EBSA Unified Agenda - [Completed Actions]

Title: Independence of Accountant 

Abstract: EBSA is conducting a review of the guidelines applicable to determining when a qualified public accountant is independent for purposes of auditing and rendering an opinion on the financial information required to be included in the annual report of an employee benefit plan for purposes of section 103(a)(3)(A) of ERISA. The current guidelines, set forth as an Interpretive Bulletin at 29 CFR 2509.75-9, were adopted in 1975. Given the changes that have taken place with respect to employee benefit plans and auditing practices and standards, as well as changes in the industry, since the issuance of those guidelines, EBSA published a Request for Information that invited interested persons to submit written comments and suggestions concerning whether and to what extent the current guidelines should be modified. While the Department is continuing to consider issues attendant to the Interpretive Bulletin, the Department nonetheless is temporarily withdrawing this initiative from the Semiannual Regulatory Agenda pending completion of its review of the pubic comments and work on Pension Protection Act implementing regulations. 

Agency: Department of Labor(DOL) 

Priority: Other Significant 

RIN Status: Previously published in the Unified Agenda 

Agenda Stage of Rulemaking: Completed Actions 

Major: No 

Unfunded Mandates: No 

CFR Citation: 29 CFR 2509 (To search for a specific CFR, visit the Code of Federal Regulations.) 

Legal Authority: 29 USC 1023(a)(3)(A); 29 USC 1135 

Legal Deadline:  None

Timetable:

Action	Date	FR Cite
Request for Information	09/11/2006	71 FR 53348
Request for Information-Comment Period End	12/11/2006
Withdrawn	03/07/2008

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No 

Government Levels Affected: None 

Federalism: No 

Included in the Regulatory Plan: No 

RIN Data Printed in the FR: No 

Agency Contact:
John J. Canary
Deputy Director, Office of Regulations and Interpretations
Department of Labor
Employee Benefits Security Administration
Room N5669, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., FP Building, N5655,
Washington, DC 20210
Phone:202 693-8500