Applying Agreed-Upon Procedures
Airport and Airway Trust Fund Excise Taxes Gao ID: GAO-06-199R November 4, 2005We assisted the Department of Transportation in ascertaining whether the net excise tax revenue distributed to the Airport and Airway Trust Fund (AATF) for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004, is supported by the underlying records. In performing the agreed-upon procedures, we conducted our work in accordance with U.S. generally accepted government auditing standards, which incorporate financial audit and attestation standards established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. The procedures we agreed to perform were (1) transactions that represent the underlying basis of amounts distributed to the AATF, (2) the Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) quarterly AATF certifications, (3) the Department of the Treasury's Financial Management Service adjustments to the AATF for fiscal year 2005, (4) IRS's precertification of receipts for the second and third quarters of fiscal year 2005, (5) certain procedures of the Department of the Treasury's Office of Tax Analysis' (OTA) estimation procedures affecting excise tax distributions to the AATF for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2005, and other procedures including (6) the net amount of fiscal year 2005 excise taxes distributed to the AATF, (7) transactions that represent total IRS tax revenue receipts and refunds, and (8) key reconciliations of IRS records to Treasury records.
GAO-06-199R, Applying Agreed-Upon Procedures: Airport and Airway Trust Fund Excise Taxes
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November 4, 2005:
The Honorable Kenneth M. Mead:
Inspector General:
Department of Transportation:
Subject: Applying Agreed-Upon Procedures: Airport and Airway Trust Fund
Excise Taxes:
Dear Mr. Mead:
We have performed the procedures contained in the enclosure to this
report, which we agreed to perform and with which you concurred, solely
to assist your office in ascertaining whether the net excise tax
revenue distributed to the Airport and Airway Trust Fund (AATF) for the
fiscal year ended September 30, 2005, is supported by the underlying
records. As agreed with your office, we evaluated fiscal year 2005
activity affecting distributions to the AATF.
In performing the agreed-upon procedures, we conducted our work in
accordance with U.S. generally accepted government auditing standards,
which incorporate financial audit and attestation standards established
by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. These
standards also provide guidance for performing and reporting the
results of agreed-upon procedures.
The adequacy of the procedures to meet your objectives is your
responsibility, and we make no representation in that respect. The
procedures we agreed to perform relate to (1) transactions that
represent the underlying basis of amounts distributed to the AATF, (2)
the Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) quarterly AATF certifications, (3)
the Department of the Treasury's Financial Management Service
adjustments to the AATF during fiscal year 2005, (4) IRS's
precertification[Footnote 1] of receipts for each quarter of fiscal
year 2005, (5) certain procedures of the Department of the Treasury's
Office of Tax Analysis's (OTA) process for estimating amounts to be
distributed to the AATF for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2005, and
other procedures related to (6) the net amount of fiscal year 2005
excise taxes distributed to the AATF, (7) transactions that represent
total IRS tax revenue receipts and refunds, and (8) key reconciliations
of IRS records to Treasury records. The enclosure contains the agreed-
upon procedures and our findings and results from performing each of
the procedures.
We were not engaged to and did not conduct an examination, the
objective of which would have been the expression of an opinion on the
amount of net excise taxes distributed to the AATF. Accordingly, we do
not express such an opinion. Had we performed additional procedures,
other matters might have come to our attention that would have been
reported to you.[Footnote 2] We completed the agreed-upon procedures on
October 27, 2005.
We provided a draft of this report to IRS and OTA officials for review
and comment. IRS agreed with the results and findings presented in this
report. OTA's review of the report only covered the procedures related
to the estimation process for the quarter ended September 30, 2005. OTA
agreed with the results and findings presented in this report relating
to procedures performed on the estimation process for the quarter ended
September 30, 2005.
This report is intended solely for the use of the Office of Inspector
General of the Department of Transportation and should not be used by
those who have not agreed to the procedures and have not taken
responsibility for the sufficiency of the procedures for their purpose.
