2008 session update
Passing state mobility in Minnesota this year was a joint effort
between the MNCPA and the Minnesota Board of Accountancy. The
changes to the mobility statutes will allow CPAs outside the state
to work with clients or businesses in Minnesota without
notifying the Board of Accountancy or paying a fee. Passing state
mobility required changes to the Uniform Accountancy Act (UAA) and
became effective April 17, 2008.
What is the mobility?
The definition of "mobility" used in this discussion is the
ability to gain a practice privilege outside of the state where a
CPA has his or her principal place of business. CPAs no longer have
to report or pay a fee to states where he or she is doing business
and that have passed similar mobility provisions.
Why is mobility an issue now?
Mobility is a change to the Uniform Accountancy Act (UAA) that
was originally designed to promote mobility through "substantial
equivalency" and to create a uniform set of rules throughout the
country.
Unfortunately no two states adopted identical language. The lack
of consistency from state to state has created difficult and
confusing reporting requirements. As firms grow larger and do
business in several states, there is an increasing concern that CPAs
may unintentionally not report the correct items to a state. As a
result, they could find themselves in trouble with regulators.
What other states have passed mobility laws?
Currently 30 other states
have passed mobility laws:
- Arizona
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Michigan
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
Other states have taken legislative action,
and some states are in their first steps towards mobility.
MNCPA position
We support the passage of mobility to ease the reporting
requirements and fees CPAs have to pay to practice in Minnesota.
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