While applying for membership in CPABC after completing the requirements for the CPA Professional Education Program, the Candidate failed to disclose a previous academic infraction issued by the Chartered Professional Accountants Western School of Business. The Candidate represents that the omission was due to an oversight.
The Investigation Committee determined the Candidate contravened the CPABC Code of Professional Conduct as follows:
103 - False or misleading applications
201.1 - Maintenance of the good reputation of the profession
The Committee recommended the Candidate:
- accept a reprimand; and
- pay expenses of $600.
The Member provided bookkeeping and tax preparation services for the spouse of a family member. When the family member and spouse became estranged from each other, the Member failed to recuse themselves from providing services to the estranged spouse.
The Investigation Committee determined the Member contravened the CPABC Code of Professional Conduct as follows:
201.1 – Maintenance of the good reputation of the profession
202.1 – Integrity and due care
202.2 – Objectivity
210.1, 210.2 and 210.3 – Conflict of interest
The Committee recommended the Member:
- accept a reprimand;
- pay a fine of $500;
- pay expenses of $4,605; and
- Successfully complete the CPABC professional development course Shades of grey – ethics in the workplace.
A client engaged the services of the Member to prepare Canadian and US personal tax returns. The Member provided the client with incorrect information concerning aspects of tax law. When the client discontinued the Member’s services and refused to pay their invoice, the Member was abusive and unprofessional in their written communications.
The Investigation Committee determined the Member contravened the CPABC Code of Professional Conduct as follows:
201.1 - Maintenance of the good reputation of the profession
202.1 - Integrity and due care
203 - Professional competence
The Committee recommended the Member:
- accept a reprimand;
- pay partial expenses of $900; and
- Successfully complete:
- the CPABC professional development course Income Tax - Everyday Issues for General Practitioners; and
- course in ethics or conflict resolution.
While applying for membership in CPABC after completing the requirements for the CPA Professional Education Program, the Candidate failed to disclose a previous academic infraction issued by the Chartered Professional Accountants Western School of Business. The Candidate represents that the omission was due to an oversight.
The Investigation Committee determined the Candidate contravened the CPABC Code of Professional Conduct as follows:
103 - False or misleading applications
201.1 - Maintenance of the good reputation of the profession
The Committee recommended the Candidate:
- accept a reprimand; and
- pay partial expenses of $600.
The Firm was retained to prepare the T1 personal tax return and related tax filings of a non-resident client (the Filings). The Canada Revenue Agency did not receive the Filings on a timely basis. The Firm failed to respond to several communications from the client with regard to the Filings, and did not maintain records to properly document the timing of the Filings.
The Investigation Committee determined the Firm contravened the CPABC Code of Professional Conduct as follows:
501 – Policies and procedures for compliance with professional standards
502(a),502(b),502(e),502(g) – Policies and procedures for the conduct of a practice
The Committee recommended the Member:
- accept a reprimand; and
- pay partial expenses of $2,300.
The Member was engaged to perform a trust audit for a brokerage firm licensed under the Real Estate Services Act. The Accountant’s Report which the Member submitted to the British Columbia Financial Services Authority (BCFSA) was not prepared in accordance with BCFSA requirements and contained numerous errors.
The Investigation Committee determined the Member contravened the CPABC Code of Professional Conduct as follows:
201.1 - Maintenance of the good reputation of the profession
202.1 - Integrity and due care
203 - Professional competence
205(a) - False or misleading documents
206.1 - Compliance with professional standards
The Committee recommended the Member:
- accept a reprimand; and
- pay expenses of $2,711.
The Member was the owner and director of a company which performed property management services. The company did not hold the license required by the BC Financial Services Authority to perform such services.
The Investigation Committee determined the Member contravened the CPABC Code of Professional Conduct as follows:
201.1 - Maintenance of the good reputation of the profession
205 - False or misleading documents and oral representations
213- Unlawful activity
The Committee recommended the Member:
- accept a reprimand; and
- pay expenses of $2,577.
