Treasury Issues Additional General Licenses and Guidance in Support of Humanitarian Assistance and Other Support to Afghanistan
12/22/2021
U.S. Department of the Treasury
Office of Public Affairs
Press Release: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 22, 2021
Contact: Treasury Public Affairs; Press@Treasury.gov
Treasury Issues Additional General Licenses and Guidance in Support of Humanitarian Assistance and Other Support to Afghanistan
WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued three General Licenses to facilitate the continued flow of humanitarian assistance and other support for the Afghan people. These actions underscore the United States’ commitment to support the people of Afghanistan and continue the U.S. government’s longstanding practice of authorizing the provision of humanitarian goods and services to areas affected by U.S. sanctions. Treasury’s OFAC also issued a Fact Sheet that highlights and consolidates all the relevant authorizations and guidance facilitating the flow of humanitarian assistance, personal remittances, and other support to the Afghan people.
“The United States is the largest single provider of humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan. We are committed to supporting the people of Afghanistan, which is why Treasury is taking these additional steps to facilitate assistance,” said Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo. “Unfortunately, the economy faces grave challenges, exacerbated by the country’s long dependence on foreign aid, donor and private sector flight sparked by the Taliban’s takeover, drought, structural macroeconomic issues, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Treasury has provided broad authorizations that ensure NGOs, international organizations, and the U.S. government can continue to provide relief to those in need.”
As part of Treasury’s commitment to enabling humanitarian assistance and other support to Afghanistan, OFAC issued the following General Licenses that expand upon existing authorizations related to the provision of humanitarian assistance and other activities that support basic human needs and enable broader support for the Afghan people:
General License 17 authorizes all transactions and activities involving the Taliban or the Haqqani Network that are for the conduct of the official business of the United States Government by employees, grantees, or contractors thereof, subject to certain conditions.
General License 18 authorizes all transactions and activities involving the Taliban or the Haqqani Network that are for the conduct of the official business of certain international organizations and other international entities by employees, grantees, or contractors thereof, subject to certain conditions.
General License 19 authorizes all transactions and activities involving the Taliban or the Haqqani Network, that are ordinarily incident and necessary to the following activities by nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), subject to certain conditions: humanitarian projects to meet basic human needs; activities to support rule of law, citizen participation, government accountability and transparency, human rights and fundamental freedoms, access to information, and civil society development projects; education; non-commercial development projects directly benefitting the Afghan people; and environmental and natural resource protection.
There are no OFAC-administered sanctions that generally prohibit the export or reexport of goods or services to Afghanistan, moving or sending money into and out of Afghanistan, or activities in Afghanistan, provided that such transactions or activities do not involve sanctioned individuals, entities, or property in which sanctioned individuals and entities have an interest. In all cases, authorized transactions and activities must comply with the terms and conditions set forth in the applicable General License. Notably, the General Licenses listed above explicitly do not authorize financial transfers to the Taliban or the Haqqani Network, other than for the purpose of effecting the payment of taxes, fees, or import duties, or the purchase or receipt of permits, licenses, or public utility services related to the activities specified. For more information, please see GLs 17, 18, and 19.
These GLs also help implement adopted resolution UNSCR 2615 (2021), which authorizes humanitarian assistance and other activities that support basic human needs as those terms are understood by the United Nations Security Council, as well as the processing and payment of funds, other financial assets or economic resources, and the provision of goods and services necessary to ensure the timely delivery of such assistance or to support such activities.
This Resolution, drafted by the United States and unanimously adopted today by the 15 members of the UN Security Council, establishes a carveout in the UN 1988 sanctions regime to ensure urgently needed aid can reach the Afghan people. Specifically, UNSCR 2615 (2021) was intended to cover activities contemplated in the United Nations’ Transitional Engagement Framework (TEF) for Afghanistan, such as providing life-saving assistance; sustaining essential services; and preserving social investments and community-level systems essential to meeting basic human needs. The Resolution also requests periodic updates by the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator to ensure assistance is reaching the intended beneficiaries, not being diverted to the Taliban.
Concurrent with these actions, OFAC updated three Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and issued six new FAQs. These FAQs provide clarity on the scope of GLs and address some of the questions that OFAC has received regarding its sanctions on the Taliban and the Haqqani Network. For more information, please see FAQs 928, 929, 931, 950, 951, 952, 953, 954, and 955.
OFAC also issued a humanitarian Fact Sheet, “Provision of Humanitarian Assistance to Afghanistan and Support for the Afghan People,” providing an overview of the abovementioned authorizations and guidance, along with other relevant authorizations and FAQs.
For transactions not otherwise authorized or exempt, OFAC considers license requests on a case-by-case basis and prioritizes applications, compliance questions, and other requests related to humanitarian activity. For more information regarding the scope of any sanctions program’s requirements or the applicability or scope of any humanitarian-related authorizations, please contact OFAC’s Sanction Compliance and Evaluation Division at (800) 540-6322 or (202) 622-2490, or by email at OFAC_Feedback@treasury.gov.
