Definitions of Ethics Sanctions/Disposition

Expelled or Suspended

The AICPA expelled or suspended a member for a period up to two years. During the suspension period, a member must not identify themselves as an AICPA member on any letterhead or other written material, and may not vote or hold a committee position or an office in the AICPA. In addition, the ethics committee or a Trial Board panel may direct a member to complete specified continuing professional education (CPE) courses or take other actions (e.g. submit subsequent reports and/or workpapers for continued monitoring) during the suspension period.

Under the AICPA Bylaws, the AICPA can expel or suspend a member without a hearing due to the following: the member's certificate as a CPA or license to practice is suspended or revoked or a member is convicted of (i) a crime punishable by imprisonment for more than one year, (ii) the willful failure to file any income tax return which they are required by law to file, (ii) the filing of a false or fraudulent income tax return, or (iv) the willful aiding in the preparation and presentation of a false and fraudulent income tax return of a client. Further, the Bylaws provide for expulsion or suspension (or admonishment) of a member without a hearing when a disciplinary action is taken against such member by an approved governmental or other organization.

Publication of expulsions and suspensions are mandatory.

Admonishment

The AICPA Joint Trial Board publicly admonished a member who has violated the Code of Professional Conduct but the gravity of the violation does not warrant suspension from membership.

Publication of admonishments is mandatory.

Corrective Action Required

The ethics committee issued a letter of required corrective action that directed a member to complete one or more of the following: up to 80 hours (or more) of specified CPE courses; submit subsequent reports and workpapers for review; and/or submit to a pre-issuance review by an outside party of reports, financial statements and working papers on selected engagements. The ethics committee issues letters of required corrective action when it concludes that remedial action is appropriate and the violation is not of sufficient nature to warrant suspension or expulsion from membership. The AICPA does not publish the terms of the letter of required corrective action.

No Violation/Dismissal

The ethics committee completed the investigation and found no prima facie evidence of a violation of the Code of Professional Conduct.

The ethics committee dismissed a case as no provision of the Code of Professional Conduct applies to the complaint or the allegations in the complaint do not constitute a Code violation.

No Further Action

The ethics committee closed the investigation because it could not obtain sufficient evidence that a prima facie violation of the Code of Professional Conduct had or had not occurred or it decides, in its discretion, that the investigation should no longer be pursued.

Subsequent Monitoring Completed Satisfactorily

The ethics committee accepted the work product that members were required to submit based on the prior disciplinary matter.

Other

Mainly comprised of cases referred by the AICPA to state societies for investigation as set forth in the agreement between the AICPA and state CPA society.