WASHINGTON STATUTES AND CODES

18.04.295 - Actions against CPA license.

Actions against CPA license.

The board shall have the power to: Revoke, suspend, or refuse to issue, renew, or reinstate a license or certificate; impose a fine in an amount not to exceed thirty thousand dollars plus the board's investigative and legal costs in bringing charges against a certified public accountant, a certificate holder, a licensee, a licensed firm, an applicant, a non-CPA violating the provisions of RCW 18.04.345, or a nonlicensee holding an ownership interest in a licensed firm; may impose full restitution to injured parties; may impose conditions precedent to renewal of a certificate or a license; or may prohibit a nonlicensee from holding an ownership interest in a licensed firm, for any of the following causes:

     (1) Fraud or deceit in obtaining a license, or in any filings with the board;

     (2) Dishonesty, fraud, or negligence while representing oneself as a nonlicensee owner holding an ownership interest in a licensed firm, a licensee, or a certificate holder;

     (3) A violation of any provision of this chapter;

     (4) A violation of a rule of professional conduct promulgated by the board under the authority granted by this chapter;

     (5) Conviction of a crime or an act constituting a crime under:

     (a) The laws of this state;

     (b) The laws of another state, and which, if committed within this state, would have constituted a crime under the laws of this state; or

     (c) Federal law;

     (6) Cancellation, revocation, suspension, or refusal to renew the authority to practice as a certified public accountant by any other state for any cause other than failure to pay a fee or to meet the requirements of CPE in the other state;

     (7) Suspension or revocation of the right to practice matters relating to public accounting before any state or federal agency;

     For purposes of subsections (6) and (7) of this section, a certified copy of such revocation, suspension, or refusal to renew shall be prima facie evidence;

     (8) Failure to maintain compliance with the requirements for issuance, renewal, or reinstatement of a certificate or license, or to report changes to the board;

     (9) Failure to cooperate with the board by:

     (a) Failure to furnish any papers or documents requested or ordered by the board;

     (b) Failure to furnish in writing a full and complete explanation covering the matter contained in the complaint filed with the board or the inquiry of the board;

     (c) Failure to respond to subpoenas issued by the board, whether or not the recipient of the subpoena is the accused in the proceeding;

     (10) Failure by a nonlicensee owner of a licensed firm to comply with the requirements of this chapter or board rule; and

     (11) Failure to comply with an order of the board.