ISA 501

Issued March 2009;

updated June 2018

International Standard on Auditing™

Audit Evidence—Specific
Considerations for Selected
Items
 INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ON AUDITING 501
AUDIT EVIDENCE—SPECIFIC CONSIDERATIONS FOR SELECTED ITEMS
The Malaysian Institute of Accountants has approved this standard in June 2018 for publication.
This standard should be read in conjunction with the Preface to the Malaysian Quality Control,
Auditing, Review, Other Assurance and Related Services Pronouncements; and the Malaysian
Approved Preface to the International Quality Control, Auditing, Review, Other Assurance, and
Related Services Pronouncements; Glossary of Terms; and International Framework for
Assurance Engagements.
The status of International Standards on Auditing is set out in the Preface to the Malaysian
Quality Control, Auditing, Review, Other Assurance and Related Services Pronouncements.

Applicability
International Standards on Auditing are to be applied in the audit of historical financial
information.

Changes of substance from March 2009

Changes made as appropriate, for cross-referencing and other changes as necessary.

Effective Date in Malaysia

This ISA is effective for audits of financial statements for periods
beginning on or after 1 January 2010.

Copyright © December 2016 by the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC). All rights
reserved. Used with permission of IFAC. Contact Permissions@ifac.org for permission to
reproduce, store or transmit, or to make other similar uses of this document.

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 INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ON AUDITING 501
AUDIT EVIDENCE—SPECIFIC CONSIDERATIONS
FOR SELECTED ITEMS
(Effective for audits of financial statements for periods
beginning on or after January 1, 2010)

CONTENTS
Paragraph
Introduction
Scope of this ISA ............................................................................................................. 1
Effective Date .................................................................................................................. 2
Objective ........................................................................................................................ 3
Requirements
Inventory .......................................................................................................................... 48
Litigation and Claims ....................................................................................................... 912
Segment Information ....................................................................................................... 13
Application and Other Explanatory Material
Inventory .......................................................................................................................... A1A16
Litigation and Claims ....................................................................................................... A17A25
Segment Information ....................................................................................................... A26A27

International Standard on Auditing (ISA) 501, Audit Evidence—Specific Considerations for Selected
Items, should be read in conjunction with ISA 200, Overall Objectives of the Independent Auditor and
the Conduct of an Audit in Accordance with International Standards on Auditing.

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 AUDIT EVIDENCE—SPECIFIC CONSIDERATIONS
FOR SELECTED ITEMS

Introduction
Scope of this ISA
1. This International Standard on Auditing (ISA) deals with specific considerations by the auditor in
obtaining sufficient appropriate audit evidence in accordance with ISA 330, 1 ISA 5002 and other
relevant ISAs, with respect to certain aspects of inventory, litigation and claims involving the
entity, and segment information in an audit of financial statements.

Effective Date
2. This ISA is effective for audits of financial statements for periods beginning on or after January 1,
2010.

Objective
3. The objective of the auditor is to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence regarding the:
(a) Existence and condition of inventory;
(b) Completeness of litigation and claims involving the entity; and
(c) Presentation and disclosure of segment information in accordance with the applicable
financial reporting framework.

Requirements
Inventory
4. If inventory is material to the financial statements, the auditor shall obtain sufficient appropriate audit
evidence regarding the existence and condition of inventory by:
(a) Attendance at physical inventory counting, unless impracticable, to: (Ref: Para. A1–A3)
(i) Evaluate management’s instructions and procedures for recording and controlling the
results of the entity’s physical inventory counting; (Ref: Para. A4)
(ii) Observe the performance of management’s count procedures; (Ref: Para. A5)
(iii) Inspect the inventory; and (Ref: Para. A6)
(iv) Perform test counts; and (Ref: Para. A7–A8)

