California Code of Regulations
Title 16 - Professional and Vocational Regulations
Division 1 - State Board of Accountancy
Article 9 - Rules of Professional Conduct
Section 56 - Commissions-Basic Disclosure Requirement

Universal Citation: 16 CA Code of Regs 56

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 52, December 27, 2024

(a) A licensee shall not accept any fee or commission permitted by Business and Professions Code Section 5061 unless he or she complies with the provisions of this section and Section 56.1

(b) A licensee who may receive a fee or commission pursuant to Business and Professions Code Section 5061 shall furnish to the client, at or prior to the time the recommendation of the product or service is made, a written disclosure statement in 12 point type or larger that contains the following information:

(1) The fact that the fee or commission is to be paid for professional services and that a fee or commission cannot be accepted solely for the referral of the client to the products or services of a third party.

(2) A description of the product(s) or service(s) which the licensee is recommending to the client, the identity of the third party that is expected to provide the product or service, the business relationship of the licensee to the third party, a description of any fee or commission which may be received by the licensee, including, but not limited to, any supplemental fee or commission or other compensation allocable to the client being provided with the product or service of the third party. Where the product(s) or service(s) cannot be specifically identified at the time of the initial disclosure, this information shall be included in a supplemental disclosure within 30 days of receipt of the fee or commission.

(3) The dollar amount or value of the fee or commission payment(s) or the basis on which the payment(s) shall be computed.

(c) The written disclosure shall be on letterhead of the licensed firm or shall be signed by the licensee. The disclosure statement shall be signed and dated by the client and contain an acknowledgment by the client that the client has read and understands the information contained in the disclosure. Supplemental disclosures as described in subsection (b)(2) of Section 56 need not be signed by the client or by the licensee. The licensee shall retain the disclosure statements for a period of five years and shall provide copies to the client.

1. New section filed 1-7-99; operative 1-7-99 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(d) (Register 99, No. 2). For prior history, see Register 95, No. 31.

Note: Authority cited: Section 5010, 5018 and 5061, Business and Professions Code. Reference: Section 5061, Business and Professions Code.

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