AuditNet® Audit-library::Audit-guides-manuals-and-checklists
Advanced Technology Program (ATP) Audit Guidelines are provided by the Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of Commerce. The ATP is a cost-sharing program between government and industry to pursue high-risk, enabling technologies with significant commercial and economic potential.
Audit Guide 2015 from the California Department of Education sets forth the requirements and background information for the auditor of child development, child and adult care food programs, national school lunch program, school breakfast program, summer food program, donated food commodity program, and adult basic education program administered by private and public agencies. This guide also summarizes and references all audit manuals, hand books and audit guides of the CDD, NSD, AEU and County Welfare Departments.
Audit Guide For Audit Committees of Small Non-Profit Organizations from the Virginia Society of CPAs provides assistance for the audit committees of small NPOs to perform a limited review of their organizations' financial statements.
Audit Guidance Web site from the Defense Contract Audit Agency provides various manuals and guides for government contract auditors.
Audit Manual from the City of Tampa Internal Audit Department.
Audit Manual from the UT Systems Audit Office includes details on organizational structure, office policies and procedures and sample documents.
Audit Process Handbook The DHHS OIG Audit Process Handbook in pdf format was developed to give auditors tools to conduct audits and prepare reports. It lays out a systematic approach designed to keep the audit focused, involve all team members throughout the process and facilitate report preparation.
Audit Programs from the UT Systems Audit Office includes programs and questionnaires for Internal Controls, information technology, payroll and more.
The Audit Report Writing Guide from the Public Service Commission of Canada provides guidelines for the design, style and content of the reports they publish. This document is an excellent resource for audit organizations developing their own guide.
Audit Techniques Guide I.R.S. market segment specialization program provides audit guides uses by examiners for 11 different industries. Good reference material for auditors reviewing, air charters, architects, tobacco industry and more.
Auditing the Human Resources Function Audit program provided by a Human Resource Consulting Firm outlines the basic approach as well as information that should be included to cover a regulatory compliance review.
Best Practices Procurement Manual Federal Transit Administration provides recipients of Federal Transit Administration (FTA) funds suggested procedures, methods, and examples for conducting third party procurements to assist them in meeting FTA standards.
Better Practice Guides from the Australian National Audit Office are reports on specific areas of interest to auditors along with best practice information. Includes guides for selecting suppliers, travel, effective control, performance information and more. (look in the Publications section)
Building and Auditing a Trusted Network Environment with Netware 4.x Online Guide from Novell includes a security overview, security basics, and audit guidelines for Novell networks using Netware 4.x.
Business Tools Web site from CCH that provides a comprehensive list of ready-to-use templates, checklists and model business documents. You never know when one of these documents may come in handy!
Check Fraud: A Guide to Avoiding Losses Office of the Comptroller of the Currency provides guidance on a major organizational issue. Guide sections include check fraud schemes, prevention measures (internal controls, training, check cashing guidelines) and more.
Corporate Credit Card Best Practice Guide from the Australian Government provides a policy, controls over card issues, operational controls and more.
Cost Estimating Handbook is an excellent resource tool for auditors and accountants. The Handbook provides statistical techniques and development guidelines for cost estimation, acceptance criteria for cost estimation, guidelines for auditing and analyzing a cost estimation relationship, elements of good estimating practice and more.
Cost Principles - Procedures for Developing Cost Allocation Plans is an implementation guide for OMB Circular A-87.
Data Collection and Analysis Site Web site from Deakin University in Australia provides a comprehensive guide on the scientific process of collecting and analyzing data. Particularly useful chapters for auditors on surveys, sampling and techniques.
EDI Implementation Guide from the Australian Government provides control audit and security issues, implementation plans, standards and more.
Effective Control Guide from the Australian National Audit Office covers the control issues and provides a control framework for a government organization.
Environmental Auditing Program provides information from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency including audit checklists for above ground tanks, underground tanks, spills and more.
Environmental Finance Financial Tools Guidebook EPA reference guidebook of more than 250 tools for financing environmental programs. Great reference tool for auditors reviewing environmental programs and their respective financing.
FDIC Bank Examination Manual The table of contents of this Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Compliance manual links the auditor with files in Adobe Acrobat format. This could be a useful resource for bank auditors.
FDIC Information Systems Handbook This is the Interagency guide for regulatory examiners for examining information systems operations in financial institutions and service bureaus. The Handbook includes an overview of IS concepts, practices, IS controls, and sample audit programs. This is a valuable resource for IS auditors. The files are in Adobe Acrobat format.
Financial Management Reference Guide provides an example of an accounting financial management guide for libraries.
Framework for Internal Control Systems in Banking Organisations from the Bank for International Settlements is available for download from their Web site.
