DOES THE REPORTING OBLIGATION ARISE IN TERMS OF SECTION 28 OF THE FIC ACT?

The obligation to report in terms of section 28 of the FIC Act

8. The obligation to report in terms of section 28 of the FIC Act arises when a transaction, is concluded with a client by means of which cash in excess of the prescribed amount, that is, R49 999,99:

- Is paid by the accountable or reporting institution to the client, or to a person acting on behalf of the client, or to a person on whose behalf the client is acting; or

- Is received by the accountable or reporting institution from the client, or from a person acting on behalf of the client, or from a person on whose behalf the client is acting.

9. The obligation therefore extends to cash in excess of the prescribed amount being paid or received by the accountable or reporting institution.

The reporting of "cash" as defined in the FIC Act

10. Cash is defined in section 1 of the FIC Act as:

a) Coin and paper money of the Republic or of another country that is designated as legal tender and that circulates as, and is customarily used and accepted as, a medium of exchange in the country of issue; and

b) Travellers' cheques.

11. Cash does not include bearer negotiable instruments as defined in the FIC Act. It also does not include a transfer of funds by means of bank cheque, bank draft, electronic funds transfer, wire transfer or other written order that does not involve the physical transfer of cash. These methods of transferring funds are not regarded as cash and are therefore not reportable under section 28 of the FIC Act.

12. Where a transaction is partly a cash transaction, only the cash portion exceeding the prescribed threshold must be reported to the Centre as soon as possible but not later than three days (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays) after becoming aware of a fact of a cash transaction that has exceeded the prescribed limit.

GUIDANCE NOTE 5C ON CASH THRESHOLD REPORTING TO THE FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE CENTRE IN TERMS OF SECTION 28 OF THE FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE CENTRE ACT, 2001 (ACT 38 OF 2001)

13. Physical cash payments presented to and received by, or on behalf of, the accountable or reporting institution is reportable. Where an accountable or reporting institution makes a pay out to a client consisting of physical cash above the threshold amount, this will also be reportable in terms of the cash threshold reporting obligation.

14. Payment or receipt of cash includes paying or receiving cash in person as well as paying or receiving it via a third party. This is discussed further in PART 3 below.

Prescribed particulars contained in the MLTFC Regulations – full particulars and readily available information

15. Reports submitted to the Centre in terms of section 28 of the FIC Act must be reported to the Centre within the prescribed time and include the prescribed particulars contained in the MLTFC Regulations.

16. Regulation 22C of the MLTFC Regulations prescribes the information that is to be provided by the reporting institution when completing a CTR (cash threshold report). The prescribed particulars either require:

- “Full particulars of…”; or

- As much of the relevant “information as is readily available”.

17. The prescribed particulars in respect of which the MLTFC Regulations require full particulars to be provided are those which the institution is expected to have. These particulars are compulsory and must be provided in the relevant part of a report to the Centre.

18. Where the MLTFC Regulations refer to as much information as is readily available, the relevant prescribed particulars may include information which an institution may not have obtained in the course of establishing a particular person’s identity or conducting a particular transaction. In such cases the MLTFC Regulations require that an institution provide all the information in question that the institution has, in other words that is under the control of the institution and available within the structures of the institution.

19. In instances where it is commercial practice to obtain certain information in relation to clients, products, services and transactions, the information is considered to be readily

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available to the institution and must be provided, where applicable, when submitting a report to the Centre. Information of this nature may not have been verified, or otherwise confirmed at the time when it was obtained, but should be provided, nonetheless.

Submitting full particulars and readily available information on the reporting platform of the Centre

20. The Centre's registration and reporting platform contains several mandatory fields that must be completed. The completed report cannot pass a validation check in the Centre's reporting system if the mandatory fields have no content in them and the reporter will not be able to submit the form. These fields may therefore not be left blank.

21. Where a field must be completed with prescribed particulars that are readily available and the reporter does not have the information in question, the reporter must indicate that the information was not obtained by completing the field with "not obtained".

