Form MA/A Filings

What Is SEC Form MA/A?

SEC Form MA/A is an important filing required under Section 15B of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 15Ba1-5 thereunder. It is used by municipal advisors to amend a prior Form MA filing when previously reported information becomes inaccurate due to a material event.

This form is typically filed when there are changes to identifying information, organizational status, ownership, officers, control persons, or disclosure information that must be updated with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). It is event-driven rather than tied to a fixed filing date, and it must be filed promptly after the triggering change occurs.

Form MA/A ensures transparency by keeping a municipal advisor’s SEC registration current when reportable information changes. The amendment updates the firm’s most recent Form MA record, but it does not replace the separate annual update obligation that applies to registered municipal advisors.

Key elements typically found in SEC Form MA/A include:

• Name and identifying information of the municipal advisor
• Updates to organizational or succession information, if applicable
• Changes involving ownership, officers, or other control persons
• Revisions to disclosure information, including disciplinary history
• Description of the material event requiring the amendment
• Updated non-resident documentation or opinion of counsel, if applicable

SEC Form MA/A Filing Deadlines

SEC Form MA/A does not have a fixed annual deadline because it is filed when a material event causes previously reported Form MA information to become inaccurate. These timing rules are important to maintain regulatory compliance and keep registration records current.

Key Things to Know About Form MA/A Filing Rules

• Material Events Trigger Filing: A registered municipal advisor must file Form MA/A promptly when a material event makes previously reported Form MA information inaccurate.
• Not the Annual Update Form: Form MA/A is used for amendments to prior registration information, while annual updates are filed separately on Form MA-A.
• Only Changed Information Is Amended: When filing an amendment, the filer generally updates only the information that has changed rather than completing the entire form again.
• Electronic Filing Is Required: Amendments to Form MA must be filed electronically through the SEC’s EDGAR system.
• Non-Resident Firms May Need Additional Documents: A non-resident municipal advisor may need to attach updated non-resident documentation or an updated opinion of counsel when required by changes in law or circumstances.

To monitor municipal advisor registration changes and related SEC activity, our  SEC Edgar Search tools help you track key SEC filings, including Form MA, Form MA/A, and Form MA-A, so you can follow registration updates and disclosure changes more efficiently.