Section 339.720 - Definitions; practice of public accounting. - Michigan Statutes

OCCUPATIONAL CODE (EXCERPT)
Act 299 of 1980

339.720 Definitions; practice of public accounting.

Sec. 720.

(1) As used in this article:

(a) "Attest" means providing the following financial statement services:

(i) Any audit or other engagement to be performed in accordance with the statements on auditing standards.

(ii) Any review of a financial statement to be performed in accordance with the statements on standards for accounting and review services.

(iii) Any examination of prospective financial information to be performed in accordance with the statements on standards for attestation engagements.

(iv) Any engagement to be performed in accordance with the public company accounting oversight board auditing standards.

(b) "Certified public accountant" means an individual who is either of the following:

(i) Qualified by education, examination, and experience to engage or offer to engage in the practice of public accounting as evidenced by the issuance of a certificate as a certified public accountant under section 725 or 726 and a license or registration issued under section 727.

(ii) An individual whose principal place of business is not in this state and who satisfies the requirements set forth in section 727a.

(c) "Client" means a person or entity that engages a licensee or licensee's employer to receive any service in the practice of public accounting.

(d) "Compilation" means providing a service to be performed in accordance with statements on standards for accounting and review services that are presenting, in the form of financial statements, information that is the representation of management or owners without undertaking to express any assurance on the statements.

(e) "Firm" means a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, unincorporated association, sole proprietorship operating under an assumed name, or other legal entity.

(f) "Home office" means the location specified by the client as the address to which a service described in subdivision (a) or (d) is directed.

(g) Subject to subsection (2), "practice of public accounting" means rendering or offering to render an opinion on or attesting to or offering to attest to the reliability of a representation or estimate, including, but not limited to, the giving of an opinion in substance that financial information as set forth presents fairly the condition of the entity reviewed or audited, in regard to an entity embracing 1 or more of the following:

(i) Financial information.

(ii) Facts respecting compliance with conditions established by law or contract, including, but not limited to, a statute, ordinance, regulation, grant, loan, or appropriation.

(iii) The scope of the accounting procedures rendered in connection with the presentation of a financial statement.

(h) "Principal place of business" means the office location designated by the licensee for the purposes of substantial equivalency and reciprocity.

(i) "Report", when used with reference to financial statements, means an opinion, report, or other form of language that states or implies assurance as to the reliability of any financial statements and that also includes, or is accompanied by, any statement or implication that the person or firm issuing it has special knowledge or competence in accounting or auditing. Such a statement or implication of special knowledge or competence may arise from use by the issuer of the report of names or titles indicating that the person or firm is an accountant or auditor or from the language of the report itself. Report includes any form of language which disclaims an opinion when that form of language is conventionally understood to imply any positive assurance as to the reliability of the financial statements referred to or special competence on the part of the person or firm issuing such language, or both, and includes any other form of language that is conventionally understood to imply that assurance or special knowledge and competence, or both.

(2) In addition to the definition set forth in subsection (1)(g), practice of public accounting includes 1 or more of the following activities when performed or offered to be performed by a person holding himself or herself out as a certified public accountant for a client or a potential client:

(a) The issuance of reports on financial statements.

(b) One or more kinds of management advisory, financial advisory, or consulting services.

(c) The preparation of tax returns.

(d) The furnishing of advice on tax matters.

History: Add. 1997, Act 10, Imd. Eff. May 16, 1997 ;-- Am. 2008, Act 161, Imd. Eff. June 11, 2008
Popular Name: Act 299