Compliance with Section 556 of the National Accounting and Auditing Manual

June 30, 1971 REVENUE MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 25-71 TO : All Internal Revenue Officers and Employees and others concerned Quoted hereunder are the pertinent provisions of Section 556 of the National Accounting and Auditing Manual, for the information, guidance and compliance of all the officers and employees of this Bureau: "SEC. 556. Relief from accountability for losses of property . Request for relief from accountability for losses of government property under Section 638 of the Revised Administrative Code or other similar provisions of law, shall be made in the form of a letter [not in the Inventory and Inspection Report, General Form No. 17 (A)] addressed to the Auditor. In case a responsible officer is the one seeking relief, the request shall invariably be forwarded through the Chief of the Bureau or Office. The letter shall contain a statement of the circumstances relating to the loss. The corresponding indorsement addressed to the Auditor shall specify the book value, property number, account classification and number of the warrant or voucher covering the acquisition of the asset lost and any additional information necessary for an intelligent decision in the claim for relief. "The request for relief shall be accompanied by sufficient evidence to prove the validity of the claim. This includes the affidavit of the officer signing the request, containing a statement of the facts and circumstances surrounding the loss, in addition to a list and description of the articles lost. The affidavits of at least two (2) disinterested persons cognizant of the facts and circumstances surrounding the case shall also be submitted. If only one or no other person is cognizant of the facts and circumstances about the loss, such conditions shall be stated fully in the affidavit of the person seeking relief, giving the reasons therefor. Immediate report to the law enforcing agency for investigation must be made. "When the request for relief is not filed within the statutory period of thirty (30) days, an explanation thereof is required. "Certificates may be substituted in lieu of affidavits in case no officer authorized to administer oaths is available. "xxx xxx xxx "Requests for relief for loss of certain property under the responsibility of officers stationed in the provinces, shall be coursed through the corresponding provincial auditor for comment and recommendation." It is desired that all concerned shall take cognizance of, and shall comply with the above requirement of the Accounting and Auditing Manual. cdt MISAEL P. VERA Commissioner of Internal Revenue