22. Where a field that may be left blank must be completed with full particulars in terms of the MLTFC Regulations the reporter must provide the full particulars as prescribed.

Example 1:

The customer acceptance policy of a bank must follow accepted banking practice and certain minimum information is required for certain banking products and accounts. This information is considered to be readily available to the institution and must be provided when submitting a report to the Centre, where applicable.

Example 2:

A motor vehicle dealer is selling a motor vehicle and follows commercial practice to obtain the buyer's name, ID number and other personal details to proceed with the sale and to attend to the transfer of ownership of the vehicle to the buyer. This information is considered to be readily available to the institution and must be provided when submitting a report to the Centre, where applicable.

GUIDANCE NOTE 5C ON CASH THRESHOLD REPORTING TO THE FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE CENTRE IN TERMS OF SECTION 28 OF THE FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE CENTRE ACT, 2001 (ACT 38 OF 2001)

GUIDANCE NOTE 5C ON CASH THRESHOLD REPORTING TO THE FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE CENTRE IN TERMS OF SECTION 28 OF THE FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE CENTRE ACT, 2001 (ACT 38 OF 2001)

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Aggregation of cash amounts leading to suspicious transaction reporting

23. Accountable and reporting institutions should bear in mind that section 29(1)(b)(iii) of the FIC Act, requires the reporting of a suspicion that a transaction or series of transactions is conducted for the purpose of avoiding giving rise to another reporting duty in terms of the FIC Act. It is therefore possible that a cash transaction could give rise to an obligation to report a cash threshold report in terms of section 28 of the FIC Act and a suspicious or unusual transaction in terms of section 29 of the FIC Act.

Example 3:

A person enters a casino with R100 000,00 in cash. He has a run of bad luck, and ends up buying in five times for R20 000,00 each over a period of eight hours. All the cash buy-ins relate to the same person. Although each buy-in would not meet the CTR thresholds, the casino should consider whether a suspicious and unusual transaction report should be filed in terms of section 29 of the FIC Act.

24. Whilst certain cash transactions may not be reportable in terms of section 28 of the FIC Act (i.e. the cash value is below the threshold amount), all cash transactions should be monitored and when it is deemed as suspicious, a suspicious or unusual transaction report should be submitted to the Centre in terms of section 29 of the FIC Act.

Example 4:

Mr X visits three branches of foreign exchange dealer ABC on the same day. Mr X exchanges R20 000,00 in cash for US dollars at all three branches (i.e. combined aggregated cash total of R60 000,00). While the transactions are not reportable as a CTR because these transactions have been conducted at various branches of foreign exchange dealer ABC, and these branches are registered as different accountable institutions and do not meet the threshold amount per transaction, foreign exchange dealer ABC must still consider submitting a suspicious and unusual transaction report (STR) in terms of section 29 of the FIC Act since it may be considered unusual business practice for the same client to visit three different branches of foreign exchange dealer ABC on the same day and conclude separate transactions.

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Directionality of cash transactions when reporting CTR

25. Cash threshold transactions should be reported as per the direction thereof, being cash received or cash paid.

Example 5:

Accountable institution ABC receives cash from Client X to the amount of R50 000,00 in relation to Product YY on the morning of 20 October 2019. Accountable institution ABC pays out R60 000,00 to Client X in relation to Product YY on the same day.

Accountable institution ABC must report the R50 000,00 **cash received** from Client X.. Accountable institution ABC must also report the **cash paid** to Client X of R60 000,00. Accountable institution ABC would therefore submit two reports to the Centre, one CTR for the cash transactions received, and one CTR for cash paid.

Foreign exchange rate conversion

26. Where foreign currency forms part of a cash transaction that requires the completion of a CTR, an accountable institution would have to refer to the exchange rate at the time of the transaction to calculate the amount in South Africa rand. The source of the exchange rate that is used may be determined at the discretion of the accountable or reporting institution in question. Note that when the cash received from the client, and cash paid out to the client both exceed the threshold amount, two cash threshold reports must be submitted to the Centre.

