---
kind: "section"
citation: "12 U.S.C. § 5496a"
title: "12"
title_heading: "Banks and Banking"
number: "5496a"
heading: "Annual audits"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/12/5496a"
units:
  - "Chapter 53 — Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection"
  - "Subchapter V — Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection"
  - "Part A — Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection"
---

# §5496a. Annual audits

- (a) **Annual independent audit—** The [Bureau](/usc/12/5301.md?p=4) shall order an annual independent audit of the operations and budget of the [Bureau](/usc/12/5301.md?p=4).
- (b) **Annual GAO audit—** The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct an annual audit of the [Bureau](/usc/12/5301.md?p=4)’s financial statements in accordance with generally accepted government accounting standards.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 111–203, title X, § 1016A, as added Pub. L. 112–10, div. B, title V, § 1573(a), Apr. 15, 2011, 125 Stat. 138.)

## Notes

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Initial Audits

Pub. L. 112–10, div. B, title V, § 1573(c), Apr. 15, 2011, 125 Stat. 139, provided that the initial audits under this section were to be completed not later than the end of the 180-day period beginning on Apr. 15, 2011.