2023 Oregon Revised Statutes › Volume : 17 - Occupations › Chapter 673 - Accountants; Other Tax Professionals › Section 673.160 - Registration of business organizations; exceptions; fees; rules.

(1) Business organizations of certified public accountants or of public accountants shall register with the Oregon Board of Accountancy if the business organization:
(a) Has an office in this state and:
(A) Uses the terms "certified public accountants" or "public accountants" or abbreviations for such terms in this state; or
(B) Performs attestation services or compilation services in this state;
(b) Holds itself out to clients in this state or the public in this state as a business organization engaged in the practice of public accountancy; or
(c) Does not have an office in this state and performs attestation services described in ORS 673.010 (1)(a), (c) or (e) for a client having an office in this state.
(2) This section does not require a holder of a permit under ORS 673.150 to register under this section unless the permit holder:
(a) Holds the permit holder out to clients in this state or the public in this state as a business organization composed of more than one licensee except as authorized by ORS 673.320 (12); or
(b) Performs attestation services or compilation services in this state.
(3)(a) Notwithstanding subsection (1) of this section, a business organization of certified public accountants that does not have an office in this state may perform attestation services described in ORS 673.010 (1)(b) or (d) or compilation services for a client in this state and may use the terms "certified public accountants" or "certified public accounting firm," abbreviations of those terms or any similar title, designation, words or letters without obtaining a registration issued by the board under this section if the business organization:
(A) Has the qualifications described in subsection (5) of this section; and
(B) Performs the services through a person authorized to practice public accountancy in this state under ORS 673.153.
(b) A business organization of certified public accountants that is not a business organization described in subsection (1) of this section or paragraph (a) of this subsection may perform professional services in this state, other than attestation services or compilation services, using the terms "certified public accountants" or "certified public accounting firm" or abbreviations of those terms without registering with the board under this section if the business organization:
(A) Performs the professional services through a person authorized to practice public accountancy in this state under ORS 673.153; and
(B) May lawfully perform the professional services in the state where the principal place of business of the person authorized to practice public accountancy in this state under ORS 673.153 is located.
(4) Registrations shall be issued and renewed for periods of not more than two years. Applications for registration shall be made in a form prescribed by the board by rule. Applications for renewal shall be made between the dates prescribed by the board by rule.
(5) The following requirements must be satisfied before a registration may be issued or renewed under this section:
(a)(A) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a simple majority of the ownership of the business organization, in terms of financial interests and voting rights of all partners, officers, shareholders, members or managers, must belong to holders of permits or holders of certificates who are licensed in any state, and the partners, officers, shareholders, members or managers of the business organization whose principal place of business is in this state and who perform public accountancy services in this state, must be holders of permits under ORS 673.150. If a majority of the ownership of the business organization is held by holders of permits who are public accountants holding licenses issued under ORS 673.100, the business organization may not use the name "C.P.A. Firm" or any similar name indicating that a majority of the ownership of the firm holds certificates issued under ORS 673.040.
(B) A business organization registered under this section that does not meet the ownership requirement specified in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph may request an extension of time to comply with the ownership requirement in accordance with the process for granting an extension for compliance that the board shall adopt by rule.
(b) In the case of a business organization that includes owners who are not holders of permits under ORS 673.150, a holder of a permit in this state shall be responsible for the management and proper registration of the business organization.
(c) In the case of a business organization required to register under subsection (1) of this section, a person who is authorized to practice public accountancy in this state under ORS 673.153 is responsible for the management and proper registration of the business organization.
(d) All owners of the business organization who are not licensees must be active individual participants in the business organization or affiliated entities.
(e) Any person who is responsible for supervising attestation services or compilation services, and who signs or authorizes someone to sign the accountant’s report on behalf of the business organization in this state, must:
(A)(i) Hold a permit under ORS 673.150; or
(ii) Be authorized to practice public accountancy in this state under ORS 673.153; and
(B) Meet the competency requirements established in the professional standards adopted by the board under ORS 673.410.
(6) An application for registration or renewal of registration under this section shall:
(a) List all states in which the business organization has applied for or holds permits to practice public accountancy; and
(b) Provide evidence that the requirements of subsection (5) of this section are satisfied.
(7) Each applicant for registration or renewal under this section and each registrant shall notify the board in writing, within the time period specified by the board by rule, of:
(a) The identities of partners, officers, shareholders, members, managers or owners of the business organization who work regularly in this state;
(b) The number or location of offices in this state;
(c) The identity of the persons in charge of the offices in this state;
(d) Any issuance, denial, revocation, lapse or suspension of authority to perform professional or other services in any jurisdiction against a partner, officer, shareholder, member, manager or owner of the applicant or registrant that seeks registration or is registered in this state; and
(e) The filing of a lawsuit relating to professional services of the business organization, the commencement of any civil action an essential element of which involves fraud, dishonesty or misrepresentation, or of any criminal action against the applicant or registrant that seeks registration or is registered in this state or against a partner, officer, shareholder, member, manager or owner of the applicant or registrant that seeks registration or is registered in this state.
(8) The board shall charge a fee for each application for issuance or renewal of registration under this section in the amount of $265. A registration under this section that is not renewed by the close of the registration period may be restored upon payment to the board of a delinquent renewal fee in an amount determined by the board by rule.
(9) Applicants for renewals of registrations under this section shall undergo a peer review as provided under ORS 673.455, unless the registrant notifies the board that the registrant is exempt from peer review requirements because the registrant does not perform attestation services or compilation services in this state. [Amended by 1975 c.440 §13; 1985 c.605 §8; 1993 c.431 §4; 1999 c.322 §12; 2001 c.104 §256; 2001 c.638 §7; 2003 c.8 §1; 2007 c.178 §1; 2007 c.305 §1; 2009 c.531 §4; 2015 c.355 §2; 2015 c.451 §10]