In contrast to a self-employed business that is run by the business owner or vendor, a company is managed by people whom the company hires or collaborates with. For such entities, the different types of audits are crucial because they offer a set of legitimacy, credibility, and financial overview to shareholders.

Audits can look into company policies, teams and workforce, methods, function and taxation, and finances by auditors specially qualified for the job.

Many company owners are not aware of the audits that they must conduct for the welfare of the organization. That is why it is good to collaborate with a company audit firm beforehand and stay on top of the priorities. Below is a list of the major audits that a company must know about.

What is an Audit for Companies?

In India, auditing is generally thought to be the system of objectively examining accounts and company operations as a part of government rules. But many new audits have been introduced, like IT audits, environmental audits, and social audits, that make sense. It is okay to get confused.

The different types of audit reports provide much-needed evidence and assurance that the company’s accounts and operations are accurate and fair. The internal systems and controls of a corporation may also benefit from the transparency of operations.

Some audits help companies and authorities find inefficiencies and offer suggestions for improvement, while others are carried out to look for non-compliance or misconduct. Depending on the type of audit, these businesses might disclose the audit results to the company’s owners or governmental organizations.

Types of Audits for Businesses

A leading CA firm in Kolkata explains how audits are conducted either internally by a company’s people or externally by statutory means through an independent auditor. 

External or statutory audits are conducted by third-party personnel that may belong to independent certified public accountant (CPA) firms, the Indian Revenue Services (IRS), etc. Sometimes the company selects the auditor, while sometimes regulatory bodies assign auditors.

Internal audits concentrate on internal areas of the company like business operations, either to enhance business procedures, manage risks or maintain government compliance. These audits are not available to the public and are typically conducted by the company’s staff or audit committees, though occasionally they can be done by auditors who have had specialized training.

●      Company Audit

As per the Companies Act 2013, every company registered in India needs to have its book of accounts audited each fiscal year. It is a type of statutory audit that has the objective of reporting the state of an Indian company’s finances and accounts to the regulatory authorities.

Using professional tax audit services ensures that your business complies with all legislation and requirements. According to the Company Auditor’s Report Order (CARO), 2016, the auditor is required to draft the audit report. An auditor is required by CARO to submit all relevant information about the company, including inventories, internal controls, assets, internal audit standards, statutory dues, and other financial information.

●      Tax Audit

Section 44B of the Income Tax Act, 1961 of India mandates tax audits. Every company with a revenue of over Rs. 10 lacs and every person in a profession with more than Rs. 5 lacs in annual gross income should have their financial records audited by a qualified independent chartered accountant. Everyone, whether an individual, corporate organization, partnership firm or other entity, is subject to the provision of tax audits. If tax audit regulations are not followed, there could be a penalty of 0.5% of turnover or Rs. 100,000, whichever is higher. There are currently no formal rules governing the hiring of a tax auditor.

• IFRS Audit

Financial audits are carried out in addition to tax audits to confirm additional areas of a company’s financial situation, such as records of expenses, income, revenue, assets, and investments. They gather all the data, keep track of it, and provide an audit report for the interested parties. The established global standard for accounting reporting is now known as International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). Nearly every aspect of an enterprise’s business is impacted by the transition to IFRS, including the organization’s structure, legal agreements, corporate obligations, and executive compensation. CA firm in Kolkata

The Benefits of Hiring a Chartered Accountant for Company Audits

Company owners are often quite adept at handling their tax issues and books on their own. It is not a corporate legal obligation to hire a chartered accountant, but whether you have a small company or your enterprise is rapidly growing, aligning with a professional chartered accountant right from the beginning is most beneficial in terms of time and cost management. CA firm in Kolkata

The same CA firm in Kolkata points out that CA firms offer different conveniences for different companies’ statuses. While small businesses can get a headstart on the crucial and confusing Growing businesses can have organized and hassle-free progress with the chartered accountant’s prompting with the new guidelines and compliance imposed by the government or any other legal obligations.