Time to contact our legislators!
Three more states — Utah, Washington and New Mexico — have passed mobility legislation in the first 45 days of 2008, bringing the total number of “full mobility” states to 14. That means three states have passed this legislation during the time it took Maryland’s bill to get drafted! In addition, 18 more states (including Maryland) have legislation pending this year, bringing the number of potential “full mobility” states to 32.
All of our surrounding states (Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and West Virginia) have legislation pending. Virginia and Ohio have had “mobility/practice privilege” for many years, which means we need to get this bill enacted ASAP to give Maryland CPAs the benefit of practice privileges for tax returns and other services they need to deliver across state boundaries. This was the top issue facing our members in our recent professional issues updates held around the state, with almost 1,000 MACPA members in attendance.
The good news is that our hearing is scheduled for March 5 at 1 p.m. in the House Economic Matters Committee, which means it is now time write to our elected representatives.
Here are the basic points we want to you make:
- Support House Bill 1296, “Certified Public Accountants: Licensed Out-of-State Certified Public Accountants: Practice Privilege,” sponsored by Del. Brian Feldman (15th District, Montgomery County).
- This bill is critical for CPAs who are frequently required to serve Maryland clients across state lines by filing tax returns and other business services.
- The momentum around the country speaks to the importance and effectiveness of this legislation. Three states have passed this in 2008, bringing the total to 14 states with mobility/practice privilege. Eighteen more states have legislation in for 2008, for a total of 32 states actively moving on this important legislation.
- This bill will increase Maryland’s jurisdiction over all CPAs who practice in Maryland and free up much-needed resources that can be used to support quality-improvement programs like peer review and enforcement activities.
- It has the support of the national organizations of the CPA profession. The National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) have worked together to make this model bill a reality.
Write your letters today!
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