Updated BARS Manuals now available on SAO’s website

Updated: Jan 5, 2023

The State Auditor's Office has finished updating the GAAP and Cash Basis BARS Manuals.

The “Overview of Changes” section contains detailed descriptions of the changes and links to the appropriate sections of the manuals. Please refer to the “Alerts and Changes” tab for determining which revisions might affect your 2022 annual reporting.

If you missed the 2022 BARS Update webinars, you can find the recorded trainings on the eLearnings section of the Training and Workshops page of SAO's website.

Annual filing templates are updated and can be found on the Reporting Templates page.

The Annual Online Financial Report Filing System for calendar year-end governments is NOT available. Local governments will be notified in January 2023 when the filing system for 12/31/2022 reporting is available. Reminder—your annual report filing for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2022, is required by Tuesday, May 30, 2023. Please note that Monday, May 29, 2023, is a state-recognized holiday and SAO staff will not be available to assist you.

If you have any questions regarding the BARS update, please send us a HelpDesk request.

For questions regarding annual filing and online reporting, please contact the Filing Team at LGCSFeedback@sao.wa.gov.