The reasons for requesting robust identification for those filingbfor incorporation, dismissed by several comments here, are given in the first parafraph of the linked report:<p><i>In early April 2016 the largest cache of private documents in history were leaked to journalists and subsequently exposed the shadowy world of offshore tax fraud, money laundering and corruption that hides behind anonymous shell corporations. The documents, which included email, incorporation papers and other private communications, were from a little-known Panamanian law firm called Mossack Fonseca and were released by the nternational Consortium of Investigative Journalists which had received them from a whistleblower. The ensuing scandal followed two others before it – Lux Leaks and Swiss Leaks which were related to bank-enabled tax evasion – but dwarfed them in the sheer amount of data involved.</i><p><a href="https://secureservercdn.net/45.40.149.159/34n.8bd.myftpupload.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/GFI-Library-Card-Project.pdf" rel="nofollow">https://secureservercdn.net/45.40.149.159/34n.8bd.myftpuploa...</a><p>The Securities Act of 1933, setting among the few national registration requirements in the USstates as its basis, following an episode of history in which such need was established:<p><i>To provide full and fair disclosure of the character of securities sold in interstate and foreign commerce and through the mails, and to prevent frauds in the sale thereof, and for other purposes.</i><p><a href="http://legislink.org/us/pl-73-22" rel="nofollow">http://legislink.org/us/pl-73-22</a><p>The history of Delaware incorporation law makes clear at numerous point obligations for good-faith dealings and power to pierce the legal fictions of incorporation:<p><i>It is well settled that a court of equity may disregard formalities and break through the shell of fictions in order to prevent, or undo fraud. ...</i><p><i>Directors of a corporation are trustees for the stockholders, and their acts are governed by the rules applicable to such a relation, which exact of them the utmost good faith and fair dealing, especially where their individual interests are concerned."</i><p>"A History of Delaware Corporation Law" <a href="http://www.djcl.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/A-History-of-Delaware-Corporation-Law1.pdf" rel="nofollow">http://www.djcl.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/A-History-of-...</a><p>(Though concern for general public trust is notably absent.)<p>See also KYC. (know your customer) laws in banking.<p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Know_your_customer" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Know_your_customer</a><p>Note that incorporating is not <i>necessary</i> to run a business -- sole proprieterships and partnerships exist. Incorporation extends specific legal protections by the state in return for net social benefit. In theory.