Ohio Administrative Code|Rule 4701-13-02 | Public accounting firm registration requirements, renewal deadlines.

                                                
(A) All public accounting firms shall pay
		  an initial registration fee of ten dollars. The renewal fee for such firms
		  shall be thirty dollars.
(B) Any public accounting firm, business
		  or CPA permit holder that performs or offers to perform services or engagements
		  which result in the issuance of an attest report must notify the board of this
		  fact within ninety days of the initial engagement agreement date and register
		  with the board as a peer review firm pursuant to section 4701.04 of the Revised
		  Code.
(C) Any business or CPA permit holder
		  that does not perform any engagements which result in the issuance of an attest
		  report and is exempt from peer review requirements; and that assumes or uses
		  the titles or designations "certified public accountant" or
		  "public accountant," or the abbreviations "CPA" or
		  "PA," must register as a tax/consulting firm with the board and
		  obtain a firm registration.
(D) A holder of a CPA permit who does not
		  advertise or hold out to the public using the titles or designations
		  "certified public accountant" or "public accountant," or
		  the abbreviations "CPA" or "PA," may voluntarily register
		  with the board and obtain a tax/consulting firm registration.
(E) The renewal deadlines for
		  registration of public accounting firms are as follows:
(1) A public accounting
			 firm that performs or offers to perform engagements subject to peer review must
			 renew its firm registration by October thirty-first of the year assigned by the
			 board to the firm. The firm must submit to the board all required firm
			 registration renewal information by that date, including documentation of an
			 approved peer review not previously submitted to the board.
(2) A public accounting
			 firm that does not perform any engagement subject to peer review, and that uses
			 the designation "certified public accountant," the abbreviation
			 "CPA," "public accountant," or the abbreviation
			 "PA" must renew its firm registration by August thirty-first of the
			 year assigned by the board to the firm. The firm must submit to the board all
			 required firm registration renewal documentation by that date.
(F) A conditional firm registration may
		  be issued to a public accounting firm that submits a conditional acceptance
		  letter issued by the peer review committee, with final approval of the peer
		  review subject to completion of one or more requirements as outlined in the
		  conditional acceptance letter. The firm must provide to the board a completion
		  letter issued by the peer review committee within thirty days of the completion
		  date set in the conditional acceptance letter, or the conditional firm
		  registration will expire.
(G) A
		  public accounting firm that does not comply with the requirements in paragraph
		  (E)(1), (E)(2), or (F) of this rule shall be considered in violation of
		  divisions (A)(9) and (A)(11) of section 4701.16 of the Revised Code and may be
		  subject to disciplinary action in accordance with division (B) of that section.
		  In addition, the firm shall be assessed a penalty fee based upon the number of
		  licensees in the firm. The amount of the penalty fee shall be determined as
		  follows:
(1) A public accounting firm that performs engagements
			 subject to peer review, and employs up to four Ohio permit holders or foreign
			 certificate holders, shall pay a penalty fee of one hundred fifty dollars. The
			 penalty fee will increase to three hundred dollars on February first of the
			 following year the firm's registration renewal was due.
(2) A public accounting firm that performs engagements
			 subject to peer review, and employs five to nine Ohio permit holders or foreign
			 certificate holders, shall pay a penalty fee of three hundred sixty dollars.
			 The penalty fee will increase to seven hundred dollars on February first of the
			 following year the firm's registration renewal was due.
(3) A public accounting firm that performs engagements
			 subject to peer review, and employs ten or more Ohio permit holders or foreign
			 certificate holders, shall pay a penalty fee of nine hundred dollars. The
			 penalty fee will increase to one thousand eight hundred dollars on February
			 first of the following year the firm's registration renewal was
			 due.
(4) A public accounting firm that does not perform
			 engagements subject to peer review, and employs up to four Ohio permit holders
			 or foreign certificate holders, shall pay a penalty fee of one hundred fifty
			 dollars. The penalty fee will increase to three hundred dollars on December
			 first of the year the firm's registration renewal is due.
(5) A public accounting firm that does not perform
			 engagements subject to peer review, and employs five to nine Ohio permit
			 holders or foreign certificate holders, shall pay a penalty fee of three
			 hundred sixty dollars. The penalty fee will increase to seven hundred dollars
			 on December first of the year the firm's registration renewal is
			 due.
(6) A public accounting firm that does not perform
			 engagements subject to peer review, and employs ten or more Ohio permit holders
			 or foreign certificate holders, shall pay a penalty fee of nine hundred
			 dollars. The penalty fee will increase to one thousand eight hundred dollars on
			 December first of the year the firm's registration renewal is
			 due.