The Member agreed to prepare income tax returns for a family friend (the “client”), despite not having a public practice license from CPABC. The Member misinformed the client about the status of the tax returns, failed to respond to communications from the client and failed to return the client’s documents on a timely basis.
The Investigation Committee determined the Member contravened the CPABC Code of Professional Conduct as follows:
101.1 - Compliance with governing legislation, bylaws, regulations and the Code
201.1 - Maintenance of the good reputation of the profession
202.1 - Integrity and due care
203 - Professional competence
205 - False or misleading documents and oral representations
Bylaw
700(2) - Licensure for Public Practice
The Committee recommended the Member:
- accept a reprimand; and
- pay partial expenses of $500.
In making this recommendation, the Committee took into account the Member’s personal circumstances.
The Member’s firm prepared a T4 information return for a client in 2016 and 2017. When the T4s required amendment due to a change in the client’s information, the Member did not assist the client, resulting in the client incurring penalties and interest costs to the Canada Revenue Agency.
The Investigation Committee determined the Member contravened the CPABC Code of Professional Conduct as follows:
201.1 - Maintenance of the good reputation of the profession
202.1 - Integrity and due care
203 - Professional competence
206 - Compliance with professional standards
The Committee recommended the Member:
- Accept a reprimand;
- Pay a fine of $500; and
- Pay expenses of $2,976.
The Member was engaged by a client to prepare personal tax returns for the client and their spouse, and to assist in resolving issues regarding foreign taxation and disability tax credits. The Member did not communicate with the client on a timely basis and misinformed the client about the status of the engagement. After the client terminated the engagement, the Member inappropriately accessed the then-former client’s taxation information with the Canada Revenue Agency.
The Investigation Committee determined the Member contravened the CPABC Code of Professional Conduct as follows:
201.1 - Maintenance of the good reputation of the profession
202.1 - Integrity and due care
205 - False or misleading documents and oral representations
208 - Confidentiality of information
The Committee recommended the Member:
- Accept a reprimand;
- Pay a fine of $2,000; and
- Pay partial expenses of $2,000.
A prospective client met with the Member to discuss a personal tax return engagement. The prospective client left original financial documents with the Member. The Member did not follow-through with communications to the prospective client and did not respond to repeated communications from the client.
The Investigation Committee determined the Member contravened Rule 201.1 of the CPABC Code of Professional Conduct (Maintenance of the good reputation of the profession)
The Committee recommended the Member:
- Accept a reprimand;
- Pay a fine of $1,500;
- Pay expenses of $1,300; and
- Successfully complete the CPABC professional development course Communicating effectively under pressure.
The Member was retained by a client to perform specified audit procedures and complete a Law Society Reporting Form Trust Report for a client. The work in question was performed under by the Member’s staff under the Member’s supervision. The Report was completed and submitted to the Law Society of British Columbia. The Law Society subsequently conducted a review of the client’s trust accounts, and noted numerous breaches of trust accounting rules that should have been reported to the Law Society.
The Investigation Committee determined the Member contravened the CPABC Code of Professional Conduct as follows:
201.1 - Maintenance of the good reputation of the profession
202.1 - Integrity and due care
203 - Professional competence
205 (a) - False or misleading documents
The Committee recommended the Member:
- accept a reprimand; and
- Pay expenses of $2,199.
The Member was retained by a client to perform specified audit procedures and complete a Law Society Reporting Form Trust Report for a client. The work in question was performed by the Member’s staff under the supervision of the Member. The Report was completed and submitted to the Law Society of British Columbia. The Law Society subsequently conducted a review of the client’s trust accounts, and noted numerous breaches of trust accounting rules that should have been reported to the Law Society.
The Investigation Committee determined the Member contravened the CPABC Code of Professional Conduct as follows:
201.1 - Maintenance of the good reputation of the profession
202.1 - Integrity and due care
203 - Professional competence
205 (a) - False or misleading documents
The Committee recommended the Member:
- accept a reprimand; and
- Pay expenses of $2,275.