Technical auditing standards change frequently and, although they are addressed to the auditor, they have visible effects for the audited company: in the report it receives, in communications with the board of directors and in the documentation it is asked for. In this article we summarise what the Spanish Institute of Accounting and Auditing (ICAC), the national audit oversight authority, has published for the 2025 and 2026 audits and what your company will notice.
What has changed in the auditing standards
In this period, the changes with the greatest effect on the auditor’s work and on the report have come through the International Standards on Auditing as adapted for Spain (NIA-ES), which the ICAC publishes by resolution in Spain’s Official State Gazette (BOE).
| Standard | ICAC resolution | BOE | Applies from | Who is affected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NIA-ES 260 (Revised) and NIA-ES 700 (Revised) | 17/07/2025 | No. 177 of 24/07/2025 | Audits of financial years beginning on or after 01/01/2025 and, in any event, engagements contracted from 01/01/2026 | All audits; substantive changes focused on public interest entities |
| Amendment of NIA-ES 510, 570, 600, 700, 705, 706, 710 and 720 | 22/01/2026 | No. 27 of 30/01/2026 | Accounts for financial years beginning on or after 22/06/2025 and engagements contracted from 01/01/2026 | Structure of the report templates; reference to the corporate income tax information report |
| NIA-ES 570 (Revised 2024), Going Concern | 16/07/2026 (public consultation) | No. 192 of 07/08/2026 | No date: not approved | All audits, once approved |
Revised NIA-ES 260 and 700: independence and communication
The ICAC Resolution of 17 July 2025 published new versions of NIA-ES 260 (communication with those charged with governance) and NIA-ES 700 (forming an opinion and reporting). They incorporate limited changes to the IESBA Code of Ethics on independence and its public disclosure in public interest entities. Paragraphs that are incompatible with Spanish legislation appear as “deleted”. The new versions replace those published by Resolution of 11 April 2024.
For an SME that is not a public interest entity, the substance changes little. What matters is that your auditor must apply the updated versions in the audits of the 2025 and subsequent financial years.
New section on the corporate income tax information report
The ICAC Resolution of 22 January 2026 amended eight NIA-ES relating to the auditor’s report. The reason is the obligation in art. 5.1.g) of the Spanish Audit Act (LAC): the auditor must report on the corporate income tax information report that certain companies and branches must publish. This is the transposition of the so-called public country-by-country report under EU legislation, designed for large multinational groups.
The resolution adds a section to NIA-ES 700 within the “Report on other legal and regulatory requirements” and updates the report templates. It applies to accounts for financial years beginning on or after 22 June 2025 and to engagements contracted from 1 January 2026.
Does it affect your SME? The obligation to publish that report only applies to large groups and companies, so almost no SME in Alicante will be required to do so. What you may notice is that the structure of the auditor’s report has been updated.
NIA-ES 570 out for public consultation
By Resolution of 16 July 2026, published in the BOE on 7 August 2026, the ICAC put out for public consultation NIA-ES 570 (Revised 2024) on going concern, together with conforming amendments to 22 other NIA-ES. The comment period is two months from the day after publication. As at the date of this update, the ICAC website shows no final approval, so it is not yet an applicable standard. We explain its content and how management can prepare in our article on revised NIA-ES 570 and going concern.
ICAC queries published in 2026
The ICAC publishes its accounting and auditing queries in the ICAC Bulletin (BOICAC). The Institute’s website lists BOICAC 144 (December 2025), BOICAC 145 (April 2026) and BOICAC 146 (July 2026). According to summaries published by specialist sources, BOICAC 145 includes accounting queries of practical interest for SMEs, such as the recognition of a non-monetary contribution of a business between companies controlled by the same persons, or the treatment of goods intended as free samples. We recommend reading the official text of each query before applying it, because summaries may omit relevant nuances.
What your company will notice in its next report
- Updated report structure, with the new section on the corporate income tax information report where applicable.
- Communications with the board of directors in accordance with revised NIA-ES 260, especially in public interest entities.
- More attention to going concern, even though revised NIA-ES 570 has not been approved: the international trend is to require the auditor to carry out a more in-depth evaluation of management’s forecasts.
- Updated engagement letter: engagements contracted from 1 January 2026 must reflect the standards in force.
Remember that the auditor for the 2026 financial year must be appointed by the general meeting before the end of that financial year. We explain this in the annual accounts and auditor appointment calendar. And if you are unsure whether your company must be audited, see the current mandatory audit thresholds in 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Does the corporate income tax section affect my SME?
Foreseeably not in substance, because the obligation to publish that report is aimed at large groups. Your auditor will, however, use the updated report templates.
Does the format of the auditor’s report change?
The structure of some sections changes, but not the opinion or its meaning. The opinion, basis for opinion and key audit matters or most significant assessed risks sections remain.
Does the new NIA-ES 570 already apply?
No. As at the date of this update, it is at the public consultation stage. The current NIA-ES 570 applies, with the January 2026 amendment.
Where can I read the ICAC queries?
In the BOICAC publications section of the ICAC website, which is freely accessible.
Official sources
- BOE-A-2025-15417: ICAC Resolution of 17/07/2025, revised NIA-ES 260 and 700
- BOE-A-2026-2234: ICAC Resolution of 22/01/2026, amendment of NIA-ES
- BOE-A-2026-17276: ICAC Resolution of 16/07/2026, NIA-ES 570 out for public consultation
- ICAC: BOICAC publications
- ICAC: announcements
If you would like to know how these changes affect the audit of your 2025 or 2026 accounts, our audit of annual accounts team can explain. We are auditors in Alicante, registered with the ROAC under no. S1604. Contact us.
Article prepared by Controlaudit’s technical team. Updated on 8 October 2026. This content is for information purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice on your specific case.