PART 3 – MULTIPLE REPORTING WHERE CASH IS RECEIVED

The obligation to report in terms of section 28 of the FIC Act

27. Section 28(a) of the FIC Act deals with instances where cash in excess of the prescribed amount is paid by the accountable or reporting institution:

- To the client, or

- To a person acting on behalf of the client, or

- To a person on whose behalf the client is acting.

28. Section 28(b) of the FIC Act deals with instances where cash in excess of the prescribed amount is received by the accountable or reporting institution:

- From the client;

- From a person acting on behalf of the client; or

- From a person on whose behalf the client is acting.

Multiple cash transaction reporting obligations arising from the same transaction:

29. The following are examples of instances where more than one accountable institution and/or reporting institution will be required to report information relating to the same transaction in terms of section 28 of the FIC Act.

Example 6: Motor vehicle dealers

The client X of a motor vehicle dealer (MVD), XYZ Motors, elects to pay in cash after purchasing a motor vehicle from XYZ Motors for the amount of R55 000,00. The MVD has a strict no cash policy and requests the client to pay the cash into XYZ Motors' bank account at ABC Bank. ABC Bank receives the cash amount of R55 000,00. ABC Bank is an accountable institution as listed in Schedule 1 to the FIC Act and has a reporting obligation in terms of section 28 of the FIC Act to report this transaction.

XYZ Motors receives and peruses its bank statement or receives a bank deposit slip from the client which reflects the transaction that exceeded the prescribed threshold. XYZ Motors is a reporting institution as listed in Schedule 3 to the FIC Act. XYZ Motors "acquired knowledge" of the cash that went into its bank account and now has an obligation to report in terms of section 28 of the FIC Act. As a result, this transaction will

GUIDANCE NOTE 5C ON CASH THRESHOLD REPORTING TO THE FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE CENTRE IN TERMS OF SECTION 28 OF THE FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE CENTRE ACT, 2001 (ACT 38 OF 2001)

have to be reported to the Centre in terms of section 28 by both the motor vehicle dealer and the bank.

In this example, both the MVD and ABC Bank are required to report a CTR to the Centre. The MVD is reporting their client, client X and the underlying transaction, whereas ABC Bank is reporting their client who is XYZ Motors.

Example 7: Attorneys

The client of XYZ Attorneys, Client Z, elects to pay a cash amount as part of a transaction in the amount of R50 000,00 to XYZ Attorneys. XYZ Attorneys request the client to pay the cash into XYZ Attorneys' trust account at ABC Bank. ABC Bank receives the cash amount of R50 000,00. ABC Bank is an accountable institution as listed in Schedule 1 to the FIC Act and has a reporting obligation in terms of section 28 of the FIC Act. XYZ Attorneys receives and peruses its bank statement or receives a bank deposit slip from the client which reflects the transaction that exceeded the prescribed threshold. XYZ Attorneys is an accountable institution as listed in Schedule 1 to the FIC Act. XYZ Attorneys "acquired knowledge" of the cash that went into its trust account and now has an obligation to report in terms of section 28 of the FIC Act. As a result this transaction will have to be reported to the Centre in terms of section 28 by both the attorneys firm and the bank.

30. Accountable and reporting institutions must ensure that transactional scenarios are listed correctly and that the underlying client, the source or sender and the beneficiary or recipient parties are captured accordingly.

GUIDANCE NOTE 5C ON CASH THRESHOLD REPORTING TO THE FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE CENTRE IN TERMS OF SECTION 28 OF THE FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE CENTRE ACT, 2001 (ACT 38 OF 2001)

PART 4 – METHODS FOR SUBMITTING CASH THRESHOLD REPORTS TO THE CENTRE

Method of filing a CTR

31. In terms of regulation 22(1) of the MLTFC Regulations, a CTR must be filed with the Centre electronically by making use of the internet-based reporting portal provided for this purpose at http://www.fic.gov.za.