(b) Performing audit procedures over the entity’s final inventory records to determine whether
they accurately reflect actual inventory count results.
5. If physical inventory counting is conducted at a date other than the date of the financial
statements, the auditor shall, in addition to the procedures required by paragraph 4, perform audit
procedures to obtain audit evidence about whether changes in inventory between the count date
and the date of the financial statements are properly recorded. (Ref: Para. A9–A11)
6. If the auditor is unable to attend physical inventory counting due to unforeseen circumstances,
the auditor shall make or observe some physical counts on an alternative date, and perform audit
procedures on intervening transactions.
7. If attendance at physical inventory counting is impracticable, the auditor shall perform alternative audit
procedures to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence regarding the existence and condition of
inventory. If it is not possible to do so, the auditor shall modify the opinion in the auditor’s report in
accordance with ISA 705 (Revised).3 (Ref: Para. A12–A14)
8. If inventory under the custody and control of a third party is material to the financial statements, the
auditor shall obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence regarding the existence and condition of that
inventory by performing one or both of the following:

1
ISA 330, The Auditor’s Responses to Assessed Risks
2
ISA 500, Audit Evidence
3
ISA 705 (Revised), Modifications to the Opinion in the Independent Auditor’s Report

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 AUDIT EVIDENCE—SPECIFIC CONSIDERATIONS
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(a) Request confirmation from the third party as to the quantities and condition of inventory held on
behalf of the entity. (Ref: Para. A15)
(b) Perform inspection or other audit procedures appropriate in the circumstances. (Ref: Para.
A16)

Litigation and Claims

9. The auditor shall design and perform audit procedures in order to identify litigation and claims
involving the entity which may give rise to a risk of material misstatement, including: (Ref: Para. A17–
A19)
(a) Inquiry of management and, where applicable, others within the entity, including in-house
legal counsel;
(b) Reviewing minutes of meetings of those charged with governance and correspondence
between the entity and its external legal counsel; and
(c) Reviewing legal expense accounts. (Ref: Para. A20)
10. If the auditor assesses a risk of material misstatement regarding litigation or claims that have been
identified, or when audit procedures performed indicate that other material litigation or claims may
exist, the auditor shall, in addition to the procedures required by other ISAs, seek direct
communication with the entity’s external legal counsel. The auditor shall do so through a letter of
inquiry, prepared by management and sent by the auditor, requesting the entity’s external legal
counsel to communicate directly with the auditor. If law, regulation or the respective legal professional
body prohibits the entity’s external legal counsel from communicating directly with the auditor, the
auditor shall perform alternative audit procedures. (Ref: Para. A21–A25)
11. If:
(a) management refuses to give the auditor permission to communicate or meet with the entity’s
external legal counsel, or the entity’s external legal counsel refuses to respond appropriately to
the letter of inquiry, or is prohibited from responding; and
(b) the auditor is unable to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence by performing
alternative audit procedures,
the auditor shall modify the opinion in the auditor’s report in accordance with ISA 705 (Revised).

Written Representations
12. The auditor shall request management and, where appropriate, those charged with governance
to provide written representations that all known actual or possible litigation and claims whose
effects should be considered when preparing the financial statements have been disclosed to the
auditor and accounted for and disclosed in accordance with the applicable financial reporting
framework.

Segment Information
13. The auditor shall obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence regarding the presentation and
disclosure of segment information in accordance with the applicable financial reporting framework
by: (Ref: Para. A26)
(a) Obtaining an understanding of the methods used by management in determining segment
information, and: (Ref: Para. A27)
(i) Evaluating whether such methods are likely to result in disclosure in accordance with
the applicable financial reporting framework; and
(ii) Where appropriate, testing the application of such methods; and
(b) Performing analytical procedures or other audit procedures appropriate in the circumstances.