However, this report is a matter of public record, and its distribution
is not limited. Copies are available to others upon request. This
report is also available at no charge on GAO's Web site at
http://www.gao.gov. If you have any questions, please call me at (202)
512- 3406. Contact points for our Offices of Congressional Relations
and Public Affairs may be found on the last page of this report.
Sincerely yours,
Signed by:
Steven J. Sebastian:
Director:
Financial Management and Assurance:
Enclosure:
[End of section]
Airport and Airway Trust Fund Excise Tax Procedures and Results:
I. Procedures on detailed transactions that represent the underlying
basis of amounts distributed to the Airport and Airway Trust Fund
(AATF) in fiscal year 2005:
A. Nonrepresentative selection of tax returns from the quarters ended
June 30, 2004, and September 30, 2004[Footnote 3]
1. For the quarters ending June 30, 2004, and September 30, 2004,
select the 30 largest excise tax returns containing excise taxes
related primarily to the AATF and the Highway Trust Fund (HTF) on the
basis of total tax liability amount[Footnote 4] from the Internal
Revenue Service's (IRS) master file.[Footnote 5]
Description of findings and results:
We selected the 30 largest excise tax returns related primarily to the
AATF and the HTF from each of the two quarters for testing. The
selection was based on the total tax liability amount owed for each
return from the master file.
The total tax liability amount related to the 30 returns from the
quarter ended June 30, 2004, was approximately $8.4 billion, or 64
percent of the total excise tax liability amount of $13.1 billion for
all excise tax types for the quarter. Of these 30 returns, 9 contained
primarily AATF-related taxes and 21 contained primarily HTF taxes.
The total tax liability amount related to the 30 returns from the
quarter ended September 30, 2004, was approximately $9 billion, or 65
percent of the total excise tax liability amount of $13.8 billion for
all excise tax types for the quarter. Of these 30 returns, 9 contained
primarily AATF-related taxes and 21 contained primarily HTF taxes.
2. For each of the 18 returns related primarily to the AATF from the
quarters ended June 30, 2004, and September 30, 2004, we performed the
following procedures, which encompassed approximately $3.5 billion in
prorated collections[Footnote 6] affecting fiscal year 2005
distributions to the AATF:
(a) Trace the liability amount for abstracts[Footnote 7] 26, 27, and 28
from the tax return to IRS's master file.
Description of findings and results:
The liability amount for abstracts 26, 27, and 28 on the tax return
agreed with the master file for all 18 returns.
(b) Inspect the taxpayers' calculations on the tax return for the
selected abstracts to determine whether they are mathematically
correct.
Description of findings and results:
The taxpayers' calculations on all 18 returns were mathematically
correct.
(c) Calculate the prorated collection amount for the selected abstracts
based on information from the master file and compare this amount to
the amount from the Collection Certification System audit
files.[Footnote 8]
Description of findings and results:
The independently calculated prorated collection amounts for the three
selected abstracts agreed with amounts in IRS's Collection
Certification System for all 18 returns.
B. Dollar unit sample (DUS) of transactions from the quarters ended
December 31, 2004, and March 31, 2005:
1. Sampling:
(a) Obtain excise tax collection data from the master file for the
first two quarters of fiscal year 2005. Compare excise tax collection
data from the master file with data from IRS's general ledger to
determine if they materially agree.[Footnote 9] Compare total excise
tax collections from the master file with total excise tax collections
from the Collection Certification System audit files to determine if
they materially agree.
Description of findings and results:
Excise tax collections for the first two quarters of fiscal year 2005
from the master file materially agreed with IRS's general ledger and
with total excise tax collections from the Collection Certification
System.
(b) Select a random attribute sample of 78 excise tax assessments from
the master file.[Footnote 10] Compare assessment and receipt
information for each sample item from the master file to the assessment
and receipt information in the Collection Certification System to
determine if assessments and receipts from the master file are
contained in the Collection Certification System.
Description of findings and results:
For each sample item, assessments and receipts from the master file
were contained in the Collection Certification System.
(c) Sum the prorated collections for selected abstracts[Footnote 11]
from the audit files and compare these amounts to amounts in the Report
of Excise Tax Collection[Footnote 12] to determine if the Collection
Certification System properly summarized the prorated collections.
