It is an issue related to the credibility of audits that check political funds.
A survey of political fund income and expenditure reports conducted by NHK found that there were 20 cases in which tax accountants, who are executives of support groups for Diet members, audited the political funds of the same members.
The Japan Tax Accountant Political Federation says, "We are aware that there is a risk that neutrality and fairness may be questioned. We would like to provide more appropriate guidance."
Since 2009, it has been compulsory to have the income and expenditure reports of all political organizations related to Diet members audited by external auditors registered with the government, such as tax accountants, in response to a series of political and money problems. I'm here.
When NHK examined a report released last November by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications and various election management committees, it was found that a tax accountant who serves as an executive of the "support group by tax accountants" that supports members of the Diet is a member of the same political party. It turned out that there were 20 cases of auditing political funds of related organizations such as branches and fund management organizations.
The government's Political Funds Audit Manual, which stipulates specific guidelines for audits, states that ``audits are performed by third parties with externalities.''
Approximately 330 tax accountant support groups have been established nationwide, and they are conducting petitions and election campaigns under the umbrella of the Japan Tax Accountant Political Federation.
In response to NHK's interview, the Japan Tax Accountant Political Federation said, ``This case does not violate the law, but we are aware that there is a risk that there may be doubts about its neutrality and fairness. We have been calling attention to such things, but we would like to provide more appropriate guidance."
Professor Emeritus Toshinori Iwai of Nihon University, who is familiar with the auditing system for political funds, said, "The political funds auditing system is built on the trust of the public, and doubts should be avoided. I think they should understand this, so I would like them to respond based on the purpose of the system."