California Code of Regulations
Title 16 - Professional and Vocational Regulations
Division 1 - State Board of Accountancy
Article 9 - Rules of Professional Conduct
Section 54.1 - Disclosure of Confidential Information Prohibited

Universal Citation: 16 CA Code of Regs 54.1

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 12, March 22, 2024

(a) No confidential information obtained by a licensee, in his or her professional capacity, concerning a client or a prospective client shall be disclosed by the licensee without the written permission of the client or prospective client, except for the following:

(1) disclosures made by a licensee in compliance with a subpoena or a summons enforceable by order of a court;

(2) disclosures made by a licensee regarding a client or prospective client to the extent that the licensee reasonably believes that it is necessary to maintain or defend himself/herself in a legal proceeding initiated by that client or prospective client;

(3) disclosures made by a licensee in response to an official inquiry from a federal or state government regulatory agency;

(4) disclosures made by a licensee or a licensee's duly authorized representative to another licensee in connection with a proposed sale or merger of the licensee's professional practice;

(5) disclosures made by a licensee to (A) another licensee to the extent necessary for purposes of professional consultation and to (B) professional standards review, ethics or quality control peer review organizations;

(6) disclosures made when specifically required by law;

(7) disclosures made at the direct request of the client to a person or entity that is designated by the client at the time of the request.

(b) In the event that confidential client information may be disclosed to persons or entities outside the United States in connection with the services provided, the licensee shall so inform the client in writing and obtain the client's written permission for the disclosure.

1. New section filed 1-5-90; operative 2-4-90 (Register 90, No. 3).
2. Editorial correction of printing error in HISTORY 1 (Register 91, No. 30).
3. Editorial correction of Reference cite (Register 95, No. 30).
4. Renumbering of former section 54.1 to new section 52, renumbering of former section 54 to section 54.1 and amendment of section heading and first paragraph filed 8-4-95; operative 9-3-95 (Register 95, No. 31).
5. New subsection (b) and subsection relettering filed 11-20-98; operative 12-20-98 (Register 98, No. 47).
6. Amendment of section and NOTE filed 4-14-2005; operative 5-14-2005 (Register 2005, No. 15).

Note: Authority cited: Sections 5010, 5018 and 5063.3, Business and Professions Code. Reference: Sections 5018 and 5063.3, Business and Professions Code.

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