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Treasury Designates al-Qa’ida Support Network in Brazil
12/22/2021
U.S. Department of the Treasury
Office of Public Affairs
Press Release: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 22, 2021
Contact: Treasury Public Affairs; Press@Treasury.gov
Treasury Designates al-Qa’ida Support Network in Brazil
WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated members of a Brazil-based network of al-Qa’ida-affiliated individuals and their companies for providing support to the terrorist group. Today’s action targets three individuals and two entities, including al-Qa’ida operative in Brazil Haytham Ahmad Shukri Ahmad Al-Maghrabi (Al-Maghrabi), as Specially Designated Global Terrorists pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13224, as amended.
“The activities of this Brazil-based network demonstrate that al-Qa’ida remains a pervasive global terrorist threat, and today’s designations will help deny the group’s access to the formal financial system,” said Under Secretary of the Treasury Brian E. Nelson. “The United States is committed to working with our foreign partners, including Brazil, to dismantle al-Qa’ida’s financial support networks.”
Al-Qa’ida continues to pose a threat to the United States and other nations worldwide. Al-Qa’ida and its regional affiliates generate their funding from individual fundraisers in Gulf countries and supporters throughout the world. As al-Qa’ida generates almost all its revenue outside of the United States, the U.S. government has aggressively utilized financial tools to limit al-Qa’ida’s funding streams globally. This includes designating nearly 300 individuals and entities affiliated with al-Qa’ida and other terrorist organizations throughout Afghanistan, Pakistan, the Gulf, Africa, and other regions.
Haytham Ahmad Shukri Ahmad Al-Maghrabi
In 2015, Al-Maghrabi arrived in Brazil, where he was one of the initial members of an al-Qa’ida network. Al-Maghrabi had frequent contact and business dealings, to include the purchase of foreign currency, with another al-Qa’ida-affiliated individual based in Brazil. As of late 2018, Al-Maghrabi reported to and was Ahmed Mohammed Hamed Ali’s al-Qa’ida contact in Brazil. Ahmed Mohammed Hamed Ali (Ali) was designated as an SDGT pursuant to E.O. 13224 on October 12, 2001.
Treasury designated Haytham Ahmad Shukri Ahmad Al-Maghrabi pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, al-Qa’ida.
Additional Al-Qa’ida Individuals and Their Businesses
Mohamed Sherif Mohamed Mohamed Awadd (Awadd) arrived in Brazil in mid-2018 and received financial bank transfers from other al-Qa’ida associates in Brazil. As of late 2018, Awadd played a significant role in a Brazil-based al-Qa’ida-affiliated group and was involved in printing counterfeit currency. Awadd is the sole shareholder in and part of the management for Home Elegance Comercio de Moveis EIRELI, a Sao Paulo-based company that sells furniture.
Awadd is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Mohamed Ahmed Elsayed Ahmed Ibrahim, who was designated on September 10, 2019 for having acted for or on behalf of al-Qa’ida.
Treasury designated Home Elegance Comercio de Moveis EIRELI pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for being owned, controlled, or directed by, directly or indirectly, Awadd.
Today’s action also targeted Brazil-based Ahmad Al-Khatib pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Mohamed Ahmed Elsayed Ahmed Ibrahim.
Ahmad Al-Khatib is the sole shareholder in and part of the management for Sao Paulo-based furniture business Enterprise Comercio de Moveis e Intermediacao de Negocios EIRELI which is also designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for being owned, controlled, or directed by, directly or indirectly, Ahmad Al-Khatib.
Sanctions Implications
As a result of today’s action, all property and interests in property of the individuals and entities named above, and of any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by them, individually, or with other blocked persons, that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons must be blocked and reported to OFAC. Unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC or otherwise exempt, OFAC’s regulations generally prohibit all transactions by U.S. persons or within the United States (including transactions transiting the United States) that involve any property or interests in property of designated or otherwise blocked persons.
Furthermore, engaging in certain transactions with the individuals and entities designated today entails risk of secondary sanctions pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended. Pursuant to this authority, OFAC can prohibit or impose strict conditions on the opening or maintaining in the United States of a correspondent account or a payable-through account of a foreign financial institution that knowingly conducted or facilitated any significant transaction on behalf of a Specially Designated Global Terrorist.
For information concerning the process for seeking removal from any OFAC list, including the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List, please refer to OFAC’s Frequently Asked Question 897. Additional information regarding sanctions programs administered by OFAC can be found here.
View identifying information on the individual designated today.
