PCAOB Issues Staff Q&As on Firm Annual Reporting

The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board today published Staff Questions and Answers concerning a registered firm’s obligation to file its annual report on Form 2.

Beginning this year, all firms that are registered with the Board as of March 31 of a particular year must, by June 30 of that year, file an annual report on Form 2 covering the 12-month period ending March 31. Information to be reported annually includes, among other things, information about audit reports issued, disciplinary histories of new personnel, and certain information about fees billed to issuer audit clients for various categories of services. PCAOB rules on annual reporting became effective on Dec. 31, 2009 and therefore all firms registered with the Board on March 31, 2010, must file an annual report on Form 2 by June 30, 2010.

Topics addressed in the guidance published today include an overview of the requirements relating to Form 2, a discussion of the information required to be reported on Form 2, guidance on completing and amending Form 2, information on requesting confidential treatment and withholding information on the basis of non-U.S. legal restrictions, and a discussion of the mechanics of reporting through the PCAOB Web-based system.

Additional questions concerning these Staff Question and Answers may be directed to the PCAOB registration staff at [email protected]. The Staff Questions and Answers for Form 2 are available on the Web site under Registration and Reporting. Staff Questions and Answers do not constitute PCAOB rules, nor have they been approved by the Board.