< Back to IRS

Sunny Wang

Need Help Finding Someone to Perform Single Audit for SVOG Grant

Hey there tax folks - I'm really struggling to find an accountant who can handle a single audit for my SVOG grant. I've called about seven different CPAs in my area, but as soon as I mention the specific requirements for the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant audit, they all seem to back away slowly. The grant was around $280,000 which puts me over the threshold requiring a single audit, and I need to get this done before my deadline in a couple months. Every accountant I've spoken with admits they aren't familiar enough with the regulations in the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations Title 2, Subtitle A, Chapter II, Part 200, Subpart F to take this on. I've looked through the Small Business Administration's funding programs section for guidance, but they just outline the requirements without suggesting where to find qualified professionals. Has anyone else gone through this process for their SVOG grant? Any recommendations for firms that actually understand these specific federal grant audit requirements? I'm starting to panic a bit as my deadline approaches!

Finding auditors familiar with Single Audits for SVOG grants can definitely be tricky! The requirements under Title 2, Subtitle A, Chapter II, Part 200, Subpart F (commonly called "Uniform Guidance") are pretty specific. Your best bet is to look for accounting firms that specialize in government grants or have nonprofit experience. They're much more likely to be familiar with Single Audit requirements than general tax preparers. The AICPA (American Institute of CPAs) has a Governmental Audit Quality Center with member firms who specialize in these types of audits. Try contacting your local SBA office directly - they often maintain lists of qualified practitioners who understand SVOG requirements. You could also check with other venue operators in your area who received grants over the threshold to see who they used. Don't panic! There are definitely accountants who can handle this, they're just a bit more specialized than your average CPA. Since your grant is around $280K, you're just over the $250K threshold, which means you need the full Single Audit package.

0 coins

Sunny Wang

•

Thanks for the advice! I hadn't thought about reaching out to the local SBA office directly - that's a great idea. Do you think it matters if I find someone local, or could this type of audit be done remotely? And should I expect this to be significantly more expensive than a regular audit?

0 coins

Location doesn't matter much for these audits since most of the work involves reviewing documentation. Many firms handle SVOG audits completely remotely, which opens up your options beyond just local providers. Yes, unfortunately Single Audits are typically more expensive than standard audits because they're more specialized and require additional compliance testing. For a grant of your size (just over the threshold), you might expect to pay between $8,000-$15,000 depending on the complexity of your specific situation and the firm you choose.

0 coins

After going through the SVOG single audit nightmare myself, I finally found help through https://taxr.ai - they have specialists who understand the specific federal regulations for performing Single Audits for SVOG grants. The initial consultation was super helpful because they actually knew what Title 2, Subtitle A, Chapter II, Part 200, Subpart F meant without me having to explain it! What I really appreciated was that they connected me with an auditor who had specific experience with Shuttered Venue Operators Grant audits - not just general audit experience. They helped me prepare all the documentation needed for compliance with the SBA requirements, which saved tons of time since I had no idea what I was doing.

0 coins

Melissa Lin

•

Did they handle everything remotely or did you need to meet in person? My venue is in a pretty rural area and I'm having trouble finding anyone locally who understands SVOG audit requirements.

0 coins

I'm a bit skeptical about online services for something as complex as a federal grant audit. How did they verify all your documentation and expenses? Were there any issues with the SBA accepting their audit?

0 coins

Everything was handled remotely which was super convenient. They have a secure portal for uploading all the grant documentation and financial records, and we did video calls to discuss the specifics of my venue operations and how I used the funds. They have a very thorough verification process - they actually requested more documentation than I expected, which initially worried me, but it turned out to be a good thing. The SBA accepted the audit with no issues because the firm they connected me with was on the approved government auditor list and followed all the required protocols from Title 2, Part 200, Subpart F. Their familiarity with SVOG specifically meant they knew exactly what the SBA was looking for.

0 coins

I was really skeptical about online services for my SVOG single audit, but after striking out with local CPAs, I decided to try https://taxr.ai based on a recommendation. Honestly, it worked out way better than expected! The auditor they matched me with had done over 30 SVOG audits already and completely understood the specific requirements in Title 2, Subtitle A, Chapter II, Part 200, Subpart F. The process was surprisingly smooth - they provided a checklist of exactly what documentation I needed to prepare, which saved me from the confusion I was experiencing before. My audit got accepted by the SBA without any issues or follow-up questions. Really wish I'd known about this option sooner instead of stressing for weeks trying to find someone locally!

