It is extremely crucial for the auditor to carry out the process of the auditing in a successful manner. An Efficient and effective audit can only be occurred if it is properly planned as well as executed by the auditor. It is considered as one of the most vital responsibility of the auditor to carry out the work in an efficient and effective manner.

The key responsibility of the auditor is to develop the overall audit strategy with the minimum risk levels. The planning of the audit should be done keeping in mind that it should be in accordance with the International standards of Auditing for any organization. The auditor while planning the event should always remember that the planning should be in regard with the nature, time as well as the extent of work.

Main Objectives of Audit Planning:

The main objectives of audit planning are as follows:

• To identify and have an eye on all the different areas of the audit.
• The problems should be identified within the proper time frame.

Adequate and proper planning of the audit will only help the auditor to meet the above objectives otherwise the process carried out will not be as efficient and can involve various risk factors which are not useful in long term.

Dedicated team effort during the planning stage

The detailed audit work is carried out before the process of the audit executes and reaches its destination. At the preliminary stage, it is extremely important to allot each staff member the proper task according to his ability so that he can perform during the process with maximum efficiency. The staff members in the audits are highly efficient and competent in terms of speed, accuracy and perfectness and do the desired work allotted to them with full effort. It is also important to take a necessary decision on the co-ordination of the work so that the process completes within the proper limits.

Right approach while carrying out the process

Most of the audit firms carry out the process of the audit with the right approach and proper documentation and adopt the strategy with the aim of completing and executing it in an efficient manner.  An Audit plan should be structured in such a way that one should carry out the process of auditing without any failures and should have a clear pint of view after the process of audit gets completed. In formulating a documented plan following things should be considered:

• There should be adequate knowledge of the organization or the business.
• One should be aware of all the factors associated with the involvement of risks.
• It is important to consider the timing, nature and the extent of the audit procedure.
• Co-ordination and proper supervision plays a very important role in the process.

Therefore, Good Audit Planning is a key factor involved in the execution of the process of the audit in an efficient and successful manner.

Adequate records have to be kept by individuals, partnerships, corporations, organizations and trusts, as identified below:

persons carrying on a business or engaged in commercial activity;
persons required to pay or collect taxes or other amounts such as payroll deductions and goods and services tax/harmonized sales tax (GST/HST) under the Income Tax Act, the Excise Tax Act, the Excise Act 2001, the Employment Insurance Act, the Canada Pension Plan, the Air Travellers Security Charge Act and the Softwood Lumber Products Export Charge Act, 2006 (SLPECA);
persons required to file an income tax or GST/HST return;
persons who apply for GST/HST rebates or refunds;
payroll service providers;
trusts;
non-profit organizations;
a registered agent of a registered political party;
an official agent for a candidate in a federal election;
agents authorized under the Senate Appointment Consultation Act;
universities;
colleges;
municipal corporations;
hospitals;
school authorities; and
qualified donees such as:
a registered charity;
a registered Canadian amateur athletic association;
a housing corporation resident in Canada and exempt from tax under Part 1 of the ITA because of paragraph 149(1)(i) that has applied;
a municipality in Canada;
a municipal or public body performing a function of government in Canada that has applied;
a university outside Canada that is prescribed to be a university the student body of which ordinarily includes students from Canada; or
a charitable organization outside Canada to which Her Majesty in right of Canada has made a gift.

You (the pensioner) may be able to jointly elect with your spouse or common-law partner (the pension transferee) to split your eligible pension income if you meet all of the requirements.

Eligible pension income

What is Eligible pension income?

Eligible pension income is generally the total of the following amounts received by the pensioner in the year (these amounts also qualify for the pension income amount):

• the taxable part of life annuity payments from a superannuation or pension fund or plan; and
• if they are received as a result of the death of a spouse or common-law partner, or if the pensioner is 65 years of age or older at the end of the year:
  • annuity and registered retirement income fund (including life income fund) payments; and
  • Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) annuity payments.

Pension income that is not eligible

The following amounts received by the pensioner are not eligible for pension income splitting:

• Old Age Security payments;
• Canada Pension Plan, Quebec Pension Plan; and
• Amounts received under a retirement compensation arrangement.

Note
Variable pension benefits paid from a money purchase provision of a Registered Pension Plan are not considered life annuity payments and do not qualify unless the pensioner is age 65 or older at the end of the year or the variable benefits are received as a result of the death of a spouse or common-law partner.