(for example, jewelry dealers) insurance companies mortgage companies and brokers Other related forms There are other forms that FinCEN requires businesses and individuals to file. These include: individuals who transport more than $10,000 in currency into or out of the United States shippers and receivers involved in the transfer of $10,000 in currency into or out of the United States businesses that receive more than $10,000 in currency in a single transaction or in related transactions people who have control over more than $10,000 in financial accounts outside of the U.S. during a calendar year Confidentiality Unauthorized disclosure of a SAR filing is a federal criminal offense. Financial institutions undertake an investigation process prior to filing a SAR to ensure that the information reported is appropriate, complete, and accurate. This process will often include review by financial investigators, management and/or attorneys prior to filing. To encourage complete candor and cooperation, there are disclosure and evidentiary privileges that protect SAR filers. First, an individual or organization is precluded from discovering the existence or contents of a SAR that includes the individual or organization's name. SARs filers are immune from the discovery process. Second, SAR filers enjoy immunity for all statements made in their SARs, regardless of whether those statements were allegedly made in bad faith. SAR filing options Effective July 1, 2012 all SAR Reports must be filed through FinCEN's BSA E-filing System. A SAR has five sections each containing information about the filing institution or the activity in question: Part I - Subject Information Any name, address, social security or tax ID's, birth date, drivers license numbers, passport numbers, occupation and phone numbers of all parties involved with the activity. Part II - Suspicious Activity Information Date Range and codes for the type of Suspicious Activity Part III - Information about Financial Institution where Activity Occurred Part IV - Filing Institution Contact Information Usually contains the contact information for the financial institution's compliance officer or equivalent and list of any law enforcement agency that has been contacted while investigating the activity.. Part V - Suspicious Activity Information - Narrative A written description of the activity. Penalties for non-compliance Financial institutions and their employees face civil and criminal penalties for failing to properly file suspicious activity reports, including any combination of fines, regulatory restrictions, loss of banking charter, or imprisonment. History The requirement to file suspicious activity reports (as well as