How to Check a Company Against OFAC Sanctions
Updated September 30, 2026 · USACIP
Short answer
Search the company’s name in OFAC’s Sanctions List Search (sanctionssearch.ofac.treas.gov), which covers the SDN list and OFAC’s other sanctions lists. A possible match must be compared on details such as address, country and identifiers; an entity owned 50% or more by blocked persons is also blocked even if it is not listed by name.
A USACIP company check includes an OFAC SDN name check next to the company’s registry record.
See the company checkStep by step
- 1
Use the exact legal name
Screen the registered legal name and any trade names (“doing business as”). Also screen key owners and executives when you know them.
- 2
Search OFAC’s tool
Sanctions List Search lets you set a minimum match score. A lower score catches spelling variants but returns more false positives.
- 3
Compare a hit carefully
Look at the listed addresses, countries, registration numbers and programs. Common words in a name often produce matches that are not the same entity.
- 4
Consider ownership
Under OFAC’s 50 percent rule, an entity owned 50% or more, directly or indirectly, by one or more blocked persons is itself blocked.
- 5
Record and re-check
Keep a record of when and how you screened. The lists change often, so screen again before new payments or shipments.
Automated screening with USACIP
Every USACIP company page runs the company name against the OFAC Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list using deliberately strict, near-identical name matching, and says so plainly if the list could not be loaded instead of reporting “no match”. This is a research starting point, not a compliance clearance — confirm any decision with OFAC’s own search.
FAQ
Is OFAC screening required for US businesses?
US persons are prohibited from dealing with blocked persons, so screening is how businesses avoid violations. How much screening is expected depends on your industry and risk; banks and money-service businesses have formal obligations.
What is the SDN list?
The Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons list is OFAC’s main list of individuals and entities whose property is blocked. OFAC also maintains other, non-SDN lists with narrower restrictions.
What should I do with a possible match?
Stop the transaction and compare the details. If you cannot rule the match out, OFAC’s guidance is to contact its compliance hotline before proceeding.