LAO PDR
Profile
The Government established the Lao Institute of Certified Public Accountants (LICPA) on 24 June 1998 under MOF as the key regulatory body for accounting and auditing arrangements. This includes the development of strategies, policies and other issues concerning accounting and auditing activities. LICPA acts as a professional body representing the accounting and auditing profession in Lao PDR.
The objectives of LICPA aim mainly at mobilising, guiding and gathering professional accountants as well as protecting faithful interests of accountants and auditors in order to practice their profession to be in compliance with laws and regulations, assist the State in promoting, developing and upgrading accounting and audit professions.
The main duties of LICPA are as follows:
- to work out the medium and long-term schemes of work;
- to define management regulations Certified Public Accountants which contribute into the study on the code of ethics and other related regulations;
- to organise professional training courses and continuing professional development to be in compliance with rules regarding syllabus, projects and programs defined by the Ministry of Finance on a regular basis;
- to collaborate, consult, exchange ideas and lessons on accounting and audit with its member;
- to cooperate with professional accountancy organisations and institutes of other countries within the region and globe with the accordance of the Ministry of Finance;
- to monitor the professional activities of its members;
- to summarise and report on the activities of the LICPA to the Ministry of Finance and other related authorities on a regular basis;
- to perform other rights and duties in accordance with the legal provisions.
The LICPA is a member of the ASEAN Federation of Accountants but is not a member of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC).
The membership of LICPA is categorised as below:
- Honorary Members;
- Primary Members (Practicing Members and Non-Practicing Members); and
- Associate Members.
Honorary Members consist of qualified individual persons with knowledge and experience in accounting and auditing, who are invited to be Honorary Members by the Institute with no registration fee for membership.
Primary Members are divided into Practicing Members and Non-Practicing Members. Practicing Members include individuals and legal entities. Individual members are those providing services in accounting and auditing entities such as accounting and auditing enterprises and state audit organisation; those never been convicted leading to imprisonment; having at least 5 years’ experience in accounting; are over 25 years old; and have a Bachelor Degree of Accounting issued by Ministry of Education and Certificate of Professional Accountant issued by the MOF.
Juridical person Legal entities may become a member if they provide services in accounting and auditing; those never been convicted of any serious offence; are registered with commerce, tax authorities, and have authorisation issued by the MOF.
Non-practicing members consist of Accountant Teachers and Inspection Official Staff. These people could apply for membership to LICPA if they are qualified and as Lao national citizen; never been convicted leading to imprisonment; have at least 5 years’ experience in accounting; are over 25 years old; have a Bachelor Degree of Accounting and Certificate of Professional Accountant issued by the Ministry of Finance.
Associate Members for foreigners and legal entities with investment in by foreigners who conduct accounting and auditing activities in Lao PDR. They have to be registered with LICPA and must fulfil the following conditions: citizens of country members of the International Accounting Standard Committee; have an equivalent diploma in accounting recognised by the equivalent commission; Lao citizens represent at least 70% of qualified staff, of which one person is a member of LICPA; conduct out of the country training courses for Lao citizen staff for at least 30 hours per year and internal in-house training for 120 hours per year; and observe the Code of Ethics and other rules issued by LICPA.
These membership requirements would be revisited soon by LICPA to be complied with new adopted laws on accounting and audit. LICPA will officially change its name to Lao Chamber of Professional Accountants and Auditors (LCPAA) as defined in the new independent audit Law.
Previously in order to become a Lao CPA, the individual is required to have completed a 6 to 8-month training courses and pass the examination program that includes 10 subjects. The training courses are in the Lao language hence no foreign persons have yet completed the program and obtained LICPA membership.
In order to qualify for the admission of Lao CPA training program, the person must :
- Hold a University degree on finance-accounting or economics, or business administration with 2 years working experiences, or vocational education on finance-accounting with 6 years working experiences or be accounting chief who is in charge of consolidating accounts of any business entity or state controllers (tax, finance-accounting inspection);
- Be at least 25 years old;
- Have not been convicted of and free of the charges for frauds, embezzlement or other intentional infringements;
- Of good health;
- Ability to speak French or English;
- Have passed the required qualifying examination.
In accordance to the new promulgated independent audit law by the President of Lao PDR since September 2014 other requirements are set up such as compulsory practical training with a cumulative period of three years after completing training course. Continuing professional development is also obligated for CPA in public practice and CPA in business working with public interest enterprises.
