Is an appraiser permitted by USPAP to create a workfile after transmitting the report to the client?

• A. Yes
• B. No
• C. Only with client consent
• D. Only for certain assignments

Answer: (B)

No—the workfile should be prepared as part of the assignment development and completed before the report is transmitted to the client, then retained afterward. USPAP treats the workfile as the record that documents the data, analyses, and reasoning that support the conclusions. If the file is created after the report has already been sent, it would not reflect the actual development process and could cast doubt on whether the conclusions were properly supported at the time of the assignment. There isn’t a provision for delaying workfile creation with client consent or only for certain assignments; the requirement applies to all assignments.