                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

TIME FOR FILING COMPLAINTS AGAINST CPAS OR CPA FIRMS (§ 54.1-4425)

A. Except as otherwise provided in subsections B and C, any complaint against
the holder of a Virginia license for any violation of statutes or regulations
pertaining to the Board or any of the programs that may be in another title of
the Code for which the Board has enforcement responsibility, in order to be
investigated by the Board, shall be made in writing, or otherwise made in
accordance with Board procedures, and received by the Board within five years of
the act, omission, or occurrence giving rise to the violation.

B. However, where a holder of a Virginia license has materially and willfully
misrepresented, concealed, or omitted any information and the information so
misrepresented, concealed, or omitted is material to the establishment of the
violation, the complaint may be made at any time within two years after
discovery of the misrepresentation, concealment, or omission.

C. In cases where criminal charges have been filed involving matters that, if
found to be true, would also constitute a violation of the regulations or laws
of the regulant&#8217;s profession enforced by the Board, an investigation may
be initiated by the Board at any time within five years following the date of
conviction.

D. In order to be investigated by the Board, any complaint against an individual
or firm using the CPA title in Virginia under the practice privilege provisions
of &#xA7; 54.1-4411 or against a firm or entity providing attest services,
compilation services, or financial statement preparation services under
subsection C of &#xA7; 54.1-4412.1 for any violation of statutes or regulations
pertaining to the Board or any of the programs that may be in another title of
this Code for which the Board has enforcement responsibility shall be made in
writing, or otherwise made in accordance with Board procedures, and received by
the Board within five years of the act, omission, or occurrence giving rise to
the violation.

E. Public information obtained from any source may serve as the basis for a
written complaint. Nothing in this section shall be construed to require the
filing of a complaint if the alleged violation of the statute or regulation is
discovered during an investigation authorized by law, and the acts, omissions,
or conditions constituting the alleged violations are witnessed by a sworn
investigator appointed by the Executive Director.

F. Nothing herein shall deny the right of any party to bring a civil cause of
action in a court of law.

HISTORY: 2013, c. 297; 2017, c. 403; 2024, cc. 654, 677; 2025, cc. 523, 539.