Federal Audit Clearinghouse
The Federal Audit Clearinghouse has reopened after being shut down due to a security incident. All States, local governments, Indian tribes, institutions of higher education, and non-profit organizations that expend more than $750,000 in federal awards must have a single audit performed and submit their reporting packages and data collection forms to the FAC.
An organization must undergo a Single Audit or another program-specific audit if it receives federal funding. The government has strict rules regarding deadlines and requirements. Failure to meet these standards can have severe consequences. In addition to having funds withheld, the government can also start a debarment process or take other legal actions. This is why giving these audits the attention they deserve is important. The Federal Audit Clearinghouse is a database that collects information about completed Single Audits. It includes basic contact information for both the grant recipient and its auditor and detailed information on the type of programs audited. It also includes any findings encountered during the audit, including those pertaining to compliance requirements. The FAC is also required to publish this information online.
The FAC collects this information using a data collection form known as the SF-SAC. It’s available online, and a physical copy with the audit reporting package is sent. The SF-SAC is divided into three parts, and the FAC requires that the data be submitted within 30 days of issuance of the audit report. Beginning on October 1, 2023, the FAC will transition from Census to GSA, so those with fiscal year end dates in 2022 need to submit their SF-SAC data through the new portal. For more information about the transition, visit the FAC website.
Who Submits to the Federal Audit Clearinghouse?
To submit a report to the clearinghouse, the auditor must complete and upload Form SF-SAC along with the reporting package. This reporting package includes the auditor’s opinion on financial statements and schedule of expenditures of Federal awards, the summary schedule of prior audit findings, a statement of compliance, and other information. The report must be submitted to the Federal Audit Clearinghouse no later than 30 days after receipt of the audit reports or nine months after the end of the audit period – whichever is earlier.
For audits of DoD-funded Federal awards, the reporting package must include the identification of the “Major Program” tested as well as the corresponding test results. In a June 2007 report from the PCIE National Single Audit Sampling Project, the clearinghouse found that several instances of incorrectly identified Major Programs were reported, which could result in non-compliance with Federal audit requirements.
The Federal Audit Clearinghouse is scheduled to move from the Census Bureau to the General Services Administration (GSA) on October 1, 2023. Until then, all submissions should be made through the current Census FAC.
