Examination of Vouchers | Guidelines for Auditor

Guidelines for Auditors in examination of vouchers

While vouching the transactions, the auditor should first of all examine the various vouchers keeping the following points in mind:

1. Made in the Name of the Employer: The auditor should see whether the voucher is made in the name of the employer of the concern.

2. Printed Form: He should see whether the voucher is on a printed form.

3. Serial Number: He should see whether all vouchers are consecutively numbered and filed in order of the entries in the various books.

4. Date, Name, Amount, etc.: The auditor should check date, name of the party to whom the voucher is issued, the name of the party issuing the voucher, and the amounts, etc.

5. Cancelled by Stamp: The vouchers, which are inspected by the auditor, should be cancelled by a stamp so that it cannot be produced again.

6. Related to the Firm: The auditor should also see that all the vouchers are related with the business or not and see whether the payments made by the concern relate to the business or not. The auditor should pay special attention to those vouchers, which are in the personal name of one of the partners, directors, manager or officers of the company.

7. Special Mark in case of Detailed Checking: In case of vouchers, which require detailed checking, the auditor should put special mark on them. He should check such vouchers carefully.

8. Passing of Vouchers: The auditor should see that a responsible senior officer of the concern passes every voucher correctly and the rubber stamps are affixed. He should also see whether the responsible official signs them.

9. Stamped: If the amount of voucher exceeds Rs.500 it must be stamped. The auditor should note whether the vouchers are stamped too.

10. Not to take the Help of the Employees: The auditor should not take the help of the employees of the concern while checking the vouchers.

11. Type of Account: The auditor should see whether the payment is made to a capital account or revenue account.

12. Related to the Year under Audit: The auditor should see that the vouchers are related to the year for which the auditing is going on.

13. Amount in Words and Figures: The auditor should also see that the figures and words of the amount in the vouchers are the same.

14. Points Regarding Further Verification: If any transaction requires further verification of any other evidence such as Memorandum of Association, Articles of Association, Prospectus, Partnership Deed, etc. they shall be noted.

15. Not to Accept Invoice as a Voucher: The invoice should not be accepted as voucher because there are a lot of chances of double payment i.e., once in the form of credit purchase and second time in the form of cash purchase.

16. Not to Accept the Mutilated Vouchers as such: In case if any voucher is mutilated or the amount therein is cut then the auditor should not accept such vouchers as such. They should be made signed by any senior responsible officer of the concern before they are accepted.

17. Pad Paper is not Voucher: Pad papers should not be accepted as vouchers because in such case chances of fraud are more.

18. Time of Payment: The vouchers for insurances, rates, and taxes, etc. should be checked by the auditor with reference to the period for which the payment has been made. In case of payments in advance, the auditor should see whether correct adjustments have been made.