Description of findings and results:
The Collection Certification System properly summarized the prorated
collections for all of the selected abstracts. Prorated collections
from the audit files for the selected abstracts agreed with the
corresponding amounts in the Report of Excise Tax Collection.
(d) Separate the total population of prorated collections from the
audit files into the following distinct populations: (1) AATF, (2) HTF,
and (3) other excise tax abstracts. Use DUS to select a sample of
prorated excise tax collections from the AATF population using a
confidence level of 80 percent, a test materiality of $92 million, and
an expected aggregate error amount of $27.6 million.
Description of findings and results:
Use of DUS with a confidence level of 80 percent, a test materiality of
$92 million, and an expected aggregate error amount of $27.6 million
resulted in a sample of 80[Footnote 13] prorated collections for the
AATF for the first two quarters of fiscal year 2005.
(e) Select samples of prorated excise tax collections from the two non-
AATF populations. Use DUS to select a sample of prorated excise tax
collections from the HTF population using a confidence level of 80
percent, a test materiality of $347 million, and an expected aggregate
error amount of $104.1 million. Select a random attribute sample of 45
items from the population of prorated tax collections related to all
excise taxes other than the AATF and the HTF.
Description of findings and results:
Use of DUS with a confidence level of 80 percent, a test materiality of
$347 million, and an expected aggregate error amount of $104.1 million
resulted in a sample of 101[Footnote 14] prorated collections for the
HTF for the first two quarters of fiscal year 2005.
A random attribute sample of 45 items was selected from the population
of prorated tax collections related to all excise taxes other than the
AATF and the HTF.[Footnote 15]
2. Detailed transactions:
(a) For each prorated excise tax collection sampled from the AATF
population:
* Compare the assessment amount on the tax return for the sampled
abstract with the amount recorded in IRS's master file.
Description of findings and results:
The assessment amount on the tax return agreed with the amount recorded
in the master file for 79 of the 80 sampled items. For one case, the
taxpayer submitted an amended return to reduce the assessment amount.
However, IRS did not process the amended return. As a result, the
prorated amount for the sampled item was understated by $2,772.
* Inspect the taxpayers' calculations on the tax returns for the
related abstract to determine whether they are mathematically correct.
Description of findings and results:
The taxpayers' calculations were mathematically correct on the tax
return for all of the sampled items.
* Calculate the prorated collection amount based on information from
the master file and compare this amount to the sample items selected
from the Collection Certification System audit files.[Footnote 16]
Description of findings and results:
The independently calculated prorated collection, based on information
from the master file, agreed with the amounts for all of the sampled
items selected from the Collection Certification System audit files.
(b) Inspect the tax returns and master file information on the two
samples of prorated collections from the non-AATF populations to
determine if they contain any AATF excise tax collections.
Description of findings and results:
The two samples of prorated collections from the non-AATF populations
did not contain any AATF excise tax collections.
(c) Evaluate the results of conducting steps (a) and (b).
Description of findings and results:
For the first 6 months of fiscal year 2005, the net most likely error
is ($32 thousand) with an upper error limit of $54 million at the 80
percent confidence level.
II. Procedures on IRS's quarterly AATF receipt certifications:
Perform the following procedures on IRS's AATF receipt certification
for the quarters ended September 30, 2004, December 31, 2004, and March
31, 2005:
A. Inspect the certification letters for authorizing signatures.
Description of findings and results:
The certification letters for all three quarters had authorizing
signatures.
B. Inspect the certification letters and supporting worksheets to
determine if evidence exists that they were reviewed by the supervisor
or another analyst.
Description of findings and results:
There was evidence that the supervisor or another analyst reviewed the
certification letters and supporting worksheets for all three quarters.
C. Calculate the totals on the certification letters to determine if
they are mathematically correct.
Description of findings and results:
The totals on the certification letters for all three quarters were
mathematically correct.
