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SA 700: Forming an Opinion and Reporting on Financial Statements

SA 700 - Auditor's report. Forming opinion, types of opinions, and reporting requirements.

GetYourCA Team
8 April 2026·Updated 8 April 20261 min read12.5K views

SA 700: Auditor's Report#

Elements of Auditor's Report#

  • Title
  • Addressee
  • Opening paragraph
  • Management's responsibility
  • Auditor's responsibility
  • Auditor's opinion
  • Other reporting responsibilities
  • Signature
  • Date
  • Address

Types of Opinions#

Unqualified Opinion

  • Financial statements give true and fair view
  • Prepared in accordance with applicable framework
  • Most common and desirable

Qualified Opinion

  • Except for effects of matters, financial statements give true and fair view
  • Used when:
    • Disagreement with management
    • Limitation on scope

Adverse Opinion

  • Financial statements do not give true and fair view
  • Used when material misstatements exist

Disclaimer of Opinion

  • Unable to form opinion
  • Used when scope limitation is material

Key Phrases#

Opinion TypeKey Phrase
Unqualified"give a true and fair view"
Qualified"except for the effects of..."
Adverse"do not give a true and fair view"
Disclaimer"we do not express an opinion"

Matters Requiring Communication#

  • Material misstatements
  • Significant deficiencies
  • Fraud
  • Non-compliance

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GetYourCA Team

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Disclaimer

We have taken utmost care to research and write this article for your information. However, tax laws are complex and subject to frequent changes. This article is for general guidance only and should not be considered professional advice. Individual circumstances vary significantly — what works for one person may not apply to another.

Before making any tax-related decisions, we strongly recommend consulting with a qualified Chartered Accountant or tax professional who can assess your specific situation. We do not accept any liability for decisions made based on this information.

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