Testing Internal Controls
IRS IRC § 42 Audit Technique Guide — Part I (Introduction and Pre-Contact Analysis) · 2026 edition · updated 2026-07-29 · United States
The taxpayer's internal controls should be tested by "walking through" representative transactions, including physical observation when transactions are recorded:
Select different types of transactions,
Look for consistency in recording similar or repetitive transactions, and
Identify points where existing internal controls could be compromised.
Get a plain-English answer with a citation back to this text.
Ask AI about this code▸ Contents — IRS IRC § 42 Audit Technique Guide — Part I (Introduction and Pre-Contact Analysis)
- IRC §42, Low-Income Housing Credit - Part I Introduction and P…
- Chapter 1 Introduction
- Topics
- Overview of the IRC §42 Program
- Types of Housing
- Combining with Other Tax Credits
- Computation of Allowable Annual Credit
- Eligible Basis
- Applicable Fraction
- Qualified Basis
- Applicable Percentage
- Compliance Requirements
- Credit Disallowance and Recapture
- State Housing Agency Responsibilities
- Qualified Allocation Plan (QAP)
- Allocating Credits
- Compliance Monitoring
- Reporting Noncompliance to the IRS
- Annual Report to the IRS
- IRS Responsibilities: Chief Counsel
- IRS Responsibilities: LIHC Compliance Unit
- Form 8610, with Form 8609 and Schedule A (Form 8610)
- Form 8823
- Form 8821
- IRS Responsibilities: Audits
- Summary
- Chapter 2 Pre-contact Analysis
- Introduction
- Topics
- Form 8609, Low-Income Housing Credit Allocation and Certificat…
- Amount of Credit Allocated
- Eligible Basis and Qualified Basis
- Applicable Percentage
- Type of Allocation
- Tax-Exempt Bonds
- Nonprofit Set-Aside
- Credit Period: BINs, Dates, and Elections
- Multi-Building Projects
- Minimum Set-Aside
- Property Address
- Form 8823, Low-Income Housing Credit Agencies Report of Noncom…
- Reconciliation to Forms 8609
- Rental Units
- Period of Noncompliance
- Categories of Noncompliance
- Dispositions
- Form 8609-A, Annual Statement for Low-Income Housing Credit
- Part I, Compliance Information
- Part II, Computation of Credit
- Balance Sheet
- Land Values
- Buildings and Other Depreciable Assets
- Accounts Receivable and Payable
- Schedule K and Schedule K-1
- Ownership By Individuals
- Prior and Subsequent Year Returns
- Related Returns
- Partners: Consistent Treatment
- General Partner: Additional IRC §42 Projects
- Risk Analysis
- Example 1: Estimating Potential Tax
- Initial Information Document Request
- General Information about the Taxpayer
- Tax Returns
- Eligible Basis
- Qualifying Low- Income Households
- 1st and 11th Year of the Credit Period
- Additions to Qualified Basis
- Examination of Income: Rents & Other Sources of Income
- Noncompliance
- Dispositions
- IDR & Crosswalk to Issues
- Summary
- Exhibit 2-1 IDR & Crosswalk to Issues
- General Information about the Credit Allocation
- Eligible Basis
- Qualifying Low- Income Households
- 1st and 11th Year of the Credit Period
- Additions to Qualified Basis
- Rents & Other Sources of Income (Minimum Income Probes)
- Noncompliance
- Dispositions
- Chapter 3 Audit Techniques
- Introduction
- Topics
- Interviewing Taxpayers
- Background and Financial History
- Business Practices
- Internal Controls
- Compliance with IRC §42
- Physical Maintenance
- Tenant Qualifications
- Tenant Files
- Rents
- Cash Flows
- Community Service Facilities
- Forms 8823
- Prior and Subsequent Year Tax Returns
- Large, Unusual, or Questionable Items
- Related Parties or Returns
- Touring IRC §42 Projects
- Preparing for Tour of an IRC §42 Project
- Physical Characteristics to Observe When Touring IRC §42 Proje…
- Rents
- Income Qualifying New Tenants
- Mixed-Use Projects
- Community Service Facilities
- Analyzing Results
- Case File Documentation
- Evaluating Internal Controls
- Control Environment
- Accounting System
- Control Procedures
- Testing Internal Controls
- Establishing Scope and Depth of the Audit
- Third Party Contacts
- Contacting State Agencies
- Other Third Party Contacts
- Summary