In the ongoing unfolding of interpretations around the federal Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), the Maryland AG weighed in on 8 May 2024 to say that it depends on the facts & circumstances whether CPA assistance with Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) filings could be considered “unauthorized practice of law”.
Essentially, simple guidance & completing the form based on customer inputs IS NOT, while customer circumstances that involve judgement that requires legal interpretations IS.
Seems reasonable middle ground as most CPAs I know aren’t interested to wade deep into the BOI waters to begin with, only to be a help to our small businesses customers who now need to jump through yet one more compliance filing in the course of their year.
(via AICPA Town Hall)
