Reliability of Original Documents vs. Photocopies and Facsimiles

Reliability of Original Documents

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Question

____________ is provided by original documents is more reliable than audit evidence provided by photocopies or facsimiles.

Answers

Explanations

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A. B. C. D.

C

The correct answer to this question is C. Audit evidence.

Audit evidence is the information that auditors use to arrive at conclusions about the financial statements being audited. The evidence can be in various forms, including original documents, photocopies, facsimiles, electronic records, or oral statements.

However, original documents are generally considered to be more reliable than photocopies or facsimiles. This is because original documents are less likely to have been altered or manipulated. In contrast, photocopies or facsimiles can be easily altered, and the changes may not be readily detectable.

Therefore, when auditors obtain original documents as evidence, they can be more confident in their findings and conclusions about the financial statements. However, auditors may still use photocopies or facsimiles as evidence if they have been appropriately verified and authenticated.

In summary, while all types of evidence can be useful in an audit, original documents are generally considered the most reliable, including in the context of the CTFA exam.