The Case of the Missing Tacos: A $62 Million Mystery (1.5 CPE)

This is an archived session with Sunder Gee – Data Analyst, Author, Zap Consulting from the Auditopia 2026 IDEA Conference.

A $62 million mystery. Six small restaurants. And allegations of hidden sales.

In this real-world case study IDEA data analytics played a critical role to analyze a $5.6 million sales tax assessment issued by the Department of Revenue. The case centered on the alleged use of sales suppression software within point-of-sale (POS) systems to delete transactions over a five-year period.

This session walks through how IDEA was used to challenge and ultimately dismantle key assumptions behind the tax authority’s analysis. The session highlights IDEA features such as Join, Append, Duplicate Key Exclusion, Summarization, Field Statistics, Stratification, and Gap Detection — all applied in a real-world, high-stakes investigation.

Participants will be exposed to:

• • Knowledge of POS systems, including data files

• • Sales suppression software and potential data anomalies

• • Practical usage of various IDEA features in relation to POS data

• • The need to verify assumptions, methodology and quantum

• • Recommendations for professionals regarding POS systems and data

Field of Study: Computer Software & Applications (0.5 CPE); Information Technology (1.0 CPE )  ~   Program Knowledge: Intermediate  Duration: 80 min