D. Trace the certified amounts for tax on transportation of persons by
air (abstract 26), tax on the use of international air facilities
(abstract 27), tax on transportation of property by air (abstract 28),
and tax on aviation fuel for commercial use (abstract 77)[Footnote 17]
from the certification letters back to the Report of Excise Tax
Collection[Footnote 18] and the Treasury 90 Report.[Footnote 19]
Description of findings and results:
The certified amounts for tax on transportation of persons by air
(abstract 26), tax on the use of international air facilities (abstract
27), tax on transportation of property by air (abstract 28), and tax on
aviation fuel for commercial use (abstract 77) from the certification
letters agreed with the related Report of Excise Tax Collection and the
Treasury 90 Report for all three quarters.
E. Compare the distribution rates used by IRS for tax on transportation
of persons by air (abstract 26), tax on the use of international air
facilities (abstract 27), tax on transportation of property by air
(abstract 28), and tax on aviation fuel for commercial use (abstract
77) with the applicable laws.
Description of findings and results:
The distribution rates used by IRS for tax on transportation of persons
by air (abstract 26), tax on the use of international air facilities
(abstract 27), tax on transportation of property by air (abstract 28),
and tax on aviation fuel for commercial use (abstract 77) agreed with
the applicable laws in effect during all three quarters.
F. Inspect the Report of Excise Tax Collection used in the
certification to determine if it contains significant[Footnote 20]
collections from prior quarters.
Description of findings and results:
The Report of Excise Tax Collection used in the certification for all
three quarters did not contain significant collections from prior
quarters.
III. Financial Management Service adjustments:
Perform the following procedures on Financial Management Service (FMS)
adjustments to the AATF excise tax distributions for the quarters ended
September 30, 2004, December 31, 2004, and March 31, 2005:
A. Compare the FMS adjustments made to the AATF with original Office of
Tax Analysis (OTA) estimates and IRS-certified amounts to determine if
they agree with the supporting schedules.[Footnote 21]
Description of findings and results:
For the FMS adjustments made to the AATF, the original OTA estimates
and IRS-certified amounts agreed with the supporting schedules for all
three quarters.
B. Calculate the differences between the OTA estimates and IRS-
certified amounts to determine if the amounts agree with the
differences computed by FMS.
Description of findings and results:
The independently calculated differences between the OTA estimates and
the IRS-certified amounts for the AATF agreed with the differences
computed by FMS for all three quarters. These amounts were[Footnote 22]
* $96,007,000 for the quarter ended September 30, 2004,
* ($20,189,000) for the quarter ended December 31, 2004, and:
* $94,044,000 for the quarter ended March 31, 2005.
IV. Procedures on IRS's AATF precertification for the quarters ended
September 30, 2004, December 31, 2004, March 31, 2005, and June 30,
2005[Footnote 23]
A. Compare the precertified amount to the actual certified amount to
the AATF for the quarters ended September 30, 2004, December 31, 2004,
and March 31, 2005. If there is a significant variance,[Footnote 24]
request from the IRS their data on any large returns omitted from the
precertification.
Description of findings and results:
There were no significant variances between the precertified amounts
and the actual certified amounts for the quarters ended September 30,
2004, and December 31, 2004. For the quarter ended March 31, 2005,
there was a significant variance of $222 million. $176 million of this
was attributable to IRS's identification of two large tax returns that
were omitted from the precertification for the quarter ended March 31,
2005.
B. Perform the following procedures on IRS's AATF precertification for
the quarter ended June 30, 2005:
1. Inspect the precertification results and supporting worksheets to
determine if evidence exists that they were reviewed by the supervisor
or another analyst.
Description of findings and results:
There was evidence that the supervisor or another analyst reviewed the
results and supporting worksheets.
2. Calculate the total on the precertification letter to determine if
it is mathematically correct.
Description of findings and results:
The total on the precertification letter was mathematically correct.
3. Trace the amounts for tax on transportation of persons by air
(abstract 26), tax on the use of international air facilities (abstract
27), tax on transportation of property by air (abstract 28), and tax on
aviation fuel for commercial use (abstract 77)[Footnote 25] from the
precertification letter back to the Report of Excise Tax Collection and
the Treasury 90 Report.
