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Washington · Through July 15, 2026

RCW 18.04.295: Actions against CPA license.

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Where this section sits in the code
  1. Title 18
  2. Chapter 18.04

The board shall have the power to: Revoke, suspend, or refuse to issue, renew, or reinstate a license; impose a fine in an amount not to exceed thirty thousand dollars plus the board's investigative and legal costs in bringing charges against a certified public accountant, a licensee, a licensed firm, an applicant, a non-CPA violating the provisions of RCW 18.04.345, or a nonlicensee holding an ownership interest in a licensed firm; may impose full restitution to injured parties; may impose conditions precedent to renewal of a license; or may prohibit a nonlicensee from holding an ownership interest in a licensed firm, for any of the following causes:

(1) Dishonesty, fraud, or deceit in obtaining a license, or in any filings with the board;

(2) Dishonesty, fraud, or negligence while representing oneself as a nonlicensee owner holding an ownership interest in a licensed firm or a licensee;

(3) A violation of any provision of this chapter;

(4) A violation of a rule of professional conduct promulgated by the board under the authority granted by this chapter;

(5) Conviction of a crime or an act constituting a crime under:

(a) The laws of this state;

(b) The laws of another state, and which, if committed within this state, would have constituted a crime under the laws of this state; or

(c) Federal law;

(6) Cancellation, revocation, suspension, or refusal to renew the authority to practice as a certified public accountant by any other state for any cause other than failure to pay a fee or to meet the requirements of CPE in the other state;

(7) Suspension or revocation of the right to practice matters relating to public accounting before any state or federal agency;

For purposes of subsections (6) and (7) of this section, a certified copy of such revocation, suspension, or refusal to renew shall be prima facie evidence;

(8) Failure to maintain compliance with the requirements for issuance, renewal, or reinstatement of a license, or to report changes to the board;

(9) Failure to cooperate with the board by:

(a) Failure to furnish any papers or documents requested or ordered by the board;

(b) Failure to furnish in writing a full and complete explanation covering the matter contained in the complaint filed with the board or the inquiry of the board;

(c) Failure to respond to subpoenas issued by the board, whether or not the recipient of the subpoena is the accused in the proceeding;

(10) Failure by a nonlicensee owner of a licensed firm to comply with the requirements of this chapter or board rule;

(11) Failure to comply with an order of the board;

(12) Performance of any fraudulent act while holding a license or privilege issued under this chapter; and

(13) Making any false or misleading statement or certification, in support of an application for a license filed by another.

Collected 2026-09-06T01:14:41Z. Source file · JSON

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