Practice in Maryland through Mobility - Public Accountancy
Mobility
Practice Privilege
Maryland provides for mobility for active CPAs from other states to provide certified public accountancy services for clients headquartered in Maryland without having to obtain a Maryland license. CPA firms from other states, however, must obtain a Maryland firm permit in order to provide CPA services to clients in this state.
Mobility for individuals
Mobility for individuals applies to CPAs who are actively licensed and whose principal place of employment is in another state. By providing services to Maryland clients, CPAs are required to comply with the provisions of the Maryland Public Accountancy Act and regulations governing the practice of certified public accountancy. See Md. Code Ann., Bus. Occ. And Prof. §2–321.
Mobility for CPA Firms
As of October 1, 2019, a firm that does not have an office in this State may provide the following attest services for a client with a home office in Maryland without a permit issued by the Board:
- An audit or other engagement performed in accordance with the Statements on Auditing Standards issued by the AICPA;
- A review of a financial statement performed in accordance with the Statement on Standards for Accounting and Review Services issued by the AICPA;
- A compilation;
- Any examination, review, or agreed-upon procedures engagement performed in accordance with the Statements on Standards for Attestation Engagements issued by the AICPA; and
- Any engagement performed in accordance with the Auditing Standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.
In order to provide the above-referenced attest services without a permit issued by the Board, the firm must:
- meet the application and peer review requirements under Md. Code Ann., Bus. Occ And Prof. § 2–402, 2–402.1, 2–403 and § 2–4A–02; and
- perform the services through an individual with a practice privilege in the state where the individual with a practice privilege retains a principal place of business under § 2–321 of this title.
Sole Practitioner Exception for CPA Firms
A sole practitioner in another state, including a sole practitioner who has organized the practice as a CPA firm, does not have to obtain a permit. See Md. Code Ann., Bus. Occ. And Prof. §2–602.