Description of findings and results:
The amounts for tax on transportation of persons by air (abstract 26),
tax on the use of international air facilities (abstract 27), tax on
transportation of property by air (abstract 28), and tax on aviation
fuel for commercial use (abstract 77) from the precertification letter
agreed with the related Report of Excise Tax Collection and the
Treasury 90 Report.
4. Compare the distribution rates used by IRS for tax on transportation
of persons by air (abstract 26), tax on the use of international air
facilities (abstract 27), tax on transportation of property by air
(abstract 28), and tax on aviation fuel for commercial use (abstract
77) with the applicable laws.
Description of findings and results:
The distribution rates used by IRS for tax on transportation of persons
by air (abstract 26), tax on the use of international air facilities
(abstract 27), tax on transportation of property by air (abstract 28),
and tax on aviation fuel for commercial use (abstract 77) agreed with
the applicable laws in effect during the quarter.
5. Inspect the Report of Excise Tax Collection used in the
precertification to determine if it contains significant[Footnote 26]
collections from prior quarters.
Description of findings and results:
The Report of Excise Tax Collection supporting the precertification did
not contain significant collections from prior quarters.
6. Inspect the Collection Certification System information to determine
whether IRS omitted any significant[Footnote 27] returns from the
precertification. If so, report (1) the average amount of AATF-related
excise taxes from these taxpayers' returns that were included in IRS's
certification from the four previous quarters and (2) the amount of
AATF-related excise taxes from these taxpayers' returns that were
included in IRS's certification for the quarter ended June 30, 2004.
Description of findings and results:
IRS did not omit any significant returns from the precertification.
V. Procedures performed on excise tax distributions to the AATF for the
quarter ended September 30, 2005:
A. Determine if OTA's process for identifying and incorporating the
effect of new legislation on excise tax receipts into its trust fund
estimates[Footnote 28] was in place during the quarter ended September
30, 2005.
Description of findings and results:
OTA's process for identifying and incorporating into its trust fund
estimates the effect of new legislation on excise tax receipts was in
place during the quarter ended September 30, 2005. OTA prepares a tax
rate table[Footnote 29] to capture information relating to legislation
that affects tax rates, tax basis, accounts, and deposit rules in
effect during the quarter.
B. Inspect transfer forms and supporting schedules to determine if
there is evidence of review.
Description of findings and results:
There was evidence that another OTA economist reviewed the transfer
forms and supporting schedules for the semimonthly transfers affecting
distributions to the AATF for the quarter ended September 30, 2005.
C. Calculate the totals on the transfer forms to determine if they are
mathematically correct.
Description of findings and results:
The totals on the transfer forms affecting distributions to the AATF
for the quarter ended September 30, 2005, were mathematically correct.
D. Trace the transfer amounts for tax on transportation of persons by
air (abstract 26), tax on the use of international air facilities
(abstract 27), tax on transportation of property by air (abstract 28),
and tax on aviation fuel for commercial use (abstract 77)[Footnote 30]
from the transfer forms through the supporting schedules and back to
the related source documents.[Footnote 31]
Description of findings and results:
The transfer amounts for tax on transportation of persons by air
(abstract 26), tax on the use of international air facilities (abstract
27), tax on transportation of property by air (abstract 28), and tax on
aviation fuel for commercial use (abstract 77) from the transfer forms
agreed with the supporting schedules and source documents for the
semimonthly transfers affecting distributions to the AATF for the
quarter ended September 30, 2005.
VI. Other procedures:
A. Using IRS's quarterly certifications, OTA's estimated distributions,
and any adjustments, compile and report excise taxes distributed to the
AATF in fiscal year 2005.
Description of findings and results:
Based on a compilation of IRS's quarterly certifications, OTA's
estimations, and adjustments, the net amount of fiscal year 2005 excise
taxes distributed to the AATF was $10,314,521,000.
