Technical Notes and Manuals

Revenue Administration: Taxpayer Audit--Use of Indirect Methods

April 14, 2010

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Revenue Administration: Taxpayer Audit--Use of Indirect Methods, (USA: International Monetary Fund, 2010) accessed November 8, 2024

Disclaimer: This Technical Guidance Note should not be reported as representing the views of the IMF. The views expressed in this Note are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMF, its Executive Board, or IMF management.

Summary

This technical note examines the use of indirect methods in a taxpayer audit. Indirect methods involve the determination of tax liabilities through an analysis of a taxpayer’s financial affairs utilizing information from a range of sources beyond the taxpayer’s declaration and formal books and records. Assessments are often based on circumstantial evidence indicating a reasonable estimate of the taxpayer’s correct liability. This note describes why tax administrations need to use indirect audit methods. Indirect audit methods commonly used by tax administrations are elaborated. The legislative requirements for the use of indirect audit methods are also analyzed.

Subject: Administration in revenue administration, Auditing, Expenditure, National accounts, Personal income, Public financial management (PFM), Revenue administration, Tax administration core functions

Keywords: Administration, Administration in revenue administration, Answers to question, Audit program, Auditing, Auditor, Cash expenditure method, Customs declaration, Declaration of income, Indirect audit methods, Indirect method, Indirect methods, Method, Method assessment, Personal income, Receipt, Risk taxpayer, Tax administration core functions, Tax audit methods, Taxable income, Taxpayer audit, Taxpayer audit--use, Taxpayer challenge, Taxpayer claim, Taxpayer's book, Taxpayers figure, TNM

Publication Details

  • Pages:

    13

  • Volume:

    ---

  • DOI:

    ---

  • Issue:

    ---

  • Series:

    Technical Notes and Manuals No. 2010/005

  • Stock No:

    TNMEA2010005

  • ISBN:

    9781455238101

  • ISSN:

    2075-8669