Online Program

Statistical Sampling for Business

Keywords: sampling, tax, auditing

The statistical group at Ernst & Young provides statistical assistance and advice on hundreds of projects per year. A significant portion of the statistical work is sampling for tax purposes to identify deductible business transactions, reclassify assets to shorter tax life, or document eligible research activities or for other regulatory purposes like identifying errors in healthcare billing claims to government payers. Communication gaps can mean the difference between an unhappy client and a satisfied repeat client. While each sample is unique and individually designed and analyzed, there are common steps in the process from identifying the sampling population to producing final estimates and a report. Common pitfalls are identified for each of the steps along with strategies to minimize misunderstandings and rework.