(1) Independence, where required by professional standards, is essential to establishing and maintaining the public's faith and confidence in, and reliance on, the information reported on by the licensee. A licensee in the practice of public accounting shall be independent in fact and appearance when engaged to provide services where independence is required by professional standards.

(a) Independence in fact is the state of mind that permits a licensee to perform an attest service without being affected by influences that compromise professional judgment, thereby allowing the licensee to act with integrity and exercise objectivity and professional skepticism.

(b) Independence in appearance is the avoidance of circumstances that would cause a reasonable and informed third-party, having knowledge of all relevant information, to reasonably conclude that the integrity, objectivity, or professional skepticism of the licensee had been compromised.