61H1-29.002. Temporary License

(1) In each instance in which out-of-state certified public accountants or firms, not authorized to practice public accounting pursuant to the practice privileges granted to Section 473.3141, F.S., send out-of-state personnel into the state to perform a specific engagement, a temporary license will be required. Applications for temporary licenses must be filed thirty (30) days prior to commencement of the engagement. A temporary license shall not be required of a person entering this state solely for the purpose of preparing federal tax returns or advising as to federal tax matters.

(2) Applications for temporary licenses to fulfill specific engagements shall be in writing directed to the Department on forms prescribed by the Department.

(3) Each application will be accompanied by the statement of the applicant, or if it is a partnership or professional service corporation, by a partner or shareholder of the applicant, to the effect that:

(a) Said work qualifies for a temporary license;

(b) That the applicant is not maintaining a full-time office and staff in the state for the full-time public accounting practice in the state through the use of a temporary license.

(4) The out-of-state certified public accountant shall furnish the Department with the names of all out-of-state personnel coming into the state to fulfill the specific engagement and such other information as required by Chapters 455 and 473, F.S., and rules promulgated pursuant thereto. If the out-of-state certified public accountant desires to substitute personnel or bring additional personnel into the state to fulfill the specific engagement, he shall notify the Department of the names of such substituted personnel or additional personnel as soon as practicable after the substitution or addition.

(5) An out-of-state certified public accountant who is a resident of Florida may not practice as a certified public accountant in Florida through the use of temporary licenses or the practice privileges granted to Section 473.3141, F.S., nor may he assume or use the titles or designations “certified public accountant,” or “public accountant” or the abbreviation “CPA,” or any other title, designation, words, letters, abbreviations, sign, card, or device tending to indicate that he holds an active license under Chapter 473, F.S., nor shall such person attest as an expert in accountancy to the reliability or fairness of presentation of financial information or utilize any form of disclaimer of opinion which is intended or conventionally understood to convey an assurance of reliability as to matters not specifically disclaimed unless such person holds an active license under Chapter 473, F.S. This rule shall not prohibit the performance by such persons of other services involving the use of accounting skills, including the preparation of tax returns and the preparation of financial statements without expression of opinion thereon.

(6) A temporary license may be denied for any one of the following:

(a) The applicant has failed to fully complete required application;

(b) The applicant has committed any of the acts specified by Rule 61H1-36.004, F.A.C., which constitutes grounds for disciplinary action against a certified public accountant.

(7) Notwithstanding the above-stated requirements, a temporary license will not be required for an individual who does not have an office as defined by subsection 61H1-20.001(8), F.A.C., and either:

(a) Holds a valid license as a certified public accountant from a state the Board has determined to have adopted standards that are substantially equivalent to the certificate requirements in s. 5 of the Uniform Accountancy Act in the issuance of licenses (the Board’s list of approved states, effective January 1, 2024, is incorporated herein and available at https://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-16541 or at http://www.myfloridalicense.com/DBPR/certified-public-accounting/mobility/); or

(b) Holds a valid license as a certified public accountant and obtains verification from the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy CredentialNet service that the individual meets certificate requirements in s. 5 of the Uniform Accountancy Act, seventh edition revised May 2014, which is incorporated herein by reference. The Board has determined that posting the incorporated material on the Internet would constitute a violation of federal copyright law. At the time of adoption, the copyrighted incorporated material will be available for public inspection and examination, but may not be copied, at the Board of Accountancy, 240 N.W. 76th Dr., Suite A, Gainesville, Florida 32607, and at the Department of State, Administrative Code and Register Section, Room 701, The Capitol, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0250. CredentialNet can be reached at [e-mail] or [phone].

Rulemaking Authority 473.304, 473.314 FS. Law Implemented 473.314, 473.315, 473.3141 FS. History–New 12-4-79, Amended 2-3-81, 10-19-83, Formerly 21A-29.02, Amended 5-3-88, 12-3-89, 6-13-90, 3-29-92, 12-2-92, Formerly 21A-29.002, Amended 6-28-94, 1-11-95, 8-28-06, 12-10-09, 6-21-11, 1-7-13, 3-18-15, 5-3-20, 4-23-24.