§ 4. Safe Harbor Language.

A person who is not licensed by the California Board of Accountancy, and who prepares a financial report in a form substantially the same as that set forth in subsection (a) or (b) below, shall not be deemed to be engaged in the practice of public accountancy as defined in Section 5051 of the Business and Professions Code.
(a) "I [we] have prepared the accompanying financial statements of [name of entity] as of [time period] for the [period] then ended. This presentation is limited to preparing in the form of financial statements information that is the representation of management [owners]. I [we] have not audited or reviewed the accompanying financial statements and accordingly do not express an opinion or any other form of assurance on them."
(b) "We [I] have prepared the accompanying statement of assets, liabilities and equity for [name of company] as of [month-day-year], together with the related statements of revenue, expense, [and cash flow] for the year [or month] then ended on the income tax basis of accounting.
The preparation of financial statements on the income tax basis of accounting is limited to presenting information that is the representation of management [the owners]. We [I] have not audited nor reviewed the accompanying statements. Accordingly, we [I] do not express an opinion or any other form of assurance on them.
Management has [The owners have] elected to omit substantially all of the disclosures ordinarily included in financial statements prepared on the income tax basis of accounting. If the omitted disclosures were included in the financial statements, they might influence the user's conclusions about the company's assets, liabilities, equity, revenues, expenses [and cash flow]. Accordingly, these financial statements are not designed for those who are not informed about such matters."

NOTE: Authority cited: Sections 5010, Business and Professions Code. Reference: Sections 5051 and 5052, Business and Professions Code.

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