Attention broker-dealers and their Auditors: SIPC assessment changes.

Broker-dealers registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission, with some limited exceptions, are required to be members of Securities Investor Protection Corporation. Before Apr. 1, 2009, the SIPC member assessment was a flat rate of $150 per year. Beginning on that date, SIPC reinstituted an assessment rate of one-quarter of 1% of a member's SIPC net operating revenue, which is generally defined on SIPC assessment forms as "gross revenues from the securities business." Beginning Apr. 1, 2009, Assessment Forms SIPC-6 and SIPC-7T replaced Form SIPC-4. Form SIPC-3, Certification of Exclusion From Membership, should continue to be submitted by those broker-dealers that qualify for exclusion from SIPC membership. Click here to access the SIPC's assessment forms.

SEC Rule 17a-5(e)(4) requires a registered broker-dealer to file, along with its annual audited financials, a supplemental...