32. All accountable and reporting institutions are obliged to register with the Centre in terms of section 43B of the FIC Act. Registration with the Centre will provide the accountable and reporting institutions with user credentials which must be used to submit CTRs electronically to the Centre in accordance with the requirements of regulation 22(1) of the MLTFC Regulations.

33. Accountable and reporting institutions need to consider the registration requirements as outlined in guidance issued by the Centre and discharge their reporting obligation in terms of section 28 of the FIC Act accordingly:

- Certain institutions would have to register multiple accountable or reporting institutions in terms of Schedules 1 and 3 of the FIC Act. Institutions should register accordingly and ensure that the products and services offered are mapped to the applicable Schedule items, monitored and reported accordingly.

- Certain institutions would have an obligation to register their head office and branch network as separate accountable and reporting institutions and ensure that the products and services offered are mapped, monitored and reported accordingly.

Example 8:

Although ABC Bank is one entity, it has two registration profiles with the Centre, a registration in relation to the business of a bank in terms of Schedule 1 item 6, as well as that of a business of a foreign exchange dealer in terms of Schedule 1 item 10.

Mr X makes a deposit of R50 000,00 into his banking account. ABC Bank is required to report this deposit under the item 6 registration held with the Centre. Mr X further applies for and receives R60 000,00 worth of US Dollars in cash from ABC Bank. ABC Bank is required to report this cash pay-out under the item 10 registration held with the Centre.

GUIDANCE NOTE 5C ON CASH THRESHOLD REPORTING TO THE FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE CENTRE IN TERMS OF SECTION 28 OF THE FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE CENTRE ACT, 2001 (ACT 38 OF 2001)

GUIDANCE NOTE 5C ON CASH THRESHOLD REPORTING TO THE FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE CENTRE IN TERMS OF SECTION 28 OF THE FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE CENTRE ACT, 2001 (ACT 38 OF 2001)

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Example 9:

XYZ Motors have nine branches across South Africa. Their head office and nine branches are each registered separately, and have 10 registrations with the Centre.

Branch number five receives a cash deposit of R50 000,00. All reporting is done at head office level. The reporter is required to submit the report under the registration profile of Branch number five.

- The system for submitting reports to the Centre is available on the Centre's website at www.fic.gov.za. The report type available on this system in relation to cash threshold reporting is the cash threshold report (CTR).

34. The following general principles must be considered when utilising the Centre's registration and reporting platform:

- All users must be registered on the Centre's registration and reporting platform as per the guidance provided in public compliance communication 05C.

- Reporters are reminded to always save their web reports while moving between various sections of the report form and before the report is submitted. In the unlikely event of a time-out error the saved reports can be retrieved from the drafted reports menu on the Centre's registration and reporting platform.

- Reporters are reminded to monitor the status of their submitted reports to ensure that the reports are successfully processed and that any failures or rejections are remediated accordingly.

- Reporters are reminded to download and save copies of all submitted reports for their internal record-keeping purposes; and

- Reporters should ensure that any information and communications technology related queries or incidents are logged with the Centre by means of the communicated channels and that they keep records thereof.

35. There are three methods of filing reports in terms of the FIC Act with the Centre:

- Individual reporting: Reports can be submitted to the Centre by completing an online web form. This reporting mechanism is aimed at low volume reporters.

- Batch reporting: This will be used in instances where high volumes of reports are submitted to the Centre on a regular basis. To be able to access this facility,

reporters can contact the Centre at the contact details listed below for further information.

- **System-to-system reporting**: This form of reporting accommodates both the individual and batch reporting mechanism. It is the configuration of systems linked to each other via web services to send reports. Only high to very high volume reporters should consider this option.

36. An accountable or reporting institution may only file CTRs by other means in exceptional circumstances where the reporter does not have the technical capability to report electronically to the Centre. In such cases reporters should contact the Centre on (012) 641 6000 to obtain the manual reporting form for completion and to make arrangements for its delivery to the Centre. Under no circumstances may a report made under section 28 of the FIC Act be posted or mailed to the Centre.

