Since 1992, Lao PDR has utilized the Lao Accounting System
that requires the submission of a completed chart of
accounts to the Taxation Department of the Ministry of Finance. In practice, most of these financial statements are
not audited. There is no effective system of auditor certification or licensing in Lao PDR. New accounting and audit
laws have recently been approved in order to enable the future introduction of updated Lao accounting and audit
standards; however, these laws are currently descriptive in
nature and require clarification. The Ministry of Finance
sets accounting and audit standards in Lao PDR but lacks any
real technical capacity to manage this responsibility.