That invoice is how old???

© 2016 Zafiro Hernandez

Have you ever had a call from a vendor asking for payment on a one-year-old invoice? You think to yourself, "who would wait a year before contacting you anyway" SMH! Well, Here are a few reasons that I have come across over the years.

* Invoice is missing contact information.
* The vendor is not sending the W9 form.
* Invoices are not sent to AP, there are being sent to the purchaser (and never made it to AP).

I want to hear from you! Have you heard of this happening before? What is your story (or the story you heard)?

Today is not Tax Day!

Quick FYI: Just in case you were sweating bullets over getting your tax return done today (since it is April 15th), realize you have a bit more time. This year you have until Monday, April, 18th.

According to the IRS website, "Friday, April 15, 2016, is Emancipation Day, so tax year 2015 returns are due Monday, April 18, 2016. Taxpayers in Maine and Massachusetts observe Patriots' Day on April 18, 2016, so they will have until Tuesday, April 19, 2016, to file" - source: https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc301.html

We need your thoughts about checks!

I want your opinion. Please give me your thoughts on this survey about checks:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WRSNY2M

Your input will help our group grow and if you add your contact info at the end of the survey you can win this book (or similar):

Thanks again! 

- Robert Ruhno

  Accounts Payable Professionals Group

IRS car mileage rates VS. Gasoline Prices

I was curious to see what it would look like to see the IRS mileage rate graphed out (the blue graph line below). 

Then I thought, wouldn't it be interesting to chart the average US gasoline prices (in red below) for the same years, then overlay the graph lines over the IRS graph. Here is that result:

IRS Mileage rates vs Average US Gasoline Prices | APPG 2016

This chart can be found on the IRS website (www.irs.gov):

Period	Rates in cents per mile			Source
	Business	Charity	Medical Moving
2016	54	14	19	IR-2015-137
2015	57.5	14	23	IR-2014-114
2014	56	14	23.5	IR-2013-95
2013	56.5	14	24	IR-2012-95
2012	55.5	14	23	IRB-2012-02
July 1 - Dec. 31, 2011	55.5	14	23.5	IR-2011-69
Jan. 1 - June 30, 2011	51	14	19	IR-2010-119
2010	50	14	16.5	IR-2009-111
2009	55	14	24	IR-2008-131
July 1 - Dec. 31, 2008	58.5	14	27	IR-2008-82
Jan. 1 - June 30, 2008	50.5	14	19	IR-2007-192
2007	48.5	14	20	IR-2006-168
2006	44.5	14	18	IR-2005-138
2005	40.5	14	15	IR-2004-139 Pub. L. 109-73 IR-2005-99
2004	37.5	14	14	IR-2003-121
2003	36	14	12	Rev. Proc. 2002-61
2002	36.5	14	13	Rev. Proc. 2001-54
2001	34.5	14	12	Rev. Proc. 2000-48 2000-2 C.B. 570
2000	32.5	14	10	Rev. Proc. 99-38 1999-2 C.B. 525
1999	31	14	10	Announcement 99-7 1999-1 C.B. 306 Rev. Proc. 98-63 1998-2 C.B. 818
1998	32.5	14	10	Rev. Proc. 97-58 1997-2 C.B. 587
1997	31.5	12	10	Rev. Proc. 96-63 1996-2 C.B. 420

Robert Ruhno

Social Media Director

Accounts Payable Professionals Group

Please accept my invitation to join us. Click here now!

Why Accounts Payable Recovery Auditing?

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Accounts Payable | Controls & Risk

What an Accounts Payable Recovery Audit Can Deliver

Recovery audits can help an organization identify payment errors, recover money, and uncover weaknesses in its accounts payable processes. The value is not limited to the amount recovered. A strong audit can also help stop similar errors from happening again.

1. Recover money owed to the company

A recovery audit can examine historical transactions for payment errors such as:

• Duplicate invoices and duplicate payments
• Vendor overpayments
• Missed or incorrectly applied discounts
• Sales and use tax overpayments
• Credits that were issued but never applied
• Other invoice and payment discrepancies

Internal auditors may already review high-dollar suppliers, the largest payment categories, or a sample of transactions. Those reviews are valuable, but they may not cover every supplier or every type of payment error.

A specialized recovery audit firm may use additional technology, transaction matching methods, vendor outreach, and subject-matter expertise to identify errors that were not found during an internal review.

Important: Audit firms can differ in their technology, methodology, specialty areas, and contract terms. Compare the proposed scope carefully and avoid overlapping audits that could result in duplicate vendor contacts or competing recovery claims.

2. Correct the AP processes causing the errors

A recovery audit should do more than produce a list of recoveries. It should also help explain why the errors occurred.

An audit may identify weaknesses involving invoice matching, vendor master maintenance, credit processing, tax treatment, purchase order controls, payment approvals, or communication between Accounts Payable and other departments.

In some cases, the review may also uncover suspicious activity that requires additional investigation. The findings can then be used to strengthen procedures, system controls, employee training, and management reporting.

APPG takeaway: The best recovery audit does not only recover yesterday’s overpayment. It helps prevent tomorrow’s overpayment.

How recovery audit fees usually work

Many recovery audit firms work on a contingency-fee basis. The firm receives an agreed percentage of the money it successfully recovers for the client.

Under this type of arrangement, there may be no recovery fee when the audit does not produce a recovery. However, fee structures and contract terms vary. Review the agreement for minimum fees, exclusions, data requirements, claim ownership, recovery approval procedures, and the definition of a completed recovery.

APPG Resource

Find an AP recovery audit company

APPG maintains a spreadsheet containing contact information for companies that provide accounts payable recovery audit services.

View the Recovery Audit Directory

Recovery audit companies may also submit their information through the spreadsheet. Inclusion in the directory does not represent an APPG endorsement. Organizations should conduct their own vendor evaluation, security review, and contract review.

Editorial Note: The article formatting was updated on July 10, 2026.

APPG Contributor

Robert Ruhno

Executive Director, Accounts Payable Professionals Group

Practical AP reporting, controls guidance, automation coverage, and career support for the accounts payable community.

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APP2P Conference & Expo

The Accounts Payable & Procure-to-Pay Conference & Expo is the most important get-together for Accounts Payable Professionals this year so far. The amount of AP specific knowledge that you will gain, by attending this event, is huge!

The date and place are May 23-25, 2016 in Walt Disney World, Florida. You can take the APS & APM exams, sit-in on many informative sessions, and network with fellow AP Professionals and Industry Pros.

For more information on this event click now on http://www.iofm.com/conference-spring