Full Cost Initiative Implementation Guide developed by NASA provides a comprehensive accounting and management approach to costing services.
GAO Federal Information Systems Control Audit Manual from GAO provides guidelines for auditing information systems.
GAO General Policies/Procedures and Communications Manual provides guidance on their methodologies including sampling, workpapers, reporting and more.
Guide to Cost Based Decision Making from the Texas State Auditor's Office, is designed to assist management in developing more comprehensive cost accounting information to enhance the ability of decisionmakers to identify, analyze, and control the causes of costs, as well as establish links between cost information and program efficiency and effectiveness.
Handbook on Fraud Indicators for Contract Auditors is the DoD Inspector General guide on contract fraud.
H.U.D. Audit Guides provides a link to their consolidated audit guide.
Internal Audit Manual is the DoD IG Internal Audit Manual.
Internal Control State University of New York at Brockport provides information about their program. The site includes a definition, human resource internal controls, general and specific standards and more.
Internal Controls Commonwealth of Massachusetts provides information describing what they are as well as an Internal Control Guide for Departments.
Internal Control and Financial Management Manual Connecticut's Accountability Directive issued jointly by the Office of the State Comptroller, Office of Policy and Administration and the Auditor of Public Accounts.
Internal Control Guide draft from the ICAEW provides internal control guidance for directors of listed companies incorporated in the United Kingdom.
Internal Control Guide Massachusett's Comptroller General guide for state departments. Straight-forward format that could be adopted by other auditors in recommendations.
Internal Review Guide from the U.S. Army provides details of the process used in conducting audits of their operations. Excellent example of a comprehensive audit program targeted toward meeting customer needs.
Internet Security Policy Guide NIST Special Publication series is designed to assist organizations create an Internet-specific information security policy.
Kelley Blue Book provides vehicle values for new and used cars and motorcycles. Good industry standard resource for auditors looking at inventory valuation guidelines for fleet vehicles.
Legal Services Corporation Audit Guide provides guidance to auditors and recipients of LSC grants.
Local Church Audit Guide prepared by the United Methodist Church provides guidance for church audits.
Michigan School Auditing Manual provides guidance on financial audits to school districts and their CPA's.
Performance Management Guide Excellent publication from the UC San Diego on managing employee performance. Auditors reviewing the human resource department for their organization can use this guide as a model for setting up an employee performance management system.
Performance Management System Audit Guide Australian Queensland Audit Office provides an audit approach, methodology, audit considerations, criteria and more.
Performance Measurement Guide Texas State Auditor's Office provides information about setting up a performance measurement system and detail on how agencies can establish adequate internal controls in measurement systems in order to assist them in reporting accurate information.
Practical Guide to Corruption Prevention Prepared by the Independent Commission Against Corruption is an excellent resource for developing a fraud and corruption program within organizations. Modules include risk assessment, ethics, cash handling, purchasing and more.
Pupil Accounting Manual from the Michigan Department of Education provides guidance on pupil membership requirements and count procedures.
Pupil Auditing Manual from the Michigan Department of Education provides guidance to ISD auditors on pupil auditing standards.
Risk Management Audit Guide Treasury Board of Canada provides review guidance for auditors including risk identification, compensation, volunteers and more.
Sampling and Surveying Handbook Air University provides guidelines for planning, organizing and conducting surveys. The site includes guidance on selecting a sample size with a corresponding free program available for download.
Security Policies provided by the SANS Institute include templates for computer usage guidelines, acceptable use statements, special access policy, incident handling and more.
Sick Leave Management Audit Guide Treasury Board of Canada provides guidance for reviews in this area. Sections include a model for sick leave management, planning and performing the audit, and more.
Social Security Death Index Freely accessible database of the Social Security Administration records of deceased individuals. Handy tool for audits of organization retirees.
Software Management Policy Manual State of Connecticut provides their policy statements, agency resposibilities, and software use policies. This excellent resource is a model for combating organizational software piracy.
Subrecipient Audit Guide The purpose of this manual is to implement the City of Philadelphia's audit requirements for organizations and their independent auditors in preparing for and performing audits of organizations that receive financial assistance awards from the City.
System Implementation Review Checklist from the University of Manitoba provides a comprehensive approach for a review of this area.
Training Function Audit Guide from the Treasury Board of Canada provides information for reviews in the staff training area.
