Section 3. Auditing and Related Professional Practice Standards Rule 3211 (Amended)

Rule 3211. Auditor Reporting of Certain Audit Participants

This version of the rule will be effective for audits of financial statements for fiscal years ending on or after December 15, 2024. The current version of the rule can be found here.

       (a)  For each audit report it issues for an issuer, a registered public accounting firm must file with the Board a report on Form AP in accordance with the instructions to that form.

Note 1: A Form AP filing is not required for an audit report of a registered public accounting firm that is referred to by the lead auditor in accordance with AS 1206, Dividing Responsibility for the Audit with Another Accounting Firm.

Note 2: Rule 3211 requires the filing of a report on Form AP regarding an audit report only the first time the audit report is included in a document filed with the Commission. Subsequent inclusion of precisely the same audit report in other documents filed with the Commission does not give rise to a requirement to file another Form AP. In the event of any change to the audit report, including any change in the dating of the report, Rule 3211 requires the filing of a new Form AP the first time the revised audit report is included in a document filed with the Commission.

       (b)  Form AP is deemed to be timely filed if—

              1.            The form is filed by the 35th day after the date the audit report is first included in a document filed with the Commission; provided, however, that

             2.            If such document is a registration statement under the Securities Act, the form is filed by the 10th day after the date the audit report is first included in a document filed with the Commission.

       (c)  Unless directed otherwise by the Board, a registered public accounting firm must file such report electronically with the Board through the Board's Web-based system.

       (d)  Form AP shall be deemed to be filed on the date that the registered public accounting firm submits a Form AP in accordance with this rule that includes the certification in Part VI of Form AP.

[Effective pursuant to SEC Release No. 34-48180, File No. PCAOB-2003-03 (July 16, 2003); SEC Release No. 34-72087, File No. PCAOB-2013-03 (May 2, 2014); and SEC Release No. 34-95488, File No. PCAOB-2022-001 (August 12, 2022)]