***

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Application and Other Explanatory Material

Inventory
Attendance at Physical Inventory Counting (Ref: Para. 4(a))
A1. Management ordinarily establishes procedures under which inventory is physically counted at least
once a year to serve as a basis for the preparation of the financial statements and, if applicable, to
ascertain the reliability of the entity’s perpetual inventory system.
A2. Attendance at physical inventory counting involves:
 Inspecting the inventory to ascertain its existence and evaluate its condition, and performing
test counts;
 Observing compliance with management’s instructions and the performance of procedures for
recording and controlling the results of the physical inventory count; and
 Obtaining audit evidence as to the reliability of management’s count procedures.
These procedures may serve as test of controls or substantive procedures depending on the
auditor’s risk assessment, planned approach and the specific procedures carried out.
A3. Matters relevant in planning attendance at physical inventory counting (or in designing and
performing audit procedures pursuant to paragraphs 4–8 of this ISA) include, for example:
 The risks of material misstatement related to inventory.
 The nature of the internal control related to inventory.
 Whether adequate procedures are expected to be established and proper instructions
issued for physical inventory counting.
 The timing of physical inventory counting.
 Whether the entity maintains a perpetual inventory system.
 The locations at which inventory is held, including the materiality of the inventory and the
risks of material misstatement at different locations, in deciding at which locations
attendance is appropriate. ISA 6004 deals with the involvement of other auditors and
accordingly may be relevant if such involvement is with regard to attendance of physical
inventory counting at a remote location.
 Whether the assistance of an auditor’s expert is needed. ISA 6205 deals with the use of an
auditor’s expert to assist the auditor to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence.

Evaluate Management’s Instructions and Procedures (Ref: Para. 4(a)(i))

A4. Matters relevant in evaluating management’s instructions and procedures for recording and
controlling the physical inventory counting include whether they address, for example:
 The application of appropriate control activities, for example, collection of used physical
inventory count records, accounting for unused physical inventory count records, and count
and re-count procedures.
 The accurate identification of the stage of completion of work in progress, of slow moving,
obsolete or damaged items and of inventory owned by a third party, for example, on
consignment.
 The procedures used to estimate physical quantities, where applicable, such as may be
needed in estimating the physical quantity of a coal pile.
 Control over the movement of inventory between areas and the shipping and receipt of
inventory before and after the cutoff date.

4
ISA 600, Special Considerations—Audits of Group Financial Statements (Including the Work of Component Auditors)
5
ISA 620, Using the Work of an Auditor’s Expert

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Observe the Performance of Management’s Count Procedures (Ref: Para. 4(a)(ii))

A5. Observing the performance of management’s count procedures, for example, those relating to
control over the movement of inventory before, during and after the count, assists the auditor in
obtaining audit evidence that management’s instructions and count procedures are adequately
designed and implemented. In addition, the auditor may obtain copies of cutoff information, such as
details of the movement of inventory, to assist the auditor in performing audit procedures over the
accounting for such movements at a later date.

Inspect the Inventory (Ref: Para. 4(a)(iii))

A6. Inspecting inventory when attending physical inventory counting assists the auditor in ascertaining the
existence of the inventory (though not necessarily its ownership), and in identifying, for example,
obsolete, damaged or aging inventory.

Perform Test Counts (Ref: Para. 4(a)(iv))

A7. Performing test counts, for example, by tracing items selected from management’s count records
to the physical inventory and tracing items selected from the physical inventory to management’s
count records, provides audit evidence about the completeness and the accuracy of those
records.
A8. In addition to recording the auditor’s test counts, obtaining copies of management’s completed
physical inventory count records assists the auditor in performing subsequent audit procedures to
determine whether the entity’s final inventory records accurately reflect actual inventory count
results.

