FinCEN Whistleblower Awards May Reach 30% of Sanctions

Eligible whistleblowers may receive awards between 10% and 30% of the monetary sanctions collected in successful enforcement actions. This eligibility requires that the enforcement action result in more than $1 million in monetary sanctions. The program is established through a notice of proposed rulemaking published by FinCEN on April 1, 2026, to implement provisions of the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020 and the Anti-Money Laundering Whistleblower Improvement Act of 2022. Individuals, or two or more individuals acting jointly, who voluntarily provide original information leading to successful enforcement actions involving the Bank Secrecy Act, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, the Trading With the Enemy Act, or the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act are eligible. The proposed rule includes confidentiality protections, anti-retaliation protections, and procedural mechanisms for submitting tips and award claims.