A CPA license is public information. You can check it in a few minutes before you share your tax records. This guide shows how to use the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy (TSBPA) lookup and what the result means. It is general information, not advice for your situation.
How do I verify a Texas CPA license?
Use the license lookup on the TSBPA website, tsbpa.texas.gov. It has separate searches for individual CPAs and CPA firms. Enter a name or a license number. The Board says the result shows license status, including any disciplinary actions or enforcement markers.
Follow these steps.
- Open the License Lookup page on the TSBPA website.
- Choose the individual CPA search to check a person. Choose the CPA firm search to check a firm.
- Enter the name or the license number. Ask the CPA for the exact name and number if you are unsure.
- Open the record and read the license status.
- Read the note on any disciplinary actions or enforcement markers.
- Save a copy of the page for your records.
You can use the same steps for any firm or CPA, including Wallace CPA, PLLC. Search for the exact legal name.
What is the difference between an individual license and a firm license?
An individual license belongs to a person. A firm license belongs to a business. The Board keeps a separate lookup for each. A CPA can hold a personal license while working at a firm, so check the person and the firm if both matter to you.
| Item | Individual CPA | CPA firm |
|---|---|---|
| What the license covers | The person who holds the CPA credential | The business that offers CPA services |
| Lookup to use | Individual CPA lookup | CPA firm lookup |
| What to search for | The CPA’s name or license number | The firm’s name or license ID |
| What you learn | Whether the CPA’s license is current and active | Whether the firm is licensed and in good standing |
| Matters most for | Who signs and who advises you | Audits, reviews and other attest work |
The Board’s consumer page explains that attest services may only be provided by a licensee through a firm licensed by the Board. Attest services include audits, reviews, compilations and other assurance work. Tax work and bookkeeping are non-attest services.
How do I read the lookup result?
Look for the license status first, then for disciplinary actions or enforcement markers. The Board says the individual tool lets you confirm whether a CPA’s license is current and active. The firm tool verifies the status of public accounting firms licensed in Texas.
| What you see | What it can mean | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Current and active status | The license is in good standing | Keep a copy of the record |
| A status other than active | The license may be expired, inactive or restricted | Ask the CPA to explain before you share records |
| Disciplinary actions or enforcement markers | The Board has taken action | Read the details and decide if you are comfortable |
| No record found | The name may be spelled differently, or there may be no license | Check spelling, try the other lookup, ask for the license number |
A record is a snapshot of the day you look. Check again before a long engagement or when you renew an agreement.
Does the name on the license have to match the name the firm uses?
Yes. Texas rules say a firm licensed by the Board may not do business or offer services to a client under a name other than the name in which it is licensed. The rule is 22 TAC 501.83. Compare the firm’s name on its contract and invoices with the name in the lookup.
The same rule explains why many firm names end in PLLC or a similar form. The rule says corporations, professional limited liability companies and similar legal forms must include the form of ownership or an abbreviation of it, such as Inc., P.C., L.L.P. or P.L.L.C. The ending tells the public the legal form. It does not tell you the quality of the work.
What if the person is a tax preparer and not a CPA?
A tax preparer is not always a CPA. The IRS says anyone can be a paid tax return preparer if they have an IRS Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN). It also says preparers have different levels of skill, education and expertise.
The IRS runs a Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers with Credentials and Select Qualifications. You can use it to find preparers who hold professional credentials the IRS recognizes. The TSBPA lookup is the right place to check a Texas CPA license.
The Board’s consumer page also describes a firm that is not licensed as a CPA firm. A licensee can do bookkeeping, tax work and other non-attest services in an unlicensed entity. That entity must show this notice: “This firm is not a CPA firm and its services are not regulated by the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy.” If you see it, you know the firm is not a licensed CPA firm.
What questions should I ask any CPA or tax preparer?
Ask clear questions about license, scope and who does the work. Write the answers down. A professional should answer them without hesitation.
- What is the exact name on your license, and what is the license number?
- Are you an individual CPA, a licensed CPA firm, or both?
- Will you sign my return as the paid preparer?
- Who will work on my file, and who reviews it?
- Can you represent me before the IRS if I get a notice? A CPA can do this with a power of attorney on file.
- How do you protect and share my documents?
- What affects the cost of the work, and how will you tell me before it changes?
Do not sign a blank return. Make sure the preparer signs the return and gives you a copy. If a firm will not answer, take that as a signal.
These questions matter most when you face an IRS audit, file an extension or need help with a notice. Read what to do when you get an IRS notice.
What can the Board do if something goes wrong?
The Board can investigate professional misconduct by Texas CPAs. It acts on violations of the Public Accountancy Act and the Board’s Rules. It does not handle fee disputes. You do not need an attorney to file a complaint.
The Board’s consumer page describes the process. Enforcement staff review the complaint to see if it involves professional misconduct. Not every dispute is within the Board’s jurisdiction, so some complaints are dismissed at that stage. If the complaint alleges misconduct, the Board opens an investigative file and the CPA has 30 days to respond in writing.
You can file with a letter or an online form. Include the CPA’s or firm’s full name, business address and phone number, plus your contact information and copies of relevant documents. The Board says a complaint may not succeed unless the complainant is identified.
For a fee question, start with the engagement letter and talk to the firm first.
Next step
Before you hire any CPA, open the TSBPA license lookup and check the person and the firm. Save the result. For questions about the firm, see the FAQ, call (877) 682-1171 or use the form at /contact. To see the work a CPA can do for you, read about tax preparation.
This guide is general information, not advice for your situation. Talk to a CPA about your own situation before you act.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I check a Texas CPA license?
Use the license lookup on the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy website at tsbpa.texas.gov. It has separate searches for individual CPAs, CPA firms and CPE sponsors.
What do I need to search?
A name or a license number. The Board says you can enter either to find a professional's license status, including disciplinary actions or enforcement markers.
Is a tax preparer the same as a CPA?
No. The IRS says anyone can be a paid tax return preparer with a Preparer Tax Identification Number, and that preparers have differing levels of skill, education and expertise. A CPA holds a state license.
What if my CPA is not listed?
Check the spelling and try the firm lookup as well as the individual lookup. If you still cannot find a license, ask the person for the license number and the exact name on the license. The Board lists a way to report unlicensed practice.
Can the Board help with a fee dispute?
No. The Board says fee disputes are not within its jurisdiction. It can review allegations of professional misconduct by CPAs.
Terms on this page
Sources
- Texas State Board of Public Accountancy: License Lookup
- Texas State Board of Public Accountancy: Consumers, authority of the Board
- 22 TAC 501.83 Firm Names (Cornell LII reprint)
- IRS: Choosing a tax professional
Written by Wallace CPA and checked against the sources above on October 21, 2026. Tax rules and dates change, so check the linked page before you act. General information, not advice for your situation.