CORAA
Resources · Tax audit season 2026

Run the tax-audit file control centre.

A living checklist for the engagement team: accept, request, test, reconcile, transition and close. Tick the control here, then open the working paper behind it.

File progress
0% complete
0 / 20 controls
01 · workstream

Engagement gate

Accept the right work before the file gets busy.

Confirm tax-audit applicability, form wrapper and specified date
Owner · Partner
Open ↗
Check ICAI per-partner tax-audit capacity
Owner · Partner
Open ↗
Issue engagement letter and client responsibility note
Owner · Manager
Open ↗
02 · workstream

Client data request

Ask for the files that make the test possible.

Trial balance, general ledger and chart of accounts
Owner · Client
Bank, GST, TDS/TCS and statutory-dues reconciliations
Owner · Client
Fixed-asset register, inventory and stock-count evidence
Owner · Client
Related parties, loans, guarantees and specified-person schedule
Owner · Client
03 · workstream

Core tax tests

Turn the population into exceptions, not paragraphs.

TDS disallowance and Form 3CD Clause 21 review
Owner · Tax team
Open ↗
TDS/TCS deduction, deposit and reporting — Clause 34
Owner · Tax team
Open ↗
GST expense breakup and Clause 44 reconciliation
Owner · GST team
Open ↗
MSME 43B(h) supplier classification and payment-age test
Owner · Tax team
Open ↗
Cash receipts, payments, loans and deposits
Owner · Tax team
Open ↗
04 · workstream

Transition-year checks

Keep old and new Act references together.

Map old TDS sections and forms to the 2025 Act
Owner · Tax team
Open ↗
Complete books / challan / return / 26AS control totals
Owner · Tax team
Open ↗
Complete books / GSTR-2B / GSTR-3B control totals
Owner · GST team
Open ↗
Tag open proceedings under the Section 536 savings rule
Owner · Partner
Open ↗
05 · workstream

Partner close

No open exception disappears at sign-off.

Review open-items register and unresolved tax value
Owner · Partner
Obtain management representation and explanations
Owner · Partner
Complete independent review / EQCR route where applicable
Owner · Reviewer
Tie final working papers to the e-filing acknowledgement
Owner · Manager

Export the team view.

The browser checklist is for the morning stand-up. Export the current status when the file needs a manager or partner review, then retain the detailed evidence behind each completed control.

Use AI where the file repeats.

Use the TDS checker and GST checker to triage populations, then use the audit prompt library for anonymised classification and exception drafting. The partner still owns the conclusion.