21 ncac 08J .0108          CPA FIRM REGISTRATION and ongoing requirements

(a)  All CPA firms shall register with the Board within 30 days after opening a North Carolina office or beginning a new CPA firm unless they are a professional corporation, professional limited liability company, or registered limited liability partnership, in which case they shall register prior to formation pursuant to 21 NCAC 08K .0104 and .0301.

(b)  In addition to the registration required by Paragraph (a) of this Rule, all CPA firms shall renew annually by January 31 with the Board upon forms provided by the Board.

(c)  The information provided by the registration shall include:

(1)           Either an application for exemption from peer review, a request to be deemed in compliance with peer review or registration for peer review, pursuant to 21 NCAC 08M .0105;

(2)           For all CPA firms not exempt from the peer review program, with the registration immediately following its review, the information required by 21 NCAC 08M .0106(a);

(3)           For all North Carolina offices, an office registration form indicating the name of the office supervisor, the location of the office and its telephone number;

(4)           For all partnerships or registered limited liability partnerships, a list of all resident and nonresident partners of the partnership;

(5)           For all professional limited liability companies, the information set forth in 21 NCAC 08K .0104(d);

(6)           For all incorporated CPA firms, the information set forth in 21 NCAC 08K .0104(d);

(7)           For all CPA firms, the appropriate registration fees as set forth in 21 NCAC 08J .0110; and

(8)           For all new CPA firms, the percentage of ownership held by CPAs;

(d)  All information provided for renewal with the Board shall pertain to events of and action taken since the CPA firm's last registration or renewal.

(e)  With regard to Paragraph (c)(3) of this Rule, one representative of a CPA firm may file all documents with the Board on behalf of the CPA firm's offices in North Carolina. However, responsibility for compliance with this Rule remains with each office supervisor.

(f)  With regard to Paragraph (c)(4) or (c)(5) of this Rule, one annual listing by a representative of the partnership, registered limited liability partnership, or professional limited liability company shall satisfy the requirement for all owners of the CPA firm. However, each owner remains responsible for compliance with this Rule. The absence of a filing under Paragraph (c)(4) or (c)(5) of this Rule shall be construed to mean that no partnership, registered limited liability partnership, or professional limited liability company exists.

(g)  Notice that a CPA firm has dissolved or any change in the information required by Paragraph (c)(3) of this Rule shall be delivered to the Board's office within 30 days after the change or dissolution occurs. A professional corporation or professional limited liability company which is dissolving shall deliver the Articles of Dissolution to the Board's office within 30 days of filing with the Office of the Secretary of State.

(h)  a complete renewal, as required by Paragraphs (b) and (c) of this Rule, if delivered on a paper form, shall be postmarked with proper postage and received in the Board office not later than the last day of January unless that date falls on a weekend or federal holiday, in which case that day shall be the next business day. Only a U.S. Postal Service cancellation is considered as the postmark. If a renewal is sent to the Board office via a private delivery service, the date the package is received by the delivery service is considered as the postmark. If the renewal is delivered by electronic means, it shall be sent not later than midnight on the last day of January unless that date falls on a weekend or federal holiday, in which case that day shall be the next business day.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 55B-6; 55B-10; 55B-12; 57D-1; 57D-2; 59-84.2; 93-12(8a); 93-12(8c);

Eff. June 1, 1985;

Amended Eff. February 1, 2011; January 1, 2004; April 1, 1999; August 1, 1998; August 1, 1995; April 1, 1994; April 1, 1991; May 1, 1989;

Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A, rule is necessary without substantive public interest Eff. October 28, 2014;

Readopted Eff. June 1, 2026.