Physical Inventory Counting Conducted Other than at the Date of the Financial Statements (Ref: Para.
5)
A9. For practical reasons, the physical inventory counting may be conducted at a date, or dates, other
than the date of the financial statements. This may be done irrespective of whether management
determines inventory quantities by an annual physical inventory counting or maintains a perpetual
inventory system. In either case, the effectiveness of the design, implementation and maintenance
of controls over changes in inventory determines whether the conduct of physical inventory
counting at a date, or dates, other than the date of the financial statements is appropriate for audit
purposes. ISA 330 establishes requirements and provides guidance on substantive procedures
performed at an interim date.6
A10. Where a perpetual inventory system is maintained, management may perform physical counts or
other tests to ascertain the reliability of inventory quantity information included in the entity’s
perpetual inventory records. In some cases, management or the auditor may identify differences
between the perpetual inventory records and actual physical inventory quantities on hand; this may
indicate that the controls over changes in inventory are not operating effectively.
A11. Relevant matters for consideration when designing audit procedures to obtain audit evidence
about whether changes in inventory amounts between the count date, or dates, and the final
inventory records are properly recorded include:
 Whether the perpetual inventory records are properly adjusted.
 Reliability of the entity’s perpetual inventory records.
 Reasons for significant differences between the information obtained during the physical
count and the perpetual inventory records.

Attendance at Physical Inventory Counting Is Impracticable (Ref: Para. 7)

A12. In some cases, attendance at physical inventory counting may be impracticable. This may be due
to factors such as the nature and location of the inventory, for example, where inventory is held in
a location that may pose threats to the safety of the auditor. The matter of general inconvenience
to the auditor, however, is not sufficient to support a decision by the auditor that attendance is

6
ISA 330, paragraphs 22–23

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 AUDIT EVIDENCE—SPECIFIC CONSIDERATIONS
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impracticable. Further, as explained in ISA 200,7 the matter of difficulty, time, or cost involved is
not in itself a valid basis for the auditor to omit an audit procedure for which there is no alternative
or to be satisfied with audit evidence that is less than persuasive.
A13. In some cases where attendance is impracticable, alternative audit procedures, for example,
inspection of documentation of the subsequent sale of specific inventory items acquired or purchased
prior to the physical inventory counting, may provide sufficient appropriate audit evidence about the
existence and condition of inventory.
A14. In other cases, however, it may not be possible to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence
regarding the existence and condition of inventory by performing alternative audit procedures. In such
cases, ISA 705 (Revised) requires the auditor to modify the opinion in the auditor’s report as a result
of the scope limitation.8

Inventory under the Custody and Control of a Third Party

Confirmation (Ref: Para. 8(a))
A15. ISA 5059 establishes requirements and provides guidance for performing external confirmation
procedures.

Other Audit Procedures (Ref: Para. 8(b))

A16. Depending on the circumstances, for example, where information is obtained that raises doubt about
the integrity and objectivity of the third party, the auditor may consider it appropriate to perform other
audit procedures instead of, or in addition to, confirmation with the third party. Examples of other audit
procedures include:
 Attending, or arranging for another auditor to attend, the third party’s physical counting of
inventory, if practicable.
 Obtaining another auditor’s report, or a service auditor’s report, on the adequacy of the
third party’s internal control for ensuring that inventory is properly counted and adequately
safeguarded.
 Inspecting documentation regarding inventory held by third parties, for example,
warehouse receipts.
 Requesting confirmation from other parties when inventory has been pledged as collateral.

Litigation and Claims

Completeness of Litigations and Claims (Ref: Para. 9)
A17. Litigation and claims involving the entity may have a material effect on the financial statements and
thus may be required to be disclosed or accounted for in the financial statements.
A18. In addition to the procedures identified in paragraph 9, other relevant procedures include, for
example, using information obtained through risk assessment procedures carried out as part of
obtaining an understanding of the entity and its environment to assist the auditor to become aware
of litigation and claims involving the entity.
A19. Audit evidence obtained for purposes of identifying litigation and claims that may give rise to a risk
of material misstatement also may provide audit evidence regarding other relevant considerations,
such as valuation or measurement, regarding litigation and claims. ISA 54010 establishes
requirements and provides guidance relevant to the auditor’s consideration of litigation and claims
requiring accounting estimates or related disclosures in the financial statements.

