<p>Background: Sweden has, since 1983, had a statutory audit for all joint-stock companies. However, according to EG’s fourth corporation directive, member countries can decide on their own if this applies for small joint-stock companies. An investigation was launched in the fall of 2006 to form an opinion on the importance of the audit reporting by law and what an abolishment of this rule would mean for small joint-stock companies. Critics are claiming that the cost of audit for small companies is exceeding the cause in these micro companies.</p><p>Audit is regulated by Swedish translation (RS) of International Standards on Auditing (ISA) and is to be applied in all companies comprised by the statutory audit. However, there is a statement about how RS should be adjusted to small corporations. Still, there are no apparent simplifications that may lower the cost of the audit.</p><p>Problem statement: We believe, with support from previous research, that there will be a demand from micro companies to audit. However, the auditing standards are not adapted to micro companies. This is why we’ve chosen to investigate what four accountants feel about the duty and an eventual simplification of the present audit process for micro companies.</p><p>Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate four accountants opinion on the abolishment of audit reporting duty and an eventual simplification of the present audit process of micro companies.</p><p>Method: We have used an inductive research approach and a qualitative approach to the investigation. We have used four interviews with accountants to launch the study.</p><p>Conclusion: The common opinion, irrespective of individual definition of the term ”simplification”, is that auditing can be made more cost efficient and adjusted to smaller joint-stock companies. The starting point should be present standards. However, what’s been done so far doesn’t seem to be enough.</p>

Background: Sweden has, since 1983, had a statutory audit for all joint-stock companies. However, according to EG’s fourth corporation directive, member countries can decide on their own if this applies for small joint-stock companies. An investigation was launched in the fall of 2006 to form an opinion on the importance of the audit reporting by law and what an abolishment of this rule would mean for small joint-stock companies. Critics are claiming that the cost of audit for small companies is exceeding the cause in these micro companies. Audit is regulated by Swedish translation (RS) of International Standards on Auditing (ISA) and is to be applied in all companies comprised by the statutory audit. However, there is a statement about how RS should be adjusted to small corporations. Still, there are no apparent simplifications that may lower the cost of the audit. Problem statement: We believe, with support from previous research, that there will be a demand from micro companies to audit. However, the auditing standards are not adapted to micro companies. This is why we’ve chosen to investigate what four accountants feel about the duty and an eventual simplification of the present audit process for micro companies. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate four accountants opinion on the abolishment of audit reporting duty and an eventual simplification of the present audit process of micro companies. Method: We have used an inductive research approach and a qualitative approach to the investigation. We have used four interviews with accountants to launch the study. Conclusion: The common opinion, irrespective of individual definition of the term ”simplification”, is that auditing can be made more cost efficient and adjusted to smaller joint-stock companies. The starting point should be present standards. However, what’s been done so far doesn’t seem to be enough.