Screening Names Against OFAC Sanctions Lists

The simplest way to check the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) List is with the official, free Sanctions List Search tool. It’s right on the U.S. Department of the Treasury's website. Using it is a critical due diligence step for any U.S. person or business. A failure to check can lead to prohibited transactions and, consequently, severe civil penalties. This guide walks through how to use the official tool, the legal framework behind it, and other methods for staying compliant.

What Is the OFAC SDN List and Why Does It Matter?

The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is an agency inside the U.S. Department of the Treasury. It maintains the SDN List to enforce economic and trade sanctions—powerful tools tied to U.S. foreign policy and national security. Its authority comes from laws like the Iran Sanctions Act and is put into practice by regulations like 31 C.F.R. Part 501.

Practically speaking, this means U.S. persons (citizens, residents, and companies) are almost completely forbidden from doing business with anyone on the SDN List. Any assets belonging to a listed party that come within U.S. jurisdiction must be frozen and reported to OFAC. Violations can trigger massive civil monetary penalties. And if a violation is willful? It can even lead to criminal prosecution. This makes regular screening a non-negotiable part of any serious compliance program.

Who is on the OFAC list?

The list isn't just one type of person. It includes individuals, groups, and entire entities deemed threats to the national security, foreign policy, or economy of the United States. Think designated terrorists and narcotics traffickers. But it also includes those involved in proliferating weapons of mass destruction. Here's a crucial detail most people miss: the list also covers companies and other entities that are owned 50% or more by a blocked person, even if that company's name doesn't appear on the list itself. This is OFAC's "50 Percent Rule," and it creates a huge hidden risk for businesses that don't dig deep enough.

What is the OFAC Sanctions List?

People often use this term interchangeably with the SDN List. It's the core tool OFAC uses to flag the individuals, entities, and even vessels that U.S. persons can't deal with. When a name gets added, their U.S. assets are blocked, and the door to business slams shut.

What is the OFAC non-SDN List?

Beyond the main SDN List, OFAC also keeps other, more specialized sanctions lists. These are often called "non-SDN" lists. They include the Sectoral Sanctions Identifications (SSI) List, which targets specific sectors of Russia's economy with restrictions that are less than a full block, and the Foreign Sanctions Evaders (FSE) List. While dealing with parties on these lists might only be restricted rather than completely prohibited, screening against them is just as critical. The only safe approach is using a tool that checks against all OFAC lists, not just the SDN.

How Do I Check a Name Against the OFAC SDN List?

You can run a free, manual check by going to the Treasury Department's Sanctions List Search tool: sanctionssearch.ofac.treas.gov. This portal is the official, definitive source.

Here’s how to use it effectively:

1. Start with the Name: In the "Name" field, type the full or partial name of the person or company. The tool's "fuzzy logic" helps account for misspellings and variations, so you don't always need a perfect match to get started.
2. Add Identifiers for clarity: To reduce false positives, add any other details you have. City, country, passport number, or even a digital currency address can dramatically sharpen the search and give you a more accurate result.
3. Adjust the Score: The "Minimum Name Score" slider, which defaults to a high setting, controls how sensitive the name match is. If you lower the score, you'll get more potential matches that are less similar to your search term. For most first passes, leaving it on the default is fine.
4. Review the Results with care: A "hit" is just a potential match. It's not a final verdict. Your job now is to investigate further to confirm whether this is really the person or company you're screening.

What if I get a potential match?

Don't panic. A potential match, or "hit," just means the data you entered looks similar to an entry on an OFAC list. It's a signal to start your real due diligence.

Your next step is to compare all available identifying information. Look at the OFAC entry's details—date of birth, nationality, aliases, addresses—and see how they stack up against the information you have on your counterparty. If the details clearly don't align (e.g., your client was born in 1990 but the SDN entry is for someone born in 1950), you can document your findings and proceed. But if you can't confidently rule out the match? You must stop the transaction. Do not move forward. You may need to contact the OFAC hotline or get legal counsel before taking another step.

Are There Other Ways to Screen Against the OFAC List?

While the manual web search works for a few checks here and there, businesses with regular screening needs almost always use automated methods. OFAC encourages this, providing its sanctions list data in multiple formats ready for software integration.

How do I get the OFAC List PDF and other data files?

For companies needing to build list data into their own software, OFAC offers the SDN List for download in several formats, including XML, CSV, and a human-readable PDF. These files are available through OFAC's Sanctions List Service (SLS). Using this service allows a company to automate its screening, ensuring its system is always working from the most current data.

How do I find the latest OFAC Sanctions List?

The OFAC website is the single source of truth. Because the sanctions lists are updated frequently—sometimes daily—you must use the live search tool or download data files directly from the Treasury's site. Anything else is a risk. OFAC also provides an OFAC Recent Actions feed for tracking daily updates and an Archive of Changes page with records going back to 1994, which lets you prove exactly when a name was added, changed, or removed.

What is the OFAC Consolidated Sanctions List?

This is not just the SDN list. The Consolidated Sanctions List is a single data file that merges entries from multiple OFAC sanctions programs. It bundles the Foreign Sanctions Evaders (FSE) List, the Sectoral Sanctions Identifications (SSI) List, and others together. For automated screening, using these consolidated files is the gold standard for ensuring you're covering all your bases across every relevant OFAC program.

What Is the Difference Between the OFAC and UN Sanctions Lists?

While both lists target individuals and entities, their authority and reach are very different. The OFAC list is a U.S. government tool, legally binding on all U.S. persons. Period. The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Consolidated List, however, is created under Chapter VII of the UN Charter and is binding on all UN Member States.

UN member states must implement UN sanctions through their own domestic laws. This means that while there's significant overlap between the UN and OFAC lists (especially for major terrorist groups), they are not identical. A U.S. company must, at a bare minimum, screen against OFAC's lists. But depending on its international footprint, it may also need to check UN, EU, and other national sanctions lists to build a truly comprehensive compliance strategy.

How do I perform a UN Sanctions List search?

The United Nations has its own free search tool for the Consolidated Sanctions List, available on the UN Security Council website. The function allows users to check names of individuals and entities designated by various UNSC sanctions committees, helping organizations meet their international legal obligations.

This article is published by an independent law firm for informational purposes only and does not represent or claim affiliation with any government body, international organization, or official authority.

Frequently asked questions

What is the official tool to search the OFAC SDN list?

OFAC provides a free Sanctions List Search tool on the U.S. Treasury/OFAC website, covering the SDN and Consolidated lists.

What is the OFAC 50% Rule?

Entities owned 50% or more, directly or indirectly, by blocked persons are themselves treated as blocked, even if not listed by name.

What is a false positive?

A name resembling a listed party that is not actually the sanctioned person; fuzzy-matching often flags these for review.

What should I do if I find a match?

Do not proceed with the transaction until the match is verified and, where needed, legal advice is taken.

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