B. Procedures performed as part of the fiscal year 2005 IRS financial
statement audit:
1. From IRS's master files for the first 8 months of fiscal year 2005,
use DUS to select statistical samples of (1) total tax revenue receipts
and (2) refunds. For each sample item, compare the collection or refund
amount, tax period, and tax class[Footnote 32] from source
documentation with those recorded in IRS's master files.
Description of findings and results:
The receipt or refund amount, tax period, and tax class from source
documents for 158 revenue receipts and 48 refund sample transactions
were consistent with amounts recorded in IRS's master files.
2. Obtain selected IRS service center campuses' monthly Treasury FMS
224 reconciliations[Footnote 33] and determine whether IRS-reported
revenue receipts were properly classified and materially[Footnote 34]
reconciled to Treasury FMS records. For refunds, obtain selected IRS
service center campuses' monthly Treasury FMS 224 reconciliations and
determine whether IRS-reported total refunds (all tax classes)
materially reconciled to Treasury FMS records.
Description of findings and results:
Tax revenue receipts reported by selected IRS service center campuses
through the monthly Treasury FMS 224 reconciliation process were
properly classified and materially agreed with Treasury FMS records.
Total refunds reported by selected IRS service center campuses through
the monthly Treasury FMS 224 reconciliation process materially agreed
with Treasury FMS records.
3. Compare tax revenue receipt balances by tax class, including excise
taxes, recorded in IRS's general ledger with the master files and
Treasury records to determine if they agree in all material respects.
For refunds, compare total refund balances between the master files,
the general ledger, and Treasury records to determine if they agree in
all material respects.
Description of findings and results:
Tax receipt balances for all tax classes, including excise taxes,
recorded in IRS's general ledger materially agreed with the master
files and Treasury records. Refund balances recorded in IRS's general
ledger materially agreed with the master files and with Treasury
records.
(196034):
FOOTNOTES
[1] To accommodate the Department of Transportation's accelerated
reporting date for fiscal year 2005, IRS performed precertifications of
excise tax collections. The data are for information purposes only, and
the precertification does not constitute an official certification.
[2] In our report on the results of our audit of IRS's fiscal year 2004
financial statements, we noted a material weakness in IRS's financial
reporting process; see GAO, Financial Audit: IRS's Fiscal Years 2004
and 2003 Financial Statements, GAO-05-103 (Washington D.C. Nov. 10,
2004). A component of this weakness includes IRS's inability to
allocate excise tax collections to the appropriate trust funds at the
time deposits are made. This condition affects the adequacy of the
distributions of federal excise tax revenue to recipient trust funds
and is a continuation of an issue that we have reported on in prior
years.
[3] Since certifications are not completed until 6 months after the end
of the quarter, the certification and corresponding adjustment by the
Department of the Treasury's Financial Management Service for the
quarters ended June 30, 2004, and September 30, 2004, were completed in
December 2004 and March 2005, respectively, and thus affected
distributions to the AATF during fiscal year 2005.
[4] Although the certifications are based on amounts collected, we used
the tax liability amounts to identify the taxpayers paying the largest
amounts of excise taxes. Our work shows that these taxpayers generally
pay their excise taxes in full each quarter.
[5] The master file is a detailed database containing taxpayer
information.
[6] IRS certifies to trust funds the amount of excise taxes collected.
Because taxpayers have sometimes not fully paid their tax liability,
IRS must allocate the amount of payments actually received among the
different excise taxes reported on the taxpayer's return. IRS's
Collection Certification System prorates a taxpayer's payments
proportionately among all taxes reported as owed on the tax return. For
example, if a corporation reports that it owes $4 million for gasoline
tax, $2 million for diesel fuel tax, and $1 million for gasohol tax on
its Form 720, Quarterly Federal Excise Tax Return, but has paid IRS
only $3.5 million at the time IRS performs its certification, the
program prorates the $3.5 million in the following manner:
$2 million to gasoline tax, $1 million to diesel fuel tax, and $500,000
to gasohol tax.
