What preparatory measures are important to carry out in advance in order to minimize the risk of adverse consequences when conducting a tax audit by an organization?
To reduce the likelihood of negative consequences during a tax audit, it is recommended to carry out a number of preparatory measures in advance:
1. Internal audit of financial statements:
- Ensure that source documents and reports are completed correctly.
- Make sure that all transactions are reflected correctly, accounting and tax rules are observed.
- Pay special attention to the correct execution of contracts, certificates of work performed, invoices and primary accounting documents.
2. Analysis of existing risks and vulnerabilities:
- Assess your tax system's compliance with applicable law.
- Identify potential problems and inconsistencies with the Tax Code of the Russian Federation, especially if tax optimization schemes have been applied.
- Analyze possible complaints from the inspection (for example, understatement of the tax base, incorrect application of deductions).
3. Involvement of professional consultants:
- Tax specialists and auditors will help identify weaknesses in accounting and suggest the best ways to correct errors.
- Advice from lawyers will help prepare the organization's position in the event of claims from the tax inspectorate.
4. Creation of archive and storage of documents:
- Make sure all documentation is properly stored, easily accessible, and structured.
- Take regular inventory of documents to avoid loss of important papers.
5. Informing employees about the upcoming audit:
- Familiarize the staff with the rules of conduct when interacting with representatives of the tax office.
- Explain the importance of confidentiality and the inadmissibility of providing false information.
6. Management preparedness:
- Managers of the enterprise must have complete information about their financial activities and respond in a timely manner to requests from inspectors.
- Develop a strategy of interaction with the inspection bodies in advance, identifying the responsible person who will represent the organization.
Following these recommendations will significantly increase the chances of successfully passing the tax audit and avoid significant financial losses.