Mississippi § 73-33-15 - Violations; penalties; exceptions.

§ 73-33-15. Violations; penalties; exceptions.

It shall be unlawful for any person, except either a registered certified public accountant who is associated and registered with a firm permit holder or an individual qualifying for the practice privilege under Section 73-33-17, and/or for any firm, except for a certified public accountant firm that is in compliance with the applicable requirements of Section 73-33-1(3), to: Issue, sign or permit his name or firm name to be associated with any report, transmittal letter or other written communication issued as a result of an examination of financial statements or financial information which contains either an expression of opinion or other attestation as to the fairness, accuracy or reliability of such financial statements; Offer to perform, or perform, for the public, public accounting, tax consulting or other accounting-related services while holding himself out as a certified public accountant or as a firm of certified public accountants or certified public accountant firm; or Maintain an office or other facility for the transaction of business as a certified public accountant or certified public accountant firm. Any person or firm violating subsection (1) of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and may, upon conviction therefor, be punished by a criminal fine of not less than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) nor more than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00), or by imprisonment in the county jail for not less than ten (10) days nor more than six (6) months, or by both such fine and imprisonment in the discretion of the court. In addition to any other penalty which may be applicable, the board may impose a civil penalty against any person adjudged by the board to be in violation of subsection (1) of this section. The civil penalty shall not exceed Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) per violation and shall be deposited into the special fund to the credit of the board. The provisions of paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of this section shall not be construed to apply to an attorney licensed to practice law in this state; to a person for making statements as to his own business; to an officer or salaried employee of a firm, partnership or corporation for making an internal audit, statement or tax return for the same; to a bookkeeper for making an internal audit, statement or tax return for his employer, whose books he regularly keeps for a salary; to a receiver, a trustee or fiduciary as to any statement or tax return with reference to the business or property entrusted to him as such; to any federal, state, county, district or municipal officer as to any audit, statement, or tax return made by him in the discharge of the duties of such office. Nothing in this section shall prohibit a firm which does not hold a valid permit under Section 73-33-1(3) and which does not have an office in this state from providing its professional services in this state so long as it complies with the requirements of Section 73-33-1(3).