| Question: |
If there are 10 partners in a firm of Chartered Accountants, then how many tax audits reports can each partner sign in a financial year?
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| Answer: |
As per Chapter VI of Council General Guidelines, 2008 (Tax Audit Assignments under Section 44AB of the Income Tax Act, 1961), a member of the Institute in practice shall not accept, in a financial year, more than the specified number of tax audit assignments as prescribed under Section 44AB of the Income Tax Act, 1961. The specified number of tax audit assignments under Section 44AB of the Income Tax Act, 1961 is 45.
It is further provided in Chapter VI of Council General Guidelines, 2008 that in case of firm of Chartered Accountants in practice, specified number of tax audit assignments means 45 tax audit assignments per partner of the firm, in a financial year.
Therefore, if there are 10 partners in a firm of Chartered Accountants in practice, then all the partners of the firm can collectively sign 450 tax audit reports. This maximum limit of 450 tax audit assignments may be distributed between the partners in any manner whatsoever. For instance, 1 partner can individually sign 450 tax audit reports in case remaining 9 partners are not signing any tax audit report.
It is needless to say that the tax audit assignment should be in accordance with the Standard on Quality Control (SQC) 1: Quality Control for Firms that Perform Audits and Reviews of Historical Financial Information, and Other Assurance and Related Services Engagements.
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Note:-The Council at its 331st meeting held from 10th to 12th February, 2014 decided to increase the "specified number of tax audit assignments" for practicing Chartered Accountants, as an individual or as a partner in a firm, from 45 to 60. The said limit will be effective for the audits conducted during the financial year 2014-15 and onwards.
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