To become a Lao CPA, individual shall hold a certificate of CPA professional training program completion as well as certificate of CPA practical training completion. Holders of CPA certificate from other countries, those have passed 3 years practical training are exempted from Lao CPA Practical Training, but should pass an aptitude test on Lao relevant legislations.
Under the previous Accounting Law, accounting consultants and accounting experts are allowed to provide advice on accounting, to set up accounting system, to maintain book-keeping, to conduct follow-up, analysis, evaluation and problems solving in accounting of the accounting entity (the budget, technical and administrative entities, public funds, enterprises and not-for-profit organisations who are subjected to the obligation of book-keeping).
Under the Audit Law (No: 05/NA 2007), independent auditor is an accounting consultant or accounting expert who conducts audit engagement and has been registered as members of LICPA and on the registry of the company under the terms of the Enterprise and Tax Laws.
However, the new promulgated Independent Audit Law, replacing those provisions regarding accountancy and audit practices, covers the requirements for establishing accountancy or audit firm.
Individual
An individual CPA practitioner may practice either as an employer or employee in a accountancy or audit firm or in business. An individual local and foreign CPA is not allowed to practice as a liberal profession. He/she must work on behalf of a legal entity only.
In order to have permission to sign auditor’s report on behalf of an audit firm, the CPA shall be registered and has a statutory auditor license issued by the Ministry of Finance. To be a statutory auditor, the CPA of the audit firm shall be a partner of its audit firm.
Public Accounting firm
According to the Law on Enterprises No: 11/NA, dated November 9, 2005, Accounting Law 2013 and Independent Audit Law 2014, accountancy firms and audit firms, doing business in accounting and audit services must be approved and have obtained licences issued by the MOF and registered for accounting practice by and with LCPAA.
Individual or legal entity willing to apply for accountancy firm practicing license that could practice non-assurance engagements shall comply with the following principal requirements:
- Be a Lao Certified Public Accountant or a legally established foreign accountancy firm;
- Be member of the LCPAA;
- Is not a government officer, owner, partner or employee of any enterprise;
- Never been disciplinarily sanctioned or been judged by court for fraud or economic or accounting violations; and
- Have at least three accounting, finance staffs with high education level and above.
For establishing audit firm that could practice in both assurance and non-assurance engagements, the following criteria should be met:
- Be a Certified Public Accountant or a legally established foreign audit firm;
- Be member of the LCPAA;
- Is not a government officer, owner, partner or employee of any enterprise;
- Never been disciplinarily sanctioned or been judged by court for fraud or economic or accounting violations;
- Have at least two CPAs and several staff in case of individual entity;
- CPAs shall be managers and be shareholders of at least three fifth of all shareholders and if having more than two shareholders several staff shall be employed.
Nevertheless, on a temporary basis when aptitude test could not be organised yet, the Ministry of Finance can authorise foreign CPA to practice as Lao CPAs with the following conditions:-
- The foreign CPA is required to provide necessary and continuing professional training to employees of Lao nationality;
- The foreign CPA must comply with the ethics required by the Professional Accountancy Body and comply with the rules and obligations similarly to members of the Professional Accountant’s Body.
The visa and requirement of professionals are subject to the labor law and regulations of the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare. Endorsement of the respective departmental authorities is also required.
- to study, and define the strategic plans and policies, as well as the regulations on the accounting and audit activities under proposal to the Government for its consideration to be complied with the country’s socio-economic development and in line with regional and international trends;
- to study the government and enterprise accounting standards, and audit standards to gradually complied with IPSAS, IFRS and ISA, respectively, and to develop and to improve the accounting and audit system and other accounting and audit regulations for consideration and approval by the MOF;
- to propagate and disseminate the laws and other legislations concerning accounting and audit;
- to study other regulations, manuals, and conduct nation-wide training for public and private sector;
- to issue license, control, monitor and check accounting software to be used in Lao PDR, and track related fee payments to the State Budget;
- to control, manage and, monitor and supervise the application of the laws and other legislation concerning government and enterprise accounting, and audit;
- to give advices on accounting and audit to accounting entities and other related parties;
- to analyse and make comments on financial statements of the National Treasury in each period, to give guidance and to supervise the Accounting Council and the Association of Accountants and Independent Auditors;
- to guide provincial accounting sections at provincial finance departments on professional works;
- to supervise and regulate the Lao Institute of Certified Public Accountants trained personnel on accounting work;
- to coordinate with related parties to develop accounting and audit syllabus to be complied with IFAC International Education Standards the State organisations and other organisations that are concerned with the accounting activities;
- to cooperate with both international and regional accounting organisations in the field of accounting;
- to summarise, evaluate and report to the Government on the organisation and implementation of the accounting activities; and
- to exert other rights and duties in accordance with the legal provisions.
