A Florida CPA claim should match an active license
When someone advertises as a Florida CPA, match the person and firm to an active license without assuming every tax preparer or bookkeeper must be a CPA.
When someone calls themself a Florida CPA, check the DBPR record. The name should match and the license should show “Current, Active.” If a CPA firm offers the work, check the firm too. An inactive, late, suspended, or revoked Florida license does not allow active public accounting work.
This does not mean every tax preparer or bookkeeper must be a CPA. Florida lets non-CPAs prepare tax returns, keep books, and prepare financial reports when they do not give an audit or other formal opinion. A qualified CPA from another state may also work in Florida without a separate state license under the mobility rules, as long as the CPA has no Florida office and meets those rules.
Read complaint records with care. Some matters stay private until the state finds cause or the person gives up privacy. A posted complaint is not always a final order. Read how the case ended before you draw a conclusion.
The work letter should name the job, the person in charge, the fees, and how records will be returned. Keep it with the license result and file list. A good license check supports clear terms; it does not replace them.
Official sources
- DBPR - Certified Public Accountant
- DBPR - License Search
- DBPR - CPA Enforcement
- Florida Statutes - CPA Title and Non-CPA Exceptions
- Florida Statutes - Out-of-State CPA Mobility
Last checked against these sources: July 31, 2026.
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