Who’s on First? Finding a Qualified Appraiser for 409A.
The last but not least of the three articles on 409A compliance, this one addresses the key: Finding qualified appraisers.
Posted December 04, 2008
While it does seem clear that using a qualified third-party firm to conduct your business valuation for compliance with 409A helps you sail into that safe harbor, what is not so clear is just how to identify one. Section 409A does not define a qualified business valuation expert, nor does it tell us how to find one. Thankfully, some guidance exists. In its own publications the IRS has offered valuable guidelines regarding the definition of a qualified appraiser. The standards include the following:
