Auditors rely on bank confirmations for cash, loans, guarantees, and unused credit facilities. Banks in Taiwan vary in response speed; some branches reply within days, others take weeks.
Provide the auditor with a complete list of accounts, including dormant accounts and foreign-currency facilities, before fieldwork begins. Missing one guarantee letter can reopen the confirmation process after draft statements are already circulating.
Designate one finance contact to track outstanding confirmations. A simple chase log with dates contacted and bank officer names helps the engagement team decide when alternative procedures are needed.
If a bank routinely delays, ask early whether the auditor will accept alternative evidence such as subsequent statements and reconciliation of clearing items — but do not assume alternatives replace confirmation when balances are material.
Keep authorized signatories available during the confirmation window. Forms that sit unsigned on a director’s desk are a common, avoidable cause of opinion delay.