Reasonable and limited are different amounts of work.
Reasonable assurance
Positive form of conclusion- Deeper examination and wider evidence
- Larger samples and more corroboration
- Concludes in the positive form: the assertion is fairly stated
- Usually required where a lender or a regulator relies on it
Limited assurance
Negative form of conclusion- Less depth, narrower evidence
- Analytical procedures and targeted testing
- Concludes in the negative form: nothing came to our attention to suggest the assertion is materially misstated
- Common for voluntary disclosure and first cycles
Not a tolerance. A judgement threshold.
Materiality is the threshold at which a misstatement would influence the decision of the intended user. It is set during planning and stated in the statement. It is not a margin of error you are allowed. A misstatement below materiality is still a misstatement; it simply would not change the decision the statement supports.
Four conclusions, four different meanings.
| Unqualified | The assertion is supported by the evidence at the agreed assurance level. |
|---|---|
| Qualified | Supported except for one or more matters, which are stated explicitly in the statement. |
| Adverse | The evidence does not support the assertion. |
| Disclaimer | The available evidence is insufficient to form an opinion at all. |
What the person relying on our statement must know.
The statement covers a defined assertion, for a defined period, for a defined intended user. Using it outside that frame rests on nothing. If you are being shown a statement and the boundary is not clear to you, that is the first question to ask — and you can check its status before relying on it.
Frequently asked
The verification body sets it during planning, taking account of the intended user and the intended use, and states it in the statement. It is not negotiated down to fit a result.
Not always, but the decision is driven by risk and by the nature of the data — not by cost. Where risk requires site work, an engagement without it cannot proceed at the agreed level.
You can request it, and it will mean more evidence, more testing and more time. It does not make an unsupported figure supported.
Read next
Describe the claim — not the service.
Tell us what must be relied on, who will rely on it and by what date. We will confirm the correct programme, evidence requirement and responsible entity — or tell you it is outside our scope.