The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) has announced a one-year postponement of the effective date for its new quality control standards, QC 1000, moving the date to 15 December 2026.  

The delay also affects the rescission date of certain existing rules and standards. 

Adopted in May 2025 and set to come into effect in the same year, QC 1000 was designed to enhance the quality control systems of registered public accounting firms.  

The PCAOB had previously stated that this timeline provided a balance between the benefits to investors and allowing firms enough time to establish QC 1000-compliant systems. 

However, the decision to delay the effective date comes after feedback indicating that some firms are facing significant implementation challenges.  

The accounting body has acknowledged that these challenges may be too great to overcome within the original timeframe and believes an additional year will be sufficient for firms to address these issues. 

Despite the postponement, there have been no changes to the text of the new and amended standards, rules, or forms as adopted by the Board.  

Firms are still permitted to voluntarily comply with QC 1000 requirements before the new effective date, with the exception of reporting evaluations of their quality control systems to the PCAOB. 

According to a report by Thomson Reuters, the SEC chair Paul Atkins and chief accountant Kurt Hohl had recommended the PCAOB to delay the implementation of the new quality control standard.  

This advice was based on information from four sources familiar with the matter. 

Recently, the PCAOB formed the Smaller Firm Resource Group, an advisory panel consisting of professionals from smaller audit firms.  

This group will provide insights on auditing standards, inspections, and other PCAOB activities.