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READOUT: Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo’s Meeting with Nongovernmental Organizations Operating in Afghanistan
12/22/2021
U.S. Department of the Treasury
Office of Public Affairs
Press Release: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 22, 2021
Contact: Treasury Public Affairs; Press@Treasury.gov
READOUT: Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo’s Meeting with Nongovernmental Organizations Operating in Afghanistan
WASHINGTON -- Ahead of the release of Treasury’s General Licenses and guidance in support of humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan, Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo hosted a roundtable with over 100 representatives from more than 50 nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to reinforce the U.S. government’s commitment to supporting humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan.
He heard directly from the NGOs operating on the ground in Afghanistan about their experiences delivering aid and the challenges they face. The Deputy Secretary explained Treasury’s commitment to supporting the Afghan people, its close partnership with NGOs, and answered questions about steps Treasury is taking to facilitate access to humanitarian assistance and aid and Treasury’s authorizations on topics such as education, donations of medical supplies, and the role of private sector financial institutions.
As the largest single provider of humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan, the U.S. is committed to ensuring that aid continues to flow to the Afghan people. While Treasury continues to uphold and enforce its economic sanctions on the Taliban, the department regularly engages with the NGO sector on its existing humanitarian authorizations and public guidance, as part of Treasury’s commitment to facilitating the flow of humanitarian assistance to areas affected by U.S. sanctions.
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Questions? Contact UsIssue Number: 2021-17Inside This Issue
1. IRS issues guidance regarding the retroactive termination of the Employee Retention Credit The IRS news release about the retroactive termination of the Employee Retention Credit covers what wages this applies to and what business should do to avoid failure to pay and failure to deposit penalties. 2. Businesses must report nonemployee compensation and backup withholding The IRS reminds businesses, payroll professionals and other payers to use Form 1099-NEC, Nonemployee Compensation, to report nonemployee compensation of $600 or more paid to a payee. Generally, payers must file Form 1099-NEC by Monday, January 31, 2022, for tax year 2021. Payers must also furnish Form 1099-NEC to payees by this date. Businesses should also be aware of:
3. IRS joins leading nonprofit groups to highlight special charitable tax benefit available through December 31 The Independent Sector and National Council of Nonprofits joined with the IRS to highlight a pandemic-related provision where married couples filing jointly can deduct up to $600 in cash donations and individual taxpayers can deduct up to $300 in donations. Under the temporary law, taxpayers don't need to itemize deductions on their tax returns to take advantage of this, which creates tax-favorable donation options not normally available to about 90 percent of tax filers. At a time when many charitable groups are struggling during the pandemic, the IRS highlights the new provision and urges people to make sure they donate to a qualifying charity. The special Tax Exempt Organization Search tool on IRS.gov can help people make sure they donate to a qualified charity. This article is also available in Spanish and Simplified Chinese. 4. Small businesses should make sure to use the right form when filing employment tax returns The IRS advises small business owners to review the rules for which form to use when filing quarterly versus annually:
The two forms are not interchangeable. 5. IRS issues information letters to Advance Child Tax Credit recipients and recipients of the third round of Economic Impact Payments; taxpayers should hold onto letters to help the 2022 Filing Season experience The IRS announced it will issue information letters to Advance Child Tax Credit recipients starting in December and to recipients of the third round of the Economic Impact Payments at the end of January. Using this information when preparing a tax return can reduce errors and delays in processing. Families who received advance payments will need to file a 2021 tax return and compare the advance Child Tax Credit payments they received in 2021 with the amount of the Child Tax Credit they can properly claim on their 2021 tax return. The IRS will begin issuing Letter 6475, Your Third Economic Impact Payment, to EIP recipients in late January. This letter will help Economic Impact Payment recipients determine if they are entitled to and should claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on their tax year 2021 tax returns that they file in 2022. 6. Revised questions and answers for 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit The IRS updated its frequently asked questions (FAQs) regarding the 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit. Individuals who didn't get the full first and second Economic Impact Payments may be eligible to claim the 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit. 7. National Tax Security Awareness Week: Security Summit partners remind businesses to tighten security; be aware of steps to help prevent, protect data loss The IRS, state tax agencies and the nation’s tax industry urged businesses to be alert to cyberattacks aimed at gaining access to business data and customer information and be aware of steps to help them on tax-related issues related to identity theft. More than 70% of cyberattacks are aimed at businesses with 100 or fewer employees. Con artists can target credit card or payment information, the business identity information or employee identity information. The information covers:
8. IRS issues standard mileage rates for 2022 The IRS issued the 2022 optional standard mileage rates used to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business, charitable, medical or moving purposes. Beginning on January 1, 2022, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car (also vans, pickups or panel trucks) will be:
9. Interest rates remain the same for the first quarter of 2022 The IRS announced that interest rates will remain the same for the calendar quarter beginning January 1, 2022. 10. Other tax news Disaster relief
Filing taxes, retirees and more
Federal Reserve Board Notificationhttps://www.federalreserve. Released by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
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