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Glossary/Tax and regulatory

ASB (Auditing Standards Board)

The Auditing Standards Board is the AICPA's senior technical committee that issues auditing and attestation standards for nonissuers, including SAS and SSAE, which are codified as AU-C and AT-C sections.

CORAA TeamUpdated November 5, 2026

Definition

The Auditing Standards Board (ASB) is the committee of the AICPA with authority to issue auditing, attestation, and quality management standards for nonissuers. Its pronouncements include Statements on Auditing Standards and Statements on Standards for Attestation Engagements, as well as Statements on Quality Management Standards. Drafts go through public exposure and comment before issue.

Why it matters in an audit or review

ASB changes drive firm updates. SAS 145 on risk assessment, SAS 146 on engagement-level quality management, and SAS 149 on group audits arrived through the ASB, with effective dates in firm calendars. SAS 150 (external confirmations) and SAS 151 (fraud) take effect for audits of periods ending on or after December 15, 2028. Peer review checks adherence to them, so keeping track of effective dates is a quality control task.

Example

Illustrative: a firm's technical partner reads each new SAS and exposure draft, maps effective dates to the engagement calendar, and updates audit programs two quarters before adoption.

Common mistakes

Treating exposure drafts as authoritative. Only issued, effective standards bind.

FAQ

Does the ASB set standards for public companies?

No. The PCAOB does.

Sources

  • AICPA, Auditing Standards Board (ASB) and its due process for issuing standards
  • AICPA Code of Professional Conduct, ET 1.310.001, Compliance with Standards Rule
  • AICPA, SAS No. 145, SAS No. 146, SAS No. 149, SAS No. 150, SAS No. 151 (effective dates as stated in each statement)

Definitions paraphrase AICPA and FASB guidance; read the standard itself before relying on a requirement. Example figures are illustrative. This page is guidance, not professional advice. Report an error

Standards

AU-C 200AT-C 105

Related terms

  • AU-C, AR-C and AT-C (SAS, SSARS, SSAE)
    AU-C sections come from Statements on Auditing Standards, AR-C from SSARS, and AT-C from SSAE; each codifies the AICPA standards for audits, review and compilation work, and attestation engagements of nonissuers.
  • GAAS (generally accepted auditing standards)
    GAAS are the AICPA standards for audits of nonissuers, issued as Statements on Auditing Standards and codified in AU-C sections, covering general responsibilities, evidence, and reporting.
  • AICPA (American Institute of CPAs)
    The AICPA is the national professional association of CPAs. It sets auditing standards for nonissuers through the ASB, issues the Code of Professional Conduct, runs the Peer Review Program, and develops the CPA Exam.
  • PCAOB vs AICPA standards (issuer vs nonissuer)
    Auditors of SEC issuers follow PCAOB standards and must be PCAOB-registered, while auditors of nonissuers, such as private companies and most nonprofits, follow AICPA standards and AU-C sections.

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