Time period for submitting a cash threshold report

37. In terms of regulation 24(4) of the MLTFC Regulations a report under section 28 of the FIC Act must be sent to the Centre as soon as possible but no later than three days after a natural person or any of his or her employees, or any employees of or officers of a legal person or other entity, has become **aware** of a fact of a cash transaction that has exceeded the prescribed threshold.

38. Accountable and reporting institutions would therefore need to consider and document their cash threshold reporting to ensure that the time periods for reporting are adhered to strictly.

39. Accountable and reporting institutions should conduct frequent reviews and sample reports to ensure reports adhere to the Centre's requirements.

40. Accountable and reporting institutions should conduct appropriate pre-validation and ensure that accurate information is timeously reported to the Centre considering the MLTFC Regulations and the Centre's reporting system requirements.

GUIDANCE NOTE 5C ON CASH THRESHOLD REPORTING TO THE FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE CENTRE IN TERMS OF SECTION 28 OF THE FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE CENTRE ACT, 2001 (ACT 38 OF 2001)

Knowledge of the transaction

41. The accountable or reporting institution will be required to file a CTR with the Centre when the accountable or reporting institution has knowledge of the transaction that exceeds the prescribed threshold. This knowledge will normally be acquired when the accountable or reporting institution:

- Physically receives or pays out cash exceeding R49 999.99; or

- Peruses its bank statement or a bank deposit slip from the client reflecting a transaction that exceeds R49 999.99.

42. It is therefore prudent and expected that accountable and reporting institutions monitor their bank accounts on a daily basis.

43. Where cash is received or paid by an accountable or reporting institution into or from an account held in the name of another accountable or reporting institution, there is a duty on that first institution as well as the other accountable or reporting institution to report such transaction to the Centre in terms of section 28 of the FIC Act.

44. This means that there will be instances where two or more accountable and reporting institutions will be required to submit reports in terms of section 28 of the FIC Act to the Centre with regard to one transaction that exceeds the prescribed threshold.

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PART 5 – RECOMMENDATIONS TO FACILITATE PRACTICAL IMPLEMENTATION

All accountable and reporting institutions

45. The Centre requests that where an accountable institution uses the services of another accountable institution, for example a bank, when transacting with a client, that the accountable institution assigns an identifying unique reference number to a client when transacting with such client.

46. It is further suggested that the accountable and reporting institutions should inform the client to use this reference number when cash is paid to the accountable or reporting institution.

47. This will ensure that banks and the accountable or reporting institutions can identify cash paid and received, and will minimise reportable cash being unduly held in suspense accounts.

48. Once the accountable or reporting institution is notified of a cash payment received by a banking institution, or it receives and peruses its bank statement or receives a bank deposit slip from the client which reflects the transaction that exceeded the prescribed threshold, the accountable institution can link the reference number with the client involved.

49. If such an identifying reference number has been assigned to a client, it must also be included in the cash threshold report to the Centre.

Banks

50. The Centre requests that banks ensure that the bank statements issued to clients clearly make reference to cash as defined in the FIC Act to enable their clients to easily and readily identify and distinguish cash reportable in terms of section 28 of the FIC Act, in the bank statement.

Status of user guides on electronic reporting of cash threshold transactions

51. The Centre has issued a user guide for the electronic reporting of cash threshold transactions. This user guide does not form part of this guidance note and are mere practical aids to assist accountable and reporting institutions in completing the electronic reporting form and is attached to this guidance note for ease of reference.

GUIDANCE NOTE 5C ON CASH THRESHOLD REPORTING TO THE FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE CENTRE IN TERMS OF SECTION 28 OF THE FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE CENTRE ACT, 2001 (ACT 38 OF 2001)

Issued by:

THE DIRECTOR

FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE CENTRE

DATE: 21 October 2022

GUIDANCE NOTE 5C ON CASH THRESHOLD REPORTING TO THE FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE CENTRE IN TERMS OF SECTION 28 OF THE FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE CENTRE ACT, 2001 (ACT 38 OF 2001)

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