7
ISA 200, Overall Objectives of the Independent Auditor and the Conduct of an Audit in Accordance with International
Standards on Auditing, paragraph A50
8
ISA 705 (Revised), paragraph 13
9
ISA 505, External Confirmations
10
ISA 540, Auditing Accounting Estimates, Including Fair Value Accounting Estimates, and Related Disclosures

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Reviewing Legal Expense Accounts (Ref: Para. 9(c))

A20. Depending on the circumstances, the auditor may judge it appropriate to examine related source
documents, such as invoices for legal expenses, as part of the auditor’s review of legal expense
accounts.

Communication with the Entity’s External Legal Counsel (Ref: Para. 10–11)
A21. Direct communication with the entity’s external legal counsel assists the auditor in obtaining
sufficient appropriate audit evidence as to whether potentially material litigation and claims are
known and management’s estimates of the financial implications, including costs, are reasonable.
A22. In some cases, the auditor may seek direct communication with the entity’s external legal counsel
through a letter of general inquiry. For this purpose, a letter of general inquiry requests the entity’s
external legal counsel to inform the auditor of any litigation and claims that the counsel is aware
of, together with an assessment of the outcome of the litigation and claims, and an estimate of
the financial implications, including costs involved.
A23. If it is considered unlikely that the entity’s external legal counsel will respond appropriately to a
letter of general inquiry, for example, if the professional body to which the external legal counsel
belongs prohibits response to such a letter, the auditor may seek direct communication through a
letter of specific inquiry. For this purpose, a letter of specific inquiry includes:
(a) A list of litigation and claims;
(b) Where available, management’s assessment of the outcome of each of the identified
litigation and claims and its estimate of the financial implications, including costs involved;
and
(c) A request that the entity’s external legal counsel confirm the reasonableness of
management’s assessments and provide the auditor with further information if the list is
considered by the entity’s external legal counsel to be incomplete or incorrect.
A24. In certain circumstances, the auditor also may judge it necessary to meet with the entity’s
external legal counsel to discuss the likely outcome of the litigation or claims. This may be the
case, for example, where:
 The auditor determines that the matter is a significant risk.
 The matter is complex.
 There is disagreement between management and the entity’s external legal counsel.
Ordinarily, such meetings require management’s permission and are held with a representative of
management in attendance.
A25. In accordance with ISA 700 (Revised), 11 the auditor is required to date the auditor’s report no
earlier than the date on which the auditor has obtained sufficient appropriate audit evidence on
which to base the auditor’s opinion on the financial statements. Audit evidence about the status of
litigation and claims up to the date of the auditor’s report may be obtained by inquiry of
management, including in-house legal counsel, responsible for dealing with the relevant matters.
In some instances, the auditor may need to obtain updated information from the entity’s external
legal counsel.

Segment Information (Ref: Para. 13)

A26. Depending on the applicable financial reporting framework, the entity may be required or
permitted to disclose segment information in the financial statements. The auditor’s responsibility
regarding the presentation and disclosure of segment information is in relation to the financial
statements taken as a whole. Accordingly, the auditor is not required to perform audit procedures
that would be necessary to express an opinion on the segment information presented on a
standalone basis.

11
ISA 700 (Revised), Forming an Opinion and Reporting on Financial Statements, paragraph 49

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 AUDIT EVIDENCE—SPECIFIC CONSIDERATIONS
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Understanding of the Methods Used by Management (Ref: Para. 13(a))

A27. Depending on the circumstances, example of matters that may be relevant when obtaining an
understanding of the methods used by management in determining segment information and whether
such methods are likely to result in disclosure in accordance with the applicable financial reporting
framework include:
 Sales, transfers and charges between segments, and elimination of inter-segment
amounts.
 Comparisons with budgets and other expected results, for example, operating profits as a
percentage of sales.
 The allocation of assets and costs among segments.
 Consistency with prior periods, and the adequacy of the disclosures with respect to
inconsistencies.

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