Management Letter: Improvements Needed in IRS' Accounting Procedures and Internal Controls
GAO-01-880R
Published: Jul 30, 2001. Publicly Released: Jul 30, 2001.
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Highlights
In March 2001, GAO issued a report (GAO-01-394) on the results of its audit of the Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) financial statements and on the effectiveness of its internal controls for fiscal year 2000. This report reviews additional matters identified during GAO's fiscal year 2000 audit regarding accounting procedures and internal controls that could be improved. GAO found that IRS had immaterial internal control issues that affected reporting. IRS (1) was unable to determine if its costs for reimbursable activities were accurate and whether it was recouping the costs of the goods or services it provided, (2) lacked procedures to properly record its working capital fund prepaid expenses, (3) accepted information from its contractors for inclusion in its year-end financial reporting without sufficient oversight or review, and (4) did not always follow standard procedures with respect to the transfer of funds between appropriations.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Internal Revenue Service | To allow the proper reporting of the cost of reimbursable activity, the Commissioner of Internal Revenue Service should ensure that IRS personnel develop a mechanism to track and report the actual costs associated with reimbursable activities. |
Closed – Implemented
Closed. GAO confirmed that IRS revised its Internal Revenue Manual (IRM) to address this recommendation in February 2011. The IRM now includes guidance for tracking and reporting the actual costs associated with reimbursable activities. It further clarifies the processing steps for agreements requiring advance payments to ensure such payments are properly adjusted to actual costs incurred at the end of the agreement term.
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| Internal Revenue Service | To provide for more accurate records and better management of reimbursable activity, the Commissioner of Internal Revenue Service should ensure that IRS personnel establish procedures to periodically reconcile the subsidiary records to the control account for reimbursable receivables to ensure that the balance is adequately supported. |
Closed – Implemented
IRS addressed this recommendation by implementing procedures in fiscal year 2002, to monthly reconcile its subsidiary records to the control account for reimbursable receivables.
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| Internal Revenue Service | To provide for more accurate records and better management of reimbursable activity, the Commissioner of Internal Revenue Service should ensure that IRS personnel routinely age and review currently open reimbursable receivable accounts to identify accounts that are no longer valid or collectible. |
Closed – Implemented
IRS addressed this recommendation by initiating action in fiscal year 2001, to regularly age and review its reimbursable receivable accounts. GAO verified the effectiveness of these procedures during fiscal year 2002.
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| Internal Revenue Service | The IRS should develop and implement procedures to require that prepayments be recorded as assets routinely at the time the cost is incurred in accordance with generally acceptable accounting procedures. Services that are provided to IRS that will benefit IRS for more than one year should be established as prepaid expenses and amortized over the period of the benefit. |
Closed – Implemented
IRS charged depreciation expenses and not the full cost of the assets acquired under the Working Capital Fund (WCF). IRS no longer capitalizes WCF assets on its balance sheet. This change effectively addresses the underlying issue that gave rise to GAO's recommendation. GAO concurs with IRS's accounting treatment for this transaction.
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| Internal Revenue Service | The Commissioner of Internal Revenue Service should ensure that IRS personnel maintain effective oversight of the completeness and accuracy of contractor-generated information. |
Closed – Implemented
During its audit of IRS' fiscal year 2002 financial statements, GAO found that IRS personnel had effectively reviewed contractor-generated data. As a result, IRS improved the accuracy and reliability of contractor-generated data and reported more reliable information on its fiscal year 2002 financial statements.
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| Internal Revenue Service | The Commissioner of Internal Revenue Service should direct IRS management to ensure that it complies with Treasury regulations requiring that all transfers of funds between appropriations be properly approved and documented prior to recording them in the financial records. |
Closed – Implemented
Based on GAO's audit work for fiscal years 2001 and 2002, all transfers of funds between appropriations have been properly approved and documented prior to being recorded in the financial records.
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Topics
Accounting proceduresAccounting standardsFinancial management systemsFinancial recordsFinancial statement auditsInternal controlsReporting requirementsData errorsFinancial statementsFinancial reporting