[7] The abstract numbers identify the tax type (e.g., gasoline and
ticket tax) and are used as the basis for determining the distribution
of the excise taxes to the various trust funds. Abstract numbers are
preprinted on the Form 720, Quarterly Federal Excise Tax Return, and
are used by the taxpayer to report excise tax assessments. If the
return was related to the AATF, we selected (1) tax on transportation
of persons by air (abstract 26), (2) tax on the use of international
air facilities (abstract 27), and (3) tax on transportation of property
by air (abstract 28). If the return was related to the HTF, we selected
(1) tax on 10 percent gasohol (abstract 59), (2) diesel fuel tax
(abstract 60), and (3) gasoline tax (abstract 62). The tax amounts
related to the selected abstracts for each trust fund are the largest
tax amounts reported on the taxpayers' excise tax returns and made up
over 91 percent of the total amount certified to the AATF and over 79
percent of the total amount certified to the HTF for the quarters ended
June 30, 2004, and September 30, 2004.
[8] The Collection Certification System produces what IRS refers to as
audit files. These audit files contain the individual prorated
collections, by abstract and taxpayer identification number, that make
up the total certified amount for each abstract.
[9] For the purpose of this procedure, "material" is defined as 1
percent of the Form 720-related excise tax collections for the quarters
ended December 31, 2004, and March 31, 2005. For fiscal year 2005, the
materiality amount was $220 million for the two quarters combined.
[10] For this sample, if one or no errors were found in the 78 items,
we would be 90 percent confident that the error rate in the population
would not exceed 5 percent.
[11] The selected abstracts are (1) tax on transportation of persons by
air (abstract 26), (2) tax on the use of international air facilities
(abstract 27), (3) tax on transportation of property by air (abstract
28), (4) tax on aviation fuel for commercial use (abstract 77), (5) tax
on 10 percent gasohol (abstract 59), (6) diesel fuel tax (abstract 60),
and (7) gasoline tax (abstract 62). The tax amounts for the four AATF-
related abstracts made up over 87 percent of the total amount certified
to the AATF for the quarters ended December 31, 2004, and March 31,
2005. The tax amounts for the three HTF-related abstracts made up over
81 percent of the total amount certified to the HTF for the quarter
ended December 31, 2004, and over 88 percent for abstracts 60 and 62
for the quarter ended March 31, 2005. As of January 1, 2005, abstract
59 was eliminated as a result of the American Jobs Creation Act of
2004, Pub. L. No. 108-357, § 301(c)(7), (d)(1), 118 Stat. 1418, 1461,
1463 (Oct. 22, 2004). Abstract 59, along with all other gasohol taxes,
were reported under abstract 62 as gasoline for the quarter ended March
31, 2005.
[12] The Report of Excise Tax Collection contains prorated collections,
classified by abstracts, that serve as the basis for IRS's quarterly
trust fund certifications.
[13] The planned sample size using DUS was 151 items. DUS selects
dollars instead of specific transaction items by dividing the
population by dollar intervals. The dollar interval for the AATF was
$34 million. Accordingly, any item with a dollar value matching or
exceeding the sampling interval would be selected, whereas items with
dollar values below the sampling interval might not be selected. For
example, an item of $68 million would cover 2 dollar intervals, but
represent one sample item. Due to large dollar items covering more than
one interval, the 80 unique sampled transactions selected represent 151
dollar intervals.
[14] The planned sample size using DUS was 147 items. As explained in
footnote 13, DUS selects dollars instead of specific transaction items
by dividing the population by dollar intervals. The dollar interval for
the HTF was $126 million. Because large dollar items cover more than
one interval, the 101 unique sampled transactions selected represent
147 dollar intervals.
[15] For this sample, if no errors are found in the 45 items, we would
be 90 percent confident that the error rate in the population would not
exceed 5 percent.
[16] The purpose of this procedure is to determine whether the
Collection Certification System prorates correctly. This procedure is
not intended to determine whether amounts provided to the system are
correct.
[17] The certified amounts for tax on transportation of persons by air
(abstract 26), tax on the use of international air facilities (abstract
27), tax on transportation of property by air (abstract 28), and tax on
aviation fuel for commercial use (abstract 77) made up over 87 percent
of the total amount certified to AATF for the quarters ended September
30, 2004, December 31, 2004, and March 31, 2005.