Accountancy professionals will also have to observe the following laws:
- Law on Enterprises No: 46/NA, dated December 26th 2013 and Prime Minister Decision on list of controlled businesses No: 107/PM dated September 7, 2012, and Law on Securities Exchange Law which relates the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
- Decree on Accounting of Bank of Lao PDR, Finance Institutions under Bank of Lao No: 03/PM dated January 8, 1996. A new Decision in order to be complied with the new accounting law is being drafted by the Bank of Lao to replace.
- Law on Insurance No: 06/NA dated December 21, 2011 (Decree on implementation of Insurance Law is being drafted).
- The accounting entries, books of accounts and financial statements must be presented in Lao language and in Kip (Lao currency), except where they are authorised by the Government. In case the financial statements are in foreign currency and language, they should be reported also in Kip and in Lao language in parallel.
- Currently all entities are required to apply Lao accounting regulations. The adoption of financial reporting standards is recently defined in the newly amended Accounting Law in which Public Interest Entities would apply IFRS, the non-public interest entities would apply Lao Financial Reporting Standards adapted from IFRS for SMEs starting from 2017.
- Ms. Davone THONGCHANH
Director of Accounting Regulatory Department Ministry of Finance, Chairperson of Lao Monitoring Committee - Mr. Fongsisouphan PHOMMAVONG
Deputry Director of Accounting Regulatory Deparhnent Ministry of Finance, Vice Chairperson of Lao Monitoring Committee - Mr. Sonexay SILAPHET
President of Lao Chamber of Professional Accountants and Auditors, Board - Mr. Bounluea DAOVILAY
Deputy Head of Department, Accounting Regulatory Department Ministry of Finance, Board - Mr. Khampiew THIPHAVONGPHANH
Vice President of Lao Chamber of Professional Accountants and Auditors, Board - Mr. Kongpasa SENGSOURIYAVONG
Committee of Education, Lao Chamber of Professional Accountants and Auditors, Board.
Regulated Accounting Services
(as a partner or director in an accounting or audit firm)
NAB Membership and/or PRA Registration
NAB Requirement :
Yes, must be practicing member of LCPAA
PRA Requirement :
MOF – Yes, their entity must have accounting or audit firm practicing license
NAB Membership and/or PRA Registration Requirement
(such as examination, test, recognised qualifications, etc)
NAB Requirement:
- CPA training program
- CPA practical training
PRA Requirement :
Citizenship Requirement
No.
Remarks
Eligibility requirement, where applicable (ACPA/RFPA)
Open to ASEAN CPA / RFPA.
(as a partner or director in an accounting or audit firm)
NAB Membership and/or PRA Registration
NAB Requirement :
Yes, must be practicing member of LCPAA
PRA Requirement :
MOF – Yes, their entity must have accounting or audit firm practicing license, and the auditor must have a statutory auditor license.
NAB Membership and/or PRA Registration Requirement
(such as examination, test, recognised qualifications, etc)
NAB Requirement:
- CPA training program
- CPA practical training
PRA Requirement :
In addition to the above requirements for audit firm practicing license, to be a statutory auditor he/she must be a Lao certified public accountant and have a position as director or engagement partner of an audit firm.
Citizenship Requirement
No.
Remarks
Eligibility requirement, where applicable (ACPA/RFPA)
Open to ASEAN CPA / RFPA.
Non-Regulated Accounting Services
Chief Accountant in large-sized enterprises and public interest enterprises
NAB Membership
Yes, must be practicing member of LCPAA
PRA Requirement
Ministry of Finance – No
NAB Membership Requirement
(such as examination, test, recognised qualifications, etc)
- CPA training program
- CPA practical training
PRA Requirement
Ministry of Finance – No
Citizenship Requirement
No
Remarks
However foreign workers shall be subject to other Lao related legislations such as Law of Labour.
Eligibility requirement, where applicable (ACPA/RFPA)
Open to ASEAN CPA / RFPA.
All About Registered Foreign Professional Accountant (RFPA)
Application Fees : 200 USD
Annual Fees : 200 USD