Section 901.457 - Accountant-Client Confidentiality(a) A license holder or a partner, member, officer, shareholder, or employee of a license holder may not voluntarily disclose information communicated to the license holder or a partner, member, shareholder, or employee of the license holder by a client in connection with services provided to the client by the license holder or a partner, member, shareholder, or employee of the license holder, except with the permission of the client or the client's representative.(b) This section does not prohibit a license holder from disclosing information that is required to be disclosed: (1) by the professional standards for reporting on the examination of a financial statement; (2) under a summons or subpoena under the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and its subsequent amendments, the Securities Act of 1933 ( 15 U.S.C. Section 77a et seq.) and its subsequent amendments, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ( 15 U.S.C. Section 78a et seq.) and its subsequent amendments, or The Securities Act (Title 12, Government Code) ; (3) under a court order signed by a judge if the order: (A) is addressed to the license holder; (B) mentions the client by name; and (C) requests specific information concerning the client; (4) in an investigation or proceeding conducted by the board; (5) in an ethical investigation conducted by a professional organization of certified public accountants; (6) in the course of a peer review under Section 901.159 or in accordance with the requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board or its successor; or (7) in the course of a practice review by another certified public accountant or certified public accountancy firm for a potential acquisition or merger of one firm with another, if both firms enter into a nondisclosure agreement with regard to all client information shared between the firms. Amended by Acts 2023, Texas Acts of the 88th Leg.- Regular Session, ch. 447,Sec. 10, eff. 6/9/2023.Amended by Acts 2019, Texas Acts of the 86th Leg.- Regular Session, ch. TBD,Sec. 2.38, eff. 1/1/2022.Amended by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg. - Regular Session, ch. 36,Sec. 2, eff. 9/1/2013.Amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1497, Sec. 31, eff. 9/1/2001. Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. 9/1/1999.