Trust & Transparency
How CPA license status is checked
State boards, CPAverify, IRS RPO — the sources, cadence, and limits of our license checks.
Process
The four-step license check
1. Lookup
We query the state board's public licensee registry by name and license number.
2. Cross-reference
Where available, we cross-reference NASBA CPAverify and the IRS RPO database.
3. Record jurisdiction
We record every state where the credential is currently valid.
4. Schedule re-check
Profile enters our rolling re-check cycle: annual minimum, faster on complaint.
What we record
The statuses you'll see
Active
License is current and in good standing per the issuing authority.
Inactive
Licensee voluntarily placed the license on inactive status — cannot practice while inactive.
Lapsed
License was not renewed by the due date and is no longer current.
Suspended
License is currently suspended by the board, typically for disciplinary or CPE reasons.
Revoked
License has been revoked by the board. Permanent unless reinstated.
Surrendered
Licensee voluntarily surrendered the license, often during disciplinary proceedings.
FAQ
Common questions
Which authorities do you check?▾
All 50 state boards of accountancy plus the District of Columbia and U.S. territories that publish a public licensee lookup. For Enrolled Agents we use the IRS Return Preparer Office registry. For NASBA-supported states we cross-reference CPAverify.
How often is a license re-checked?▾
On initial claim, on a rolling annual schedule, on any credible report or complaint, and at our discretion via spot checks. Most active profiles are touched at least every 90 days through batch monitoring.
What if a state board doesn't publish a lookup?▾
We require the professional to upload a current license certificate. We cross-reference NASBA's CPAverify where available and reach out to the board directly when needed.
What statuses do you record?▾
Active, inactive, lapsed, suspended, revoked, and surrendered — exactly as published by the issuer. We do not invent intermediate statuses or 'good standing' labels the board itself doesn't use.
Can a license change between checks?▾
Yes — a license can be suspended, surrendered, or revoked the day after our last check. Always confirm directly with the issuing authority before signing an engagement letter.
How is this different from CPAverify?▾
CPAverify is a NASBA service that aggregates participating state boards. We use it as one input and supplement it with direct state-board lookups, IRS RPO data for EAs, and issuer registries for non-CPA credentials.
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