EFFECTIVE TAX COMPLIANCE AUDIT
Ensuring Transparency, Accuracy, and Compliance with Tax Regulations
Course Schedule
| Date | Venue | Fees (Face-to-Face) |
|---|---|---|
| 24 – 28 Nov 2025 | London – UK | USD 3495 per delegate |
Course Introduction
Tax compliance is an increasingly critical component of corporate governance, with growing scrutiny from regulatory authorities across jurisdictions. An effective tax compliance audit ensures that organizations fulfill their tax obligations while minimizing risks of penalties, reputational damage, and operational disruptions.
This training provides professionals with a practical, end-to-end understanding of tax compliance audits, from planning and documentation to execution and reporting. Participants will gain tools to assess compliance with local and international tax laws, conduct risk assessments, and implement effective internal controls.
Course Objectives
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
• Understand the regulatory landscape for tax compliance at domestic and international levels
• Plan, conduct, and report on tax compliance audits effectively
• Identify tax risks and evaluate control frameworks
• Review documentation, returns, and accounting records for compliance
• Ensure alignment with OECD, FATCA, BEPS, and other global tax initiatives
Key Benefits of Attending
• Gain a structured approach to auditing corporate tax compliance
• Ensure readiness for external tax audits and regulatory inquiries
• Minimize financial exposure due to tax errors, omissions, or fraud
• Improve tax documentation, processes, and internal controls
• Understand how to align tax risk with enterprise risk management frameworks
Intended Audience
This program is designed for:
• Tax auditors and compliance officers
• Finance and accounting professionals responsible for tax reporting
• Internal auditors and risk managers
• Corporate controllers and legal advisors
• Anyone involved in managing or reviewing tax obligations
Individual Benefits
Key competencies that will be developed include:
• Tax compliance auditing methodology
• Risk-based audit planning and documentation review
• Ability to assess tax control frameworks and governance
• Knowledge of regulatory obligations and reporting requirements
• Skills to communicate audit findings and recommend improvements
Organization Benefits
Upon completing the training course, participants will demonstrate:
• Enhanced assurance over tax accuracy and regulatory compliance
• Reduced risk of penalties, interest, and reputational harm
• Improved documentation and audit readiness for tax authorities
• Strengthened tax governance and transparency practices
• Better alignment between finance, audit, and compliance functions
Instructional Methdology
The course follows a blended learning approach combining theory with practice:
• Strategy Briefings – Overview of tax audit frameworks, regulatory standards, and compliance trends
• Case Studies – Real-world examples of audit failures and best practices
• Workshops – Hands-on exercises in tax risk identification and audit planning
• Peer Exchange – Discussions on jurisdictional challenges and audit approaches
• Tools – Checklists, templates, and reporting formats for audit execution
Course Outline
Detailed 5-Day Course Outline
Training Hours: 7:30 AM – 3:30 PM
Daily Format: 3–4 Learning Modules | Coffee breaks: 09:30 & 11:15 | Lunch Buffet: 01:00 – 02:00
Day 1: Tax Compliance and Audit Foundations
Module 1: Tax Compliance Overview (07:30 – 09:30)
• Key tax types: income tax, VAT/GST, withholding, corporate taxes
• Compliance obligations and timelines
• Common risks and penalties
Module 2: Tax Audit Frameworks and Standards (09:45 – 11:15)
• Internal vs. external tax audits
• Auditing standards, OECD guidance, FATCA, BEPS compliance
• Tax control frameworks and governance
Module 3: Workshop – Identifying Tax Risks (11:30 – 01:00)
• Tax risk registers and risk prioritization tools
Module 4: Peer Exchange – Compliance Challenges in Practice (02:00 – 03:30)
• Group dialogue on national vs. cross-border tax audits
Day 2: Planning and Conducting a Tax Audit
Module 5: Risk-Based Audit Planning (07:30 – 09:30)
• Scoping audits and defining objectives
• Materiality thresholds and sample selection
• Engagement planning and stakeholder coordination
Module 6: Review of Tax Filings and Returns (09:45 – 11:15)
• Verifying filings, declarations, and submissions
• Tracing reported values to accounting records
Module 7: Workshop – Audit Program Design (11:30 – 01:00)
• Creating a structured audit plan for corporate taxes
Module 8: Case Study – Audit Planning Gone Wrong (02:00 – 03:30)
• Lessons learned from real-world oversights
Day 3: Tax Documentation and Substantiation
Module 9: Reviewing Source Documentation (07:30 – 09:30)
• Contracts, invoices, payment records, and GL entries
• Withholding and indirect tax evidence trails
Module 10: Intercompany and Transfer Pricing Documentation (09:45 – 11:15)
• Requirements for intra-group transactions
• Local file, master file, and benchmarking review
Module 11: Workshop – Substantiation Checklists (11:30 – 01:00)
• Applying documentation controls to case data
Module 12: Peer Discussion – Documentation Gaps (02:00 – 03:30)
• Group critique of sample audit trails
Day 4: Managing Findings and Reporting
Module 13: Identifying Non-Compliance and Red Flags (07:30 – 09:30)
• Red flags: misstatements, omissions, documentation weaknesses
• Tax fraud indicators and misclassification risks
Module 14: Reporting Audit Results (09:45 – 11:15)
• Preparing audit reports, risk ratings, and recommendations
• Communicating findings to senior management and tax authorities
Module 15: Workshop – Drafting a Tax Audit Report (11:30 – 01:00)
• Structure and tone of a compliance audit report
Module 16: Case Study – Handling a Disputed Finding (02:00 – 03:30)
• Escalation, response, and resolution strategies
Day 5: Controls, Remediation and Readiness
Module 17: Strengthening Tax Controls (07:30 – 09:30)
• Designing preventive and detective controls
• Integrating controls into ERP and compliance systems
Module 18: Preparing for External Audit or Tax Authority Reviews (09:45 – 11:15)
• Tax audit preparedness checklists
• Managing tax inquiries and audit defenses
Module 19: Final Project – Compliance Audit Simulation (11:30 – 01:00)
• Conduct and report on a simulated tax audit
Module 20: Wrap-Up, Feedback, and Certification (02:00 – 03:30)
• Course debrief and toolkit distribution
Certification
Participants will receive a Certificate of Completion in Effective Tax Compliance Audit, verifying their ability to plan, conduct, and report on tax compliance audits aligned with regulatory expectations and international standards.