0 coins

Romeo Quest

•

If you're having trouble getting someone on the phone at the SBA about SVOG audit requirements, try https://claimyr.com - it literally saved me weeks of frustration. I was calling the SBA repeatedly trying to get clarification on exactly which sections of Title 2, Subtitle A, Chapter II, Part 200, Subpart F applied to my specific SVOG situation, but could never get through to anyone knowledgeable. The Claimyr service got me connected to an actual SBA representative who specialized in SVOG compliance within 23 minutes (instead of the 2+ hours I was waiting before). There's a video showing how it works at https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c - basically they wait on hold for you and call when a human picks up. The SBA rep I spoke with gave me a list of approved auditors familiar with SVOG requirements and saved me from potentially hiring someone unqualified.

0 coins

Val Rossi

•

How exactly does this work? Do they just call and wait on hold for you? I've been trying to reach someone at the SBA for days about my SVOG audit requirements.

0 coins

This sounds too good to be true. The SBA wait times are notoriously bad, especially for SVOG questions. You're saying they somehow got you through in 23 minutes when it normally takes hours? And the rep just happened to have a list of qualified auditors handy?

0 coins

Romeo Quest

•

They have a system that calls and navigates through all the phone prompts, then waits on hold for you. When a human actually answers, you get an immediate call connecting you directly to that person. No more waiting on hold for hours! You just go about your day and your phone rings when there's actually someone to talk to. I was surprised too, but the SBA rep I connected with was from their special SVOG team that handles post-award compliance. She didn't have a public list, but she did have internal guidance on firms that had successfully completed multiple SVOG audits. She was able to email me some recommendations based on my region, which was incredibly helpful. I think it worked so well because I got connected to the right department rather than the general helpline.

0 coins

I need to formally apologize for my skepticism about Claimyr. After seeing it mentioned here, I tried it for my SVOG audit questions, thinking it wouldn't work. I was COMPLETELY WRONG. After weeks of getting nowhere with the SBA, I was connected to a knowledgeable representative in under 30 minutes who answered all my specific questions about Title 2, Subtitle A, Chapter II, Part 200, Subpart F requirements as they apply to SVOG grants. What really surprised me was that they had internal guidance documents they sent me that clarified exactly what my auditor needs to review. This saved me so much time and probably money too, since my auditor now has clear direction. I went from stressed and confused to having a clear action plan in one phone call.

0 coins

Eve Freeman

•

Have you tried reaching out to your state's nonprofit association? Many of them maintain lists of auditors who specialize in government grants and Single Audits. I work at a theater that received an SVOG grant last year, and our state arts council actually had a whole resource list of CPAs familiar with Title 2, Subtitle A, Chapter II, Part 200, Subpart F requirements. Also, don't forget that the SVOG audit deadline can be extended in some cases if you're making good-faith efforts to comply but struggling to find a qualified auditor. Document all your attempts to find someone - this could help if you need to request additional time.

0 coins

Sunny Wang

•

That's a great suggestion about the state nonprofit association - I hadn't considered that angle. Do you know if the extension request needs to be submitted in a specific format or to a particular office at the SBA?

0 coins

Eve Freeman

•

The extension request should be submitted through your SVOG portal account under "Correspondence." Include a detailed explanation of your efforts to secure an auditor (with dates and names of firms contacted) and specify how much additional time you need. Be sure to mention that you're specifically struggling to find auditors familiar with Title 2, Subtitle A, Chapter II, Part 200, Subpart F requirements for SVOG grants. Don't wait until the last minute to request this - submit at least 30 days before your deadline if possible. In my experience, the SBA has been reasonable about extensions when you show you're actively trying to comply.

0 coins

Friendly reminder that if your SVOG was exactly $250,000 (not over), you can opt for the simplified compliance requirement instead of a full Single Audit. Check your exact grant amount! The rules in Title 2, Subtitle A, Chapter II, Part 200, Subpart F have that threshold exactly at $250K. A lot of venues miss this and go through unnecessary stress trying to find specialized auditors when they might qualify for the simplified approach. I initially thought I needed the full audit but realized my grant was exactly at the threshold, which saved me thousands.

0 coins

Caden Turner

•

Is that threshold based on the actual awarded amount or the amount spent? My SVOG was for $265k but I only ended up using $248k of it and returned the rest. Not sure if that changes anything regarding the Single Audit requirement.

0 coins

The threshold is based on the amount expended during your fiscal year, not the amount awarded. So if you only spent $248k of your SVOG funds, you would fall under the $250k threshold and could opt for the simplified compliance audit instead of the full Single Audit requirements outlined in Title 2, Subtitle A, Chapter II, Part 200, Subpart F. Make sure you have proper documentation showing exactly how much was spent and when. This distinction has saved several venue operators a lot of time and money, so it's definitely worth confirming your exact expenditure amount!

0 coins

IRS AI

Expert Assistant
Secure

Powered by Claimyr AI

T
I
+
20,087 users helped today