Advanced VAT Audit &
Fraud Detection Program
06 – 14 July 2026 (7 Days Training)
Sandown Sandton
Johannesburg South Africa
Register Now! Limited Seats Available!
R 24,999.00 Per Delegate
Course overview:
Value Added Tax (VAT) remains one of the most significant sources of government revenue globally. However, due to its transactional nature and refund mechanisms, VAT is also highly vulnerable to fraud, manipulation, under-declaration, and abuse across multiple sectors of the economy. Refund fraud, fictitious invoicing, suppression of sales, abuse of zero-rating provisions, and complex sector-specific schemes continue to pose serious compliance and revenue risks to tax administrations.
This Advanced VAT Audit and Fraud Detection Programme is designed to enhance the technical, analytical, and investigative capacity of tax officials responsible for VAT compliance, audit, and enforcement. The programme provides a comprehensive and practical approach to detecting VAT refund fraud, conducting sector-specific audits, interpreting financial and banking records, identifying risk indicators, and applying effective taxpayer interview techniques.
The course recognizes that VAT risks differ significantly across industries such as Construction, Retail, Farming/Agriculture, and Banking & Financial Services. Participants will therefore be equipped with sector-specific audit methodologies, practical risk-mapping tools, and industry-based case studies to strengthen audit precision and improve compliance outcomes.
Course Objectives:
By the end of the programme, participants will be able to:
• Identify and detect common VAT refund fraud schemes and high-risk claims
• Apply sector-specific VAT audit approaches in Construction, Retail, Farming, and Banking sectors
• Interpret and analyse bank statements and financial statements for VAT audit purposes
• Reconcile VAT returns with accounting records and banking activity
• Identify key VAT risk indicators across different industries
• Conduct structured and effective interviews with taxpayers
• Strengthen evidence-gathering techniques and documentation standards
• Apply risk-based audit methodologies to improve compliance outcomes
Who Should Attend?
This programme is suitable for:
• VAT Auditors
• Tax Inspectors and Compliance Officers
• Refund Processing and Verification Officers
• Investigations and Internal Affairs Officers
• Risk and Intelligence Analysts
• Audit Supervisors and Team Leaders
• Officers dealing with large or high-risk taxpayers
Course Outline:
Module 1: VAT Refund Fraud Detection
• Overview of VAT refund systems and vulnerabilities
• Common VAT fraud schemes:
o Fictitious invoicing
o Carousel fraud / Missing trader schemes
o Inflated input tax claims
o Ghost suppliers
• Risk-based refund selection and profiling
• Red flags in VAT refund claims
• Use of data analytics and third-party information
• Case studies and practical exercises
Module 2: Sector-Specific VAT Audit Techniques
A. Construction Sector
• Contract revenue recognition risks
• Subcontractor arrangements and VAT implications
• Progress payments and input tax timing
• Cash transactions and under-declaration
B. Retail Sector
• Sales suppression risks
• Cash vs electronic sales reconciliation
• Inventory and stock movement analysis
• Zero-rated vs standard-rated supplies
C. Farming/Agriculture Sector
• Zero-rating rules
• Input tax claims on capital equipment
• Subsidies and grant treatment
• Informal market risks
D. Banking & Financial Services Sector
• Exempt vs taxable supplies
• Input tax apportionment
• Fee-based income vs interest income
• Cross-border financial transactions
• Industry risk mapping exercises
Module 3: Interpretation of Bank Statements & Financial Statements
• Understanding Income Statement, Balance Sheet, and Cash Flow Statement
• Linking VAT returns to financial statements
• Bank deposit analysis techniques
• Identifying hidden income and unexplained deposits
• Reconciliation methods:
o Turnover vs VAT declarations
o Bank statements vs accounting records
• Detecting manipulation and window dressing
Module 4: VAT Risk Identification & Audit Red Flags
• High-risk transaction patterns
• Related-party transactions
• Artificial loss creation
• Shell companies and missing traders
• Split invoicing and suppression of sales
• Lifestyle audits and indirect audit methods
• Risk profiling and audit planning
Module 5: Taxpayer Interview Techniques
• Planning and structuring audit interviews
• Types of questioning techniques
• Behavioral analysis and deception indicators
• Handling difficult or uncooperative taxpayers
• Gathering legally admissible evidence
• Statement recording and documentation
• Role-play exercises and mock interviews
End of the workshop
IN HOUSE AND ONLINE TRAINING
While both In-House and Online training can present with cost-effectiveness and time-efficacy, there are some very specific differences between in-house courses and those based online.
The demand for additional courses by individuals or groups of people is increasing. Still, it depends entirely on the preferences of a person what type of training he or she wants to receive. Online courses and in-house training carry some similarities but they are considered to exhibit some very pivotal differences too. Despite that, both types of learning can be really beneficial for attendees.
For Registration and other Training arrangements,
contact us on the detail below.
SOUTH AFRICA : +27 11 057 6001
TANZANIA Cell: +255 769 688 544
WhatsApp +27 79 574 0389
info@bmktraining.co.za / www.bmktraining.com
