Applying the principles of ethics is the responsibility of every accounting and finance professional. Understand independence requirements and ethics rules unique to professional tax services.

Ethical accounting is nonnegotiable

Honesty, objectivity, and professional conduct are crucial components of the accounting and finance profession. Understand the fundamentals of ethical accounting, including how to:

• Objectively view and analyze ethical matters
• Apply the AICPA independence rules regarding personal financial interests, loans, employment, and business relationships that relate to you and your immediate family
• Adhere to the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct and apply the code’s conceptual framework

Along with the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct, you’ll learn about:

• Independence rules from regulators, including the SEC and PCAOB
• Rules that apply to government auditors and audits of employee benefit plans, federally funded charitable organizations, financial institutions, and insurance

Last but not least, you’ll learn when to apply the appropriate ethics rules when you provide professional tax services. Appropriate ethics rules could entail

• AICPA Code of Professional Conduct
• Statements on Standards for Tax Services
• U.S. Treasury Department’s Circular No. 230;
• Internal Revenue Code (IRC) provisions applicable to federal tax practice.

IMPORTANT NOTICE ABOUT YOUR CPE CREDIT:

Colorado requires this course to obtain CPA licensure.  Many states do not accept the AICPA course to meet the ethics requirement for earning or maintaining a CPA license. Please contact your state board to determine which ethics course is required to earn your license. If you are taking the course for licensure you must pass with a score of 90 percent or higher to qualify towards earning your CPA license. This includes initial licensure or reinstating a retired, inactive, or expired license. For more details please refer to the Code of Colorado Regulations.