[18] IRS uses data from two of these reports, covering sequential
processing intervals, for each quarterly certification. Collections are
classified by abstract on the report when the related Form 720 tax
return has been posted to IRS's master file during the processing
interval covered by the report. The second of the two reports used may
contain collections related to prior quarters that IRS certifies as
part of the current quarter's collections because the related return
was not posted to the master file until the processing interval covered
by this report.
[19] The Treasury 90 Report summarizes excise tax credit information
and is produced quarterly by IRS submission processing campus systems.
IRS has eight submission processing campuses that receive and process
tax returns and payments.
[20] For this procedure, "significant" is defined as $45 million. This
represents approximately 2 percent of the quarterly total certified to
the AATF.
[21] An FMS accountant compiles this schedule, called the "Subsidiary
Quarterly Account of Estimates and Actual Related Taxes Appropriated to
Airport and Airway Trust Fund." This schedule computes the difference
between IRS-certified amounts and the OTA estimate for excise taxes,
individually and in total, that relate to AATF. The schedule, along
with OTA transfer forms and IRS certifications, supports the FMS
adjustment.
[22] A positive amount indicates that the FMS adjustment increased
excise taxes distributed to the trust fund. A negative amount, shown in
parentheses, indicates that the FMS adjustment decreased excise taxes
distributed to the trust fund. Since the adjustment amount is the
difference between OTA's estimate and IRS's certified amount, it may be
affected by IRS's ability to certify receipts in the appropriate
quarter.
[23] In order to accommodate the Department of Transportation's
November 15 reporting date for fiscal year 2005, IRS performed
precertifications. The data in the precertification are for information
purposes only and do not represent an official certification.
[24] Significant is defined as 5 percent of the actual certified amount
for the quarter.
[25] The certified amounts for tax on transportation of persons by air
(abstract 26), tax on the use of international air facilities (abstract
27), tax on transportation of property by air (abstract 28), and tax on
aviation fuel for commercial use (abstract 77) made up over 88 percent
of the precertified total to the AATF.
[26] For this procedure, "significant" is defined as $45 million. This
represents approximately 2 percent of the precertified total to the
AATF.
[27] For this procedure, "significant" is defined as tax returns with a
total quarterly excise tax liability equal to or greater than $10
million during each of the prior four quarters. Tax returns related
specifically to the AATF with liabilities equal to or greater than $10
million have, in the aggregate, historically accounted for over 85
percent of distributions certified to AATF.
[28] OTA makes semimonthly estimates of excise tax collections for
transfer to trust funds. There are five semimonthly estimates for the
quarter ended September 30, 2005, which affect fiscal year 2005
distributions to the AATF.
[29] OTA communicates this information to interested parties at
Treasury and the Department of Transportation. IRS uses the tax and
distribution rates from this table in its subsequent certification of
collections to trust funds.
[30] The transfer amounts for tax on transportation of persons by air
(abstract 26), tax on the use of international air facilities (abstract
27), tax on transportation of property by air (abstract 28), and tax on
aviation fuel for commercial use (abstract 77) made up over 96 percent
of the total amount transferred to AATF for the fourth quarter of
fiscal year 2005.
[31] The source documents include the IRS report of excise taxes used
to derive the percentages applied to reported receipts, the Daily
Treasury Statement, the Monthly Treasury Statement, and the excise tax
rate tables.
[32] IRS assigns a tax class number to specific types of taxes. Excise
taxes are tax class 4.
[33] At the end of each month, each IRS campus provides Treasury its
FMS 224 (Statement of Transactions) generated from IRS's general
ledger, reporting receipts and refunds journalized during the month.
Treasury reconciles the amounts on the FMS 224 with its records and
provides IRS a Statement of Differences for any differences identified.
[34] For the purpose of this procedure and procedure VI.B.3, we define
"material" as $20 billion. This represents 1 percent of the estimated
total tax revenue receipts to be collected by IRS in fiscal year 2005.
