This page contains the technical standards ethics rules (Chapter 4701-9 of the Ohio Administrative Code) and the behavioral standards ethics rules (Chapter 4701-11 of the Ohio Administrative Code). Selecting a rule number will transfer you to the rule listed. You may download all of the professional ethics rules here.

PROFESSIONAL ETHICS STATUTES (OHIO REVISED CODE)

• Sec. 4701.12. FALSE ADVERTISING. Definition.
• Sec. 4701.14. UNLAWFUL PRACTICE; SUBSTANTIAL EQUIVALENCY. Unlawful practice defined; conditions under which a CPA of another state who substantially complies with the Ohio requirements may be exempted from the CPA certificate and Ohio permit.
• Sec. 4701.15. EMPLOYEES OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS; INCIDENTAL PRACTICE. Employees of public accounting firms need not be public accountants; out-of-state public accounting firms or foreign firms may practice in Ohio on business indicental to their home-state business without registering in Ohio.
• Sec. 4701.16. DISCIPLINE OF REGISTRANT OR CERTIFICATE HOLDER. Conditions under which a certified public accountant, public accountant, or public accounting firm may be disciplined by the Accountancy Board.
• Sec. 4701.17. REISSUE OF REVOKED CERTIFICATE. Conditions under which a certificate or registration which has been revoked or suspended may be reinstated by the Accountancy Board.
• Sec. 4701.18. INJUNCTIONS OR RESTRAINING ORDERS. Authority for the Accountancy Board to seek injunctions and restraining orders for unlawful practice.
• Sec. 4701.19. RECORDS. Working papers are defined as the property of the licensed accountant.
• Sec. 4701.28. CERTIFICATE OR PERMIT HOLDERS IN DEFAULT ON CHILD SUPPORT ORDERS. This establishes section 2301.373 of the Ohio Revised Code as the controlling statute regarding the revocation of licenses for default on child support payments. See also the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services for further information.
• Sec. 4701.29. BOARD INVESTIGATIONS. This section, added by Senate Bill 200, permits the Board to conduct more extensive investigations, issue subpoenas, compel the testimony of witnesses and the production of documents, and conduct depositions. In addition, investigative proceedings under this section are excluded from classification as public records.

PROFESSIONAL ETHICS: TECHNICAL STANDARDS RULES

• 4701-7-04 Practice of Public Accounting and Regulated Services (Defined)
• 4701-9-01 Integrity and Objectivity (Clarification)
• 4701-9-02 General Standards (Competence, Due professional care including adequate planning and supervision, Sufficient data for conclusions)
• 4701-9-03 Generally Accepted Auditing Standards (Defines generally accepted auditing standards as those issued by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, the General Accounting Office, and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, as applicable.)
• 4701-9-04 Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (Defines generally accepted accounting principles as those issued by Financial Accounting Standards Board, the Governmental Accounting Standards Board, and the Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board, as applicable.)
• 4701-9-05 Attestation Standards (Defines attestation standards as those issued by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants or the General Accounting Office, as applicable.)
• 4701-9-06 Accounting and Review Services Standards (Defines accounting and review standards as those issued by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.)
• 4701-9-08 Consulting Standards (Defines consulting standards as those issued by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.)
• 4701-9-09 Tax Services Standards (Defines tax services standards as those issued by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.)
• 4701-9-10 Quality Control Standards (Defines quality control standards as those issued by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.)

PROFESSIONAL ETHICS: BEHAVIORAL STANDARDS RULES

• 4701-11-01 Independence (Defines independence standards as those issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the General Accounting Office, and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.) Read the SEC rule on auditor independence. [File size=755K])
• 4701-11-02 Confidential Client Information (Outlines the instances in which confidential client information must be disclosed)
• 4701-11-03 Contingent Fees (Outlines the instances in which contingent fees are prohibited)
• 4701-11-04 Commissions and Referral Fees (Outlines the instances in which commissions and referral fees are prohibited)
• 4701-11-05 Form of Practice and Name (Acceptable names for public accounting firms)
• 4701-11-06 Retention of Client Records (Outlines the instances in which retention of client records is not permitted; mediation option)
• 4701-11-07 Board Communications (Responsibility of licensees to be aware of official communications from the Board office)
• 4701-11-09 Acts Discreditable (Examples of actions that are subject to the disciplinary provisions of section 4701.16(A)(10) of the Revised Code)
• 4701-11-10 Application of Ethics Rules to Non-CPA Owners (Ethics rules apply to all owners of CPA firms)

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