Making a difference

VAT Audit Skills

The worldwide recession has led to lower VAT/GST collections putting pressure on the funding of governments expenditures. Due to an increase in the use of automated accounting systems, there is a need for tax authorities to improve their audit techniques of such systems in order to protect their VAT revenues.

This course will give participants the competencies required to identify automated accounting systems and perform effective, professional VAT audit visits in the field.

Who should attend
Staff specialising in VAT at all levels within finance ministries and, especially, revenue authorities, particularly those working on VAT field audits and with large taxpayer units.

How you will benefit
By the end of the course you will be able to:

• identify automated accounting and data retrieval systems
• prioritise areas for testing, and conduct field audit visits
• improve compliance with related increases in revenue generation
• identify and overcome operational difficulties involved in computerised systems
• understand the operational capabilities of a large business office and computer audit service

Course profile

• Interviewing
• Books & records
• Type of business
• Basic checks
• Annual accounts
• Credibility
• Invoices
• Liability
• Computer accounts
• Computerised data retrieval and analysis
• Visit selection
• Assessments
• Officers' reports
• Best judgements