Definition
A tick mark is a small symbol, letter or colored mark written next to an amount or a line in a working paper. Each symbol stands for one specific procedure, for example "agreed to bank statement", "traced to the general ledger" or "recomputed without exception". A legend on the paper or in the file defines every mark used.
Why it matters in an audit or review
Documentation must let an experienced auditor with no prior connection to the engagement see what was done, who did it and what was concluded. Tick marks make that visible at a glance. A figure with no mark invites the question of whether it was tested at all.
Example
On an accounts payable lead schedule, a preparer marks 25 vendor balances with a tick for "agreed to vendor statement" and a different tick for "agreed to subsequent payment". Illustrative: three items carry a note explaining a $1,200 timing difference.
Common mistakes
- Using a mark with no legend, or two meanings for one symbol.
- Ticking a total as "footed" without actually recomputing it.
- Applying a tick to a balance where only part of the support was examined.
FAQ
Are tick marks required by auditing standards?
No standard requires specific symbols. AU-C 230 requires documentation of procedures performed and evidence obtained, and tick marks are a common way to meet that.
Sources
- AICPA, AU-C Section 230, Audit Documentation
Definitions paraphrase AICPA and FASB guidance; read the standard itself before relying on a requirement. Example figures are illustrative. This page is guidance, not professional advice. Report an error