TSBPA – Texas State Board of Public Accountancy

When was the last time you actually liked dealing with a government agency? Usually, they love to give you a headache with various regulations and red tape. Well, I’m going to buck the trend and give an online «high five» to the TX State Board of Public Accountancy for being a progressive little agency, deep in the heart of Texas.
The TSBPA licenses all Texas CPAs and here’s why they are pretty special:
— Calling their office, you usually can get a hold of a live person quickly and who can answer your question with confidence.
— Online system allows us to report our annual CPE (continuing professional education) hours. On average, we have to do 40 hours a year to maintain our license.
— Credit card payment means instant payment of yearly $ 240 license fee.
— Updates to our license file (address and phone changes) are easily done on the interweb.
— Renewals are usually processed on the next business day after payment of fees. License card is usually received in a week or less.
— Actually works to lower their fees from time-​to-​time. When was the last time you had a government bureau send you a refund for a reduced fee after the fact? (Yup, leave it to the accountants.)
I know it takes a real nerd — and an accounting nerd to boot — to wax poetic about the occupation’s regulatory body. But, here I am in all of my nerd glory. The only thing worse would be if I were to read to you from the «Journal of Accountancy».*
* This is a real legitimate professional publication. I’ll freely admit that some of its articles are way too wonky for me. But, it makes for good reading in bed. Puts you right to sleep.