Frequently Asked Questions

1185. What activities are considered prohibited “information technology (IT) consultancy and design services” under the determination, “Prohibition on Certain Information Technology and Software Services,” pursuant to Executive Order (E.O. 14071) (the “IT and Software Services Determination”)?

IT consultancy and design services include the development and implementation of software, as well as assistance or advice relating to the development and implementation of software, including the supply and installation of bespoke software. However, the retail sale of off-the-shelf software,… Read more

1186. What activities are considered prohibited “IT support services” and “cloud-based services” for enterprise management software and design and manufacturing software (collectively “Covered Software”) under the determination, “Prohibition on Certain Information Technology and Software Services”, pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 14071 (the “IT and Software Services Determination”)?

The IT and Software Services Determination prohibits the exportation, reexportation, sale, or supply, directly or indirectly, from the United States, or by a United States person, wherever located, of both IT support services and cloud-based services for the Covered Software to a person located in… Read more

1187. How does OFAC intend to interpret the following terms in the determination, “Prohibition on Certain Information Technology and Software Services,” pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 14071 (the “IT and Software Services Determination”): “enterprise management software,” “design and manufacturing software,” “cloud-based services,” “information technology support services,” and “information technology consultancy and design services”?

OFAC expects to promulgate regulations that define or interpret these terms as follows: The term enterprise management software means the following types of software: enterprise resource planning (ERP), customer relationship management (CRM), business intelligence (BI), supply chain management (… Read more

1188. Does the determination, “Prohibition on Certain Information Technology and Software Services,” pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 14071 (the “IT and Software Services Determination”) prohibit U.S. persons from providing services to persons located outside of the Russian Federation that are owned or controlled by persons located in the Russian Federation?

No, provided that the provision of services is not an indirect export to a person located in the Russian Federation. For the purposes of the IT and Software Services Determination , OFAC interprets the “indirect” provision of the prohibited services to include when the benefit of the services is… Read more

1093. What does Nicaragua General License (GL) 4 authorize?

Nicaragua GL 4 authorizes U.S. persons to engage in transactions prohibited by the Nicaragua Sanctions Regulations, 31 CFR part 582 (the NSR), that are ordinarily incident and necessary to the wind down of any transaction involving the Directorate General of Mines (DGM) of the Nicaraguan Ministry… Read more

1094. Is crude oil of Russian Federation origin that is loaded onto a vessel at the port of loading for maritime transport prior to December 5, 2022 subject to the price cap?

No, provided the oil is unloaded at the port of destination prior to 12:01 a.m., eastern standard time, January 19, 2023. Crude oil of Russian Federation origin that is loaded onto a vessel at the port of loading prior to 12:01 a.m., eastern standard time, December 5, 2022, and unloaded at the… Read more

1096. Do U.S. sanctions prohibit U.S. persons from engaging in transactions that are ordinarily incident and necessary to the official business of diplomatic or consular missions of the Government of the Russian Federation located in or outside the United States?

OFAC issued Russia-related General License (GL) 53A to authorize U.S. persons to engage in all transactions ordinarily incident and necessary to the official business of diplomatic or consular missions of the Government of the Russian Federation ("Russian missions"), where the transactions are… Read more

1097. What does Counterterrorism-related General License 21B (GL 21B) authorize?

GL 21B authorizes all activities otherwise prohibited by the Global Terrorism Sanctions Regulations (GTSR), 31 CFR part 594, that are ordinarily incident and necessary to the limited safety and environmental activities described in paragraph (a) of GL 21B involving certain blocked persons and… Read more

1046. Are U.S. persons required to divest their current holdings of Chinese Military-Industrial Complex Companies' (CMIC) securities before the end of the relevant 365-day divestment period pursuant to section 1(c) of Executive Order (E.O.) 13959, as amended?

U.S. persons are not required to divest their holdings of CMIC securities during the relevant 365-day divestment period and may continue to hold such securities after the divestment period. E.O. 13959, as amended, permits purchases or sales made solely to effect the divestment of CMIC securities,… Read more

1047. For the purposes of Executive Order (E.O.) 13959, as amended, can holders of Chinese Military-Industrial Complex Companies' (CMIC) securities receive stock splits, cash dividends, or dividend reinvestments related to the covered securities, and are U.S. financial institutions allowed to process transactions related to this activity?

U.S. persons who hold securities of CMICs identified pursuant to E.O. 13959, as amended, may continue to receive cash dividends and stock splits related to such covered securities, and U.S. financial institutions may continue to process such transactions. However, purchases of CMIC securities… Read more

Frequently Asked Questions

Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence