[Deleted January 2006]

Question—Would independence be considered to be impaired if a member joined a trade association that is a client of the firm?

Answer—Independence would not be considered to be impaired provided the member did not serve as an officer, director, or in any capacity equivalent to that of a member of management.

[Revised, effective June 30, 1990, by the Professional Ethics Executive Committee. Revised, July 2002, to reflect conforming changes necessary due to the revision of interpretation 101-1.]

[Deleted May 1999]

[Deleted May 1999]

[Deleted June 1991]

[Deleted November 2001]

[Deleted May 1999]

Question—A member provides extensive advisory services for a client. In that connection, the member attends board meetings, interprets financial statements, forecasts and other analyses, counsels on potential expansion plans and on banking relationships. Would independence be considered to be impaired under these circumstances?

Answer—Independence would not be considered to be impaired because the member's role is advisory in nature.

[Revised, July 2002, to reflect conforming changes necessary due to the revision of interpretation 101-1.]

Question—A member performs the following functions for a creditors' committee in control of a debtor corporation which will continue to operate under its existing management subject to extension agreements:

Would independence be considered to be impaired with respect to the debtor corporation?

Answer—Independence would be considered to be impaired if any partner or professional employee of the firm performed any of the functions described, since these are considered to be management functions.

[Revised, effective June 30, 1990, by the Professional Ethics Executive Committee. Revised, July 2002, to reflect conforming changes necessary due to the revision of interpretation 101-1.]

Question—A member is an elected legislator in a local government (a city). The city manager, who is responsible for all administrative functions, is also an elected official. Would independence be considered to be impaired with respect to the city?

Answer—Independence would be considered to be impaired if any partner or professional employee of the firm served as an elected legislator for a city at the same time his or her firm was engaged to perform the city's attest engagement, even though the city manager is an elected official rather than an appointee of the legislature.

[Revised, effective June 30, 1990, by the Professional Ethics Executive Committee. Revised, July 2002, to reflect conforming changes necessary due to the revision of interpretation 101-1.]

Question—A member has been designated to serve as an executor or trustee of the estate of an individual who owns the majority of a client's stock. Would independence be considered to be impaired with respect to the client?

Answer—The mere designation of a covered member as executor or trustee would not be considered to impair independence, however, if a covered member actually served in such capacity, independence would be considered to be impaired.

[Revised, effective June 30, 1990, by the Professional Ethics Executive Committee. Revised, July 2002, to reflect conforming changes necessary due to the revision of interpretation 101-1.]

Question—A charitable foundation is the sole beneficiary of the estate of the foundation's deceased organizer. If a member becomes a trustee of the foundation, would independence be considered to be impaired with respect to (1) the foundation or (2) the estate?

Answer—If a covered member served as trustee of the foundation, independence would be considered to be impaired with respect to both the foundation and the estate.

[Revised, effective June 30, 1990, by the Professional Ethics Executive Committee. Revised, July 2002, to reflect conforming changes necessary due to the revision of interpretation 101-1.]

[Deleted November 1993]

Question—A member serves as a director or officer of a United Way or similar federated fund-raising organization (the organization). Certain local charities receive funds from the organization. Would independence be considered to be impaired with respect to such charities?

Answer—Independence would be considered to be impaired if any partner or professional employee of the firm served as a director or officer of the organization and the organization exercised managerial control over the local charities. (See ethics ruling No. 93 [ET section 191.186–.187] under rule 101 [ET section 101.01] for additional guidance.)

[Replaces previous ruling No. 14, Member on Board of Directors of United Fund, April 1991. Revised, July 2002, to reflect conforming changes necessary due to the revision of interpretation 101-1.]

[Deleted June 1991]

Question—Would independence be considered to be impaired if a member served on the board of directors of a nonprofit social club?

Answer—Independence would be considered to be impaired if any partner or professional employee of the firm served on the board of directors since the board has ultimate responsibility for the club's affairs.

[Revised, effective June 30, 1990, by the Professional Ethics Executive Committee. Revised, July 2002, to reflect conforming changes necessary due to the revision of interpretation 101-1.]

Question—Would independence be considered to be impaired if a member belongs to a social club (for example, country club, tennis club) that requires him or her to acquire a pro rata share of the club's equity or debt securities?

Answer—As long as membership in a club is essentially a social matter, a covered member's association with the club would not impair independence because such equity or debt ownership would not be considered to be a direct financial interest within the meaning of rule 101 [ET section 101.01]. Also see interpretation 101-1.C [ET section 101.02].

[Replaces previous ruling No. 17, Member as Stockholder in Country Club, February 1991. Revised, July 2002, to reflect conforming changes necessary due to the revision of interpretation 101-1.]

[Deleted June 1991]

Question—Would independence be considered to be impaired if a member served on a committee that administers a client's deferred compensation program?

Answer—Independence would be considered to be impaired if any partner or professional employee of the firm served on the committee since such service constitutes participation in the client's management functions. The partner or professional employee could however render consulting assistance without joining the committee.

[Revised, effective June 30, 1990, by the Professional Ethics Executive Committee. Revised, July 2002, to reflect conforming changes necessary due to the revision of interpretation 101-1.]

Question—A member serves on a citizens' committee which is studying possible changes in the form of a county government that the firm audits. The member also serves on a committee appointed to study the financial status of a state. Would independence be considered to be impaired with respect to a county in that state?

Answer—Independence would not be considered to be impaired with respect to the county through the member's service on either committee.

[Revised, effective June 30, 1990, by the Professional Ethics Executive Committee. Revised, July 2002, to reflect conforming changes necessary due to the revision of interpretation 101-1.]

Question—A member serves in the dual capacity of director of an entity and auditor of the financial statements of that entity's profit sharing and retirement trust (the trust). Would independence be considered to be impaired with respect to the trust?

Answer—Service as director of an entity constitutes participation in management functions that affect the entity's trust. Accordingly, independence would be considered to be impaired if any partner or professional of the firm served in such capacity.

[Revised, effective June 30, 1990, by the Professional Ethics Executive Committee. Revised, July 2002, to reflect conforming changes necessary due to the revision of interpretation 101-1.]

[Deleted June 1991]

[Deleted June 1991]

[Deleted June 1991]

[Deleted June 1991]

[Deleted June 1991]

[Deleted June 1991]

[Superseded by ethics ruling No. 59.]

Question—Would independence be considered to be impaired if a member owned an immaterial amount of a municipal authority's outstanding bonds?

Answer—Ownership of a client's bonds constitute a loan to that client. Accordingly, if a covered member owned such bonds, independence would be considered to be impaired.

[Revised, effective June 30, 1990, by the Professional Ethics Executive Committee. Revised, July 2002, to reflect conforming changes necessary due to the revision of interpretation 101-1.]

[Deleted July 1979]

Question—A member belongs to a common interest realty association (CIRA) as the result of the ownership or lease of real estate. Would independence be considered to be impaired with respect to the CIRA?

Answer—Independence would be considered to be impaired if a covered member was a member of a CIRA unless all of the following conditions are met:

a.    The CIRA performs functions similar to local governments, such as public safety, road maintenance, and utilities.

b.    The covered member's annual assessment is not material to either the covered member or the CIRA's operating budgeted assessments.

c.    The liquidation of the CIRA or the sale of common assets would not result in a distribution to the covered member.

d.    The CIRA's creditors would not have recourse to the covered member's assets if the CIRA became insolvent.

Also see interpretation 101-1.C [ET section 101.02] for additional restrictions related to associations with a client.

If the member has a relationship with a real estate developer or management company that is associated with the CIRA, see interpretation 102-2 [ET section 102.03] for guidance.

[Revised, effective May 31, 1998, by the Professional Ethics Executive Committee. Revised, July 2002, to reflect conforming changes necessary due to the revision of interpretation 101-1.]

[Deleted December 1991]

[Deleted May 1998]

[Deleted February 1991]

[Deleted December 2005]

[Deleted December 2005]

[Deleted November 1980]

Question—A member serves with a client bank in a co-fiduciary capacity with respect to an estate or trust. Would independence be considered to be impaired with respect to the bank or the bank's trust department?

Answer—Independence would not be considered to be impaired provided the assets in the estate or trust were not material to the total assets of the bank and/or the bank's trust department.

[Revised, effective June 30, 1990, by the Professional Ethics Executive Committee. Revised, July 2002, to reflect conforming changes necessary due to the revision of interpretation 101-1.]

[Deleted May 1999]

[Deleted June 1979]

Question—A financial services company client (for example, insurance company, investment adviser, broker-dealer, bank, or other depository institution) has custody of a member's assets (other than depository accounts), including retirement plan assets. Would independence be considered to be impaired?

Answer—If a covered member's assets were held by a financial services company client, independence would not be considered to be impaired provided the services were rendered under the company's normal terms, procedures, and requirements and any of the covered member's assets subject to the risk of loss were immaterial to the covered member's net worth. Risk of loss may include losses arising from the bankruptcy of or defalcation by the client but would exclude losses due to a market decline in the value of the assets. When considering the materiality of assets subject to the risk of loss, the covered member should consider the following:

For guidance dealing with depository accounts, see ethics ruling No. 70 [ET section 191.140 and .141].

[Replaces previous ruling No. 41, Member as Auditor of Mutual Insurance Company, November, 1990. Revised, July 2002, to reflect conforming changes necessary due to the revision of interpretation 101-1. Revised, effective March 31, 2003, by the Professional Ethics Executive Committee.]

[Deleted April 1991]

[Deleted June 1991]

[Superseded by ethics ruling No. 52.]

[Deleted November 1990]

[Superseded by ethics ruling No. 51.]

[Deleted February 1991]

Question—A full or part-time faculty member employed by a university is asked to audit the financial statements of the Student Senate Fund. The university:

1.    Acts as a collection agent for student fees and remits them to the Student Senate.

2.    Requires that a university administrator approve and sign Student Senate checks.

Would independence be considered to be impaired under these circumstances?

Answer—Independence would be considered to be impaired with respect to the Student Senate Fund if any partner or professional employee (individual) performed the functions described since the individual would be auditing several of the management functions performed by the university, the individual's employer.

[Revised, effective June 30, 1990, by the Professional Ethics Executive Committee. Revised, July 2002, to reflect conforming changes necessary due to the revision of interpretation 101-1.]

[Superseded by interpretation 101-8.]

[Deleted June 1983]

[Deleted May 1999]

Question—A client of the member's firm has not paid fees for previously rendered professional services. Would independence be considered to be impaired for the current year?

Answer—Independence is considered to be impaired if, when the report on the client's current year is issued, billed or unbilled fees, or a note receivable arising from such fees, remain unpaid for any professional services provided more than one year prior to the date of the report.

This ruling does not apply to fees outstanding from a client in bankruptcy.

[Replaces previous ruling No. 52, Past Due Fees, November 1990. Revised, effective November 30, 1997, by the Professional Ethics Executive Committee. Revised, July 2002, to reflect conforming changes necessary due to the revision of interpretation 101-1.]

[Deleted June 1991]

[Deleted May 1999]

[Deleted May 1999]

[Deleted May 1999]

[Deleted August 1995]

[Deleted May 1998]

[Deleted November 1987]

Question—A member has been asked to audit the financial statements of an employee benefit plan (“the plan”) that may have one or more participating employer(s). Would independence be considered to be impaired with respect to the plan if the member had financial or other relationships with a participating employer(s)?

Answer—Independence would be considered to be impaired with respect to the plan if any partner or professional employee of the firm had significant influence over such employer, was in a key position with the employer, or was associated with the employer as a promoter, underwriter, or voting trustee.

When auditing plans subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), Department of Labor (DOL) regulations must be followed. ^fn 1

[Replaces previous ruling No. 60, Employee Benefit Plans—Member's Relationships With Participating Employer(s), November 1993. Revised, effective November 30, 2001, by the Professional Ethics Executive Committee. Revised, July 2002, to reflect conforming changes necessary due to the revision of interpretation 101-1.]

[Deleted May 1998]

[Deleted April 1991]

[Deleted August 1992]

Question—A member serves on the board of directors of an organization. A fund-raising foundation functions solely to raise funds for that organization. Would independence be considered to be impaired with respect to the fund-raising foundation?

Answer—Independence would be considered to be impaired with respect to the fund-raising foundation if any partner or professional employee of the firm served on the organization's board of directors. However, if the directorship were clearly honorary (in accordance with ET section 101.06, Honorary directorships and trusteeships of not-for-profit organization), independence would not be considered to be impaired.

[Revised, effective June 30, 1990, by the Professional Ethics Executive Committee. Revised, July 2002, to reflect conforming changes necessary due to the revision of interpretation 101-1.]

Question—A member who is not in public practice wishes to use his or her CPA designation in connection with financial statements and correspondence of the member's employer. The member also wants to use the CPA designation along with employment title on business cards. Is it permissible for the member to use the CPA designation in these manners?

Answer—Yes. However, if the member uses the CPA designation in a manner to imply that he or she is independent of the employer, the member would be knowingly misrepresenting facts in violation of rule 102 [ET section 102.01]. Therefore, it is advisable that in any transmittal within which the member uses his or her CPA designation, he or she clearly indicate the employment title. In addition, if the member states affirmatively in any transmittal that a financial statement is presented in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles, the member is subject to rule 203 [ET section 203.01].

[Replaces previous ruling No. 65, Use of the CPA Designation by Member Not in Public Practice, February 1996, effective February 29, 1996.]

[Deleted December 2005]

Question—Would the mere servicing of a loan by a client financial institution impair independence with respect to the client?

Answer—No.

[Replaces previous ruling No. 67, Servicing of Loan, November 1993. Revised, July 2002, to reflect conforming changes necessary due to the revision of interpretation 101-1.]

[Deleted December 2005]

Question—A private, closely held entity is the general partner and controls (as defined in Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) limited partnership A. The member has a material financial interest in limited partnership A. The member's firm has been asked to perform an attest engagement for a new limited partnership (B), which has the same general partner as limited partnership A. Would independence be considered to be impaired with respect to limited partnership B?

Answer—Because the general partner has control over limited partnership A, the covered member would be considered to have a joint closely held investment with the general partner, who has significant influence over limited partnership B, the proposed client. Accordingly, independence would be considered to be impaired with respect to limited partnership B if the covered member had a material investment in limited partnership A.

[Replaces previous ruling No. 69, Joint Investment With a Promoter and/or General Partner, April 1991, effective April 30, 1991. Revised, July 2002, to reflect conforming changes necessary due to the revision of interpretation 101-1.]

Question—A member maintains checking or savings accounts, certificates of deposit, or money market accounts at a client financial institution. Would these depository relationships impair independence?

Answer—If an individual is a covered member, independence would not be considered to be impaired provided that—

A firm's depository relationship would not impair its independence provided that the likelihood of the financial institution experiencing financial difficulties was considered to be remote.

[Revised, July 2002, to reflect conforming changes necessary due to the revision of interpretation 101-1. Revised, effective March 31, 2003, by the Professional Ethics Executive Committee.]

Question—Firm A is not independent with respect to a client. Partners or professional employees of Firm A are participating on Firm B's attest engagement team for that client. Would Firm B's independence be considered to be impaired?

Answer—Yes. The use by Firm B of partners or professional employees from Firm A as part of the attest engagement team would impair Firm B's independence with respect to that engagement.

However, use of the work of such individuals in a manner similar to internal auditors is permissible provided that there is compliance with the Statements on Auditing Standards. Applicable literature contained in the Statements on Auditing Standards should be consulted.

[Revised, July 2002, to reflect conforming changes necessary due to the revision of interpretation 101-1.]

Question—Would service on a client's advisory board impair independence?

Answer—Independence would be considered to be impaired if any partner or professional employee of the firm served on the advisory board unless all the following criteria are met: (1) the responsibilities of the advisory board are in fact advisory in nature; (2) the advisory board has no authority to make nor does it appear to make management decisions on behalf of the client; and (3) the advisory board and those having authority to make management decisions (including the board of directors or its equivalent) are distinct groups with minimal, if any, common membership.

[Revised, July 2002, to reflect conforming changes necessary due to the revision of interpretation 101-1.]

[Deleted February 1998]

Question—If a member or his or her firm is not independent with respect to a client, is it permissible to issue an audit, review, or compilation report for that client?

Answer—A member or his or her firm may not issue an audit or review report if not independent of the client. A compilation report may be issued provided that the report specifically discloses the lack of independence without giving reasons for the impairment.

[Revised, July 2002, to reflect conforming changes necessary due to the revision of interpretation 101-1.]

Question—Does membership in a client credit union impair independence?

Answer—A covered member's association with a client credit union would not impair independence provided all of the following criteria are met:

1.    The covered member individually qualifies to join the credit union (other than by virtue of the professional services provided to the client).

2.    Any loans from the credit union to the covered member meet the conditions specified in interpretation 101-1.A.4 [ET section 101.02] and are made under normal lending procedures, terms, and requirements (see interpretation 101-5 [ET section 101.07]).

3.    Any deposits with the credit union meet the conditions specified in ruling No. 70 [ET section 191.140–.141] under rule 101 [ET section 101.01].

Partners and professional employees may be subject to additional restrictions as described in interpretation 101-1.B [ET section 101.02].

[Effective February 28, 1992, earlier application is encouraged. Revised, July 2002, to reflect conforming changes necessary due to the revision of interpretation 101-1.]

[Deleted December 1991]

[Deleted April 2003]

[Deleted August 1995]

[Deleted December 2005]

[Deleted November 2001]

Question—A member is a limited partner in a limited partnership (LP), including a master limited partnership. A client is a general partner in the same LP. Is independence considered to be impaired with respect to (1) the LP, (2) the client, and (3) any subsidiaries of the LP?

Answer— 1. A covered member's limited partnership interest in the LP is a direct financial interest in the LP that would impair independence under interpretation 101-1.A.1 [ET section 101.02].

2.    The LP is an investee of the client because the client is a general partner in the LP. Therefore, under interpretation 101-8 [ET section 101.10], if the investment in the LP were material to the client, a covered member's financial interest in the LP would impair independence. However, if the client's financial interest in the LP were not material to the client, a covered member's immaterial financial interest in the LP would not impair independence.

3.    If the covered member is a limited partner in the LP, the covered member is considered to have an indirect financial interest in all subsidiaries of the LP. If the indirect financial interest in the subsidiaries were material to the covered member, independence would be considered to be impaired with respect to those subsidiaries under interpretation 101-1.A.1 [ET section 101.02].

If the covered member or client general partner, individually or together can control the LP, the LP would be considered a joint closely held investment under ET section 92.16.

[Revised, July 2002, to reflect conforming changes necessary due to the revision of interpretation 101-1.]

Question—A member serves as the campaign treasurer of a mayoral candidate. Would independence be considered to be impaired with respect to (1) the political party with which the candidate is associated, (2) the municipality of which the candidate may become mayor, or (3) the campaign organization?

Answer—Independence would not be considered to be impaired with respect to the political party or municipality. However, if any partner or professional employee of the firm served as campaign treasurer, independence would be considered to be impaired with respect to the campaign organization.

[Revised, July 2002, to reflect conforming changes necessary due to the revision of interpretation 101-1.]

[Deleted January 1996]

[Deleted January 1996]

Question—May a member in public practice serve as a director of a bank?

Answer—Yes; however, before accepting a bank directorship, the member should carefully consider the implications of such service if the member has clients that are customers of the bank.

These implications fall into two categories:

a.    Confidential Client Information—Rule 301 [ET section 301.01] provides that a member in public practice shall not disclose any confidential client information without the specific consent of the client. This ethical requirement applies even though failure to disclose information may constitute a breach of the member's fiduciary responsibility as a director.

b.    Conflicts of Interest—Interpretation 102-2 [ET section 102.03] provides that a conflict of interest may occur if a member performs a professional service (including service as a director) and the member or his or her firm has a relationship with another entity that could, in the member's professional judgment, be viewed by appropriate parties as impairing the member's objectivity. If the member believes that the professional service can be performed with objectivity and the relationship is disclosed to and consent is obtained from all appropriate parties, performance of the service shall not be prohibited.

In view of the above factors, it is generally not desirable for a member in public practice to accept a position as bank director where the member's clients are likely to engage in significant transactions with the bank. If a member is engaged in public practice, the member should avoid the high probability of a conflict of interest and the appearance that the member's fiduciary obligations and responsibilities to the bank may conflict with or interfere with the member's ability to serve the client's interest objectively and in complete confidence.

The general knowledge and experience of CPAs in public practice may be very helpful to a bank in formulating policy matters and making business decisions; however, in most instances, it would be more appropriate for the member as part of the member's public practice to serve as a consultant to the bank's board. Under such an arrangement, the member could limit activities to those which did not involve conflicts of interest or confidentiality problems.

[Deleted February 1998]

[Deleted February 1998]

[Deleted February 1998]

[Deleted February 1998]

[Deleted February 1998]

Question—Would independence be considered to be impaired if a member leased property to or from a client?

Answer—Independence would not be considered to be impaired if the lease meets the criteria of an operating lease (as described in Generally Accepted Accounting Principles), the terms and conditions set forth in the lease agreement are comparable with other leases of a similar nature, and all amounts are paid in accordance with the terms of the lease.

Independence would be considered to be impaired if a covered member had a lease that meets the criteria of a capital lease (as described in Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) unless the lease is in compliance with interpretations 101-1.A.4 [ET section 101.02] and 101-5 [ET section 101.07], because the lease would be considered to be a loan to or from the client.

[Revised, effective May 31, 1998, by the Professional Ethics Executive Committee. Revised, July 2002, to reflect conforming changes necessary due to the revision of interpretation 101-1.]

Question—A member has a joint interest in a vacation home with a client (or one of the client's officers or directors, or any owner who has the ability to exercise significant influence over the client). Would the vacation home constitute a "joint closely held investment" as defined in ET section 92.16?

Answer—Yes. The vacation home, even if solely intended for the personal use of the owners, would be considered a joint closely held investment as defined in ET section 92.16 if it meets the criteria described in the aforementioned definition.

[Revised, July 2002, to reflect conforming changes necessary due to the revision of interpretation 101-1.]

Question—A member serves as a director or officer of a local United Way or similar organization that operates as a federated fund-raising organization from which local charities receive funds. Some of those charities are clients of the member's firm. Does the member have a conflict of interest under rule 102 [ET section 102.01]?

Answer—Interpretation 102-2 [ET section 102.03] provides that a conflict of interest may occur if a member performs a professional service for a client and the member or his or her firm has a relationship with another entity that could, in the member's professional judgment, be viewed by the client or other appropriate parties as impairing the member's objectivity. If the member believes that the professional service can be performed with objectivity and the relationship is disclosed to and consent is obtained from the appropriate parties, performance of the service shall not be prohibited. (If the service being provided is an attest engagement, consult ethics ruling No. 14 [ET section 191.027-.028] under rule 101 [ET section 101.01]).

[Revised, July 2002, to reflect conforming changes necessary due to the revision of interpretation 101-1.]

Question—A member or his or her firm proposes to include in engagement letters a clause that provides that the client would release, indemnify, defend, and hold the member (and his or her partners, heirs, executors, personal representatives, successors, and assigns) harmless from any liability and costs resulting from knowing misrepresentations by management. Would inclusion of such an indemnification clause in engagement letters impair independence?

Answer—No.

[Revised, July 2002, to reflect conforming changes necessary due to the revision of interpretation 101-1.]

Question—Alternative dispute resolution (ADR) techniques are used to resolve disputes (in lieu of litigation) relating to past services, but are not used as a substitute for the exercise of professional judgment for current services. Would a predispute agreement to use ADR techniques between a member or his or her firm and a client cause independence to be impaired?

Answer—No. Such an agreement would not cause independence to be impaired since the member (or the firm) and the client would not be in threatened or actual positions of material adverse interests by reason of threatened or actual litigation.

[Revised, July 2002, to reflect conforming changes necessary due to the revision of interpretation 101-1.]