U.S. Army Internal Review Audit Guides
- Audit Guide for Mass Transportation Fringe Benefit Program for Outside the National Capital Region (NCR), June 29, 2001 (EXPLANATION)
- Audit of MWR Utilization, Support and Accountability (USA) Funding Practice also in MS Word, and PDF formats
- Audit of Travel Card Delinquencies in MS Word and PDF formats
- Automated Information Systems, Year 2000, Audit Program also in MS Word and PDF formats
- Government Purchase Card Program, Audit Program also in MS Word and PDF formats
- Government Travel Charge Card Program, Audit Program also in MS Word and PDF formats
- Morale, Welfare & Recreation Activities also in MS Word and PDF formats
- Review of Telephone Costs and Services, in MS Word and PDF formats
U.S.D.A. Audit Guide for Audits of Child and Adult Care Food Program Institutions.
Users Guide for the Uniform Bank Performance Report Guide from the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council for an analytical tool created for bank supervisory, examination and management purposes.
Value for Money Audit Manual from the Office of the Auditor General of Canada provides standards, expected and common practices.
VassarStats Statistical Computation Web site provides a comprehensive collection of statistical calculators for many procedures along with examples of key concepts. There is also a table covering the platforms/browsers necessary to run some simulations.
Windows NT Security Guidelines from Trusted Systems Services provide guidelines for securely configuring the Windows NT operating system. The 110 page guidelines were the result of a 1-year project for the National Security Agency (NSA) Research Organization.
Worker's Compensation Fraud Manual The California Department of Insurance produced Fighting Worker's Compensation Fraud: A Training Series for the Industry. The manual is well organized and provides an overview of the problem, definition of terms, depositions, guidelines for subpoenaing records, premium fraud, legal obligations and more.
Internal Revenue Service Audit Technique Guides
Audit Techniques Guides (ATGs)
These Audit Techniques Guides (ATGs) help IRS examiners during audits by providing insight into issues and accounting methods unique to specific industries. While ATGs are designed to provide guidance for IRS employees, they’re also useful to small business owners and tax professionals who prepare returns.
ATGs explain industry-specific examination techniques and include common, as well as, unique industry issues, business practices and terminology. Guidance is also provided on the examination of income, interview techniques and evaluation of evidence. So they may be helpful for business and tax planning purposes. To find out more about how these guides may be helpful to you, watch this short video.
Audit Techniques Guides are available here in Adobe PDF, or as Web pages, or both. The PDF versions must be viewed with the Acrobat Reader.
NOTE: These guides are current through the publication date. Since changes may have occurred after the publication date that would affect the accuracy of these documents, no guarantees are made concerning the technical accuracy after the publication date.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Aerospace Industry
Publication Date: 01/2005
The Service has prepared a comprehensive audit techniques guide to assist examiners in evaluating research credit in the aerospace industry. The guide focuses on the particular unique aspects of the industry and provides examiners tools and tests to utilize in evaluating and auditing research credit.
Air Transportation
(PDF - 1.85MB)
Publication Date: 04/2008
Overview of excise tax paid for transportation of persons or property by air.
Architects and Landscape Architects
(PDF - 378.27KB)
Publication Date: 08/2011
This audit technique guide (ATG) has been developed to provide guidance to taxpayers as well as to revenue agents and tax compliance officers conducting examinations in the architect and landscape architect service industries.
Art Galleries - Audit Technique Guide
(PDF - 461KB)
Publication Date: 01/2012
This Audit Technique Guide (ATG) has been developed to provide guidance to taxpayers as well as to revenue agents and tax compliance officers conducting examinations of Art Galleries.
Attorneys Audit Technique Guide
(PDF - 525.34KB)
Publication Date: 03/2011
The Attorneys Audit Techniques Guide is intended to provide guidance to the examiner who is auditing a taxpayer who is an attorney or an attorney firm and to provide tax related guidance to taxpayers and other professionals in this industry.
Business Consultants
(PDF - 700KB)
Publication Date: 07/2011
The Business Consultants ATG now includes an income section that addresses the shifting or the assignment of income issue and the substance versus form issue an examiner may encounter when conducting an examination.
Capitalization v Repairs
Publication Date: 11/2010
The ATG provides techniques for reviewing and examining capitalization v repairs issues.
Cash Intensive Businesses
Publication Date: 04/2010
Businesses that have substantial cash transactions are included in the consolidated Cash Intensive Businesses Audit Techniques Guide. Some of these businesses include bail bonds, beauty shops,car washes, check cashing establishments, coin operated amusements, laundromats, scrap metal, some convenience stores and Taxicabs. Guidance is also provided on examination of income, interview techniques, and evaluation of evidence.
Child Care Provider
(PDF - 220KB)
Publication Date: 3/30/2009
This Audit Techniques Guide will provide information on tax related issues pertaining to the child care providers industry. It provides guidance on accounting for income and deductions. Intended audiences are taxpayers, tax professionals and IRS examiners.