PEEC releases clarifying guidance on independence in SSAE engagements

The AICPA Professional Ethics Executive Committee (PEEC) issued revisions to the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct (the Code) to clarify independence requirements for engagements subject to the Statements on Standards for Attestation Engagements (SSAEs).

The revisions will be effective June 15, 2026, with early implementation allowed.

Most interpretations of the “Independence Rule” (ET §1.200.001) were written from the perspective of performing a financial statement audit or review engagement. However, these interpretations apply to any attest engagement, including SSAE engagements, which often involve different subject matters and reporting requirements.

To clarify the guidance, PEEC made the following changes:

• New definition and related revisions: The defined term “period covered by the attest report” replaces the phrase “period covered by the financial statements” to provide greater clarity and consistency in application for any attest engagement.
• Revisions to reflect application to SSAE engagements: Revisions to various interpretations include terminology applicable to SSAE engagements, ensuring that the Code’s requirements are clear and relevant to these types of engagements.
• Examples for SSAE engagements: Additional examples illustrate how independence requirements apply to SSAE engagements.

These revisions do not change the intended application of current requirements in the Code.

PEEC received 15 comment letters to the exposure draft for this project. Comments were generally supportive of the proposal, and no substantive revisions resulted. To learn more about the project, review the ED and the agenda of PEEC’s November meeting.

— Kelly D. Mullins is the communications manager for the AICPA Professional Ethics Division. To comment on this article or to suggest an idea for another article, contact Neil Amato at Neil.Amato@aicpa-cima.com.