The SEC's approval of the 2015 budget for the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board ("PCAOB") and its' corresponding accounting support fee was published in the Federal Register. The PCAOB budget totals $250.9 million and will be funded primarily by the collection of an accounting support fee totaling $226.6 million. The PCAOB's 2015 budget represents a decrease of approximately three percent from its 2014 budget, and an increase of approximately eight percent over an estimated $232.4 million spent last year.

SIFMA asked the IRS to provide guidance to allow withholding agents to validate tax documents, such as W-8BENs, that are electronically scanned from third-party document repositories. Many investment managers of investment funds contract with third-party document repositories, such as Markit, to house tax documentation that the fund requests from new account holders. The fund uploads these forms electronically to the document repository and then authorizes specific investment banks and other withholding agents to access the documents on the document repository when a request is made for such

The NFA fined Global Futures Exchange Trading Co. ("Global Futures"), a forex dealer, for failing to maintain complete and accurate financial records, prepare accurate net capital computations, comply with the equity withdrawal restriction, and supervise its employees. To settle the charges, Global Futures and one of its employees agreed to pay a $65,000 fine. See: Complaint; Decision; Case Summary.

The NFA issued a notice to members indicating that it is making minor modifications to its EasyFile system, which are effective for all outstanding pool financial statements dated after November 29, 2014. According to the NFA, a CPO must now complete a cover page regarding the pool financial statement and provide one additional balance in the pool financial balances section. See: NFA Notice I-15-09; EasyFile Changes for Pool Financial Statements.

The Global Legal Entity Identifier Foundation launched gleif.org, a web site that provides information about legal entity identifiers ("LEIs") and allows registrants and stakeholders to communicate with the foundation's governing body. The site supports the implementation and use of the Legal Entity Identifier (" LEI") for legally distinct entities that engage in financial transactions. Following the 2008 financial crisis, regulators acknowledged their inability to identify parties to transactions across markets, products, and regions. The LEI helps evaluate systemic and emerging risk