New Tools to Help Companies and Auditors Evaluate XBRL

As the last group of companies is subject to the final phase of the Securities and Exchange Commission mandate this summer, we are reaching a major turning point for eXtensible Business Reporting Language implementation in the U.S. Investors now have a full data set accessible for their analyses as all information from a company’s financial statements, as well as the notes and schedules, are individually tagged at a detailed level. This means investors now have the ability to search and access specific pieces of information for all public companies.

Integrated Reporting Essential for Useful Business Reporting

The current model for financial reporting has long been under discussion; investors and other stakeholders want more than a historical look back and one that only focuses on financial measures. They want to see the value companies create through intangible assets too.  Part of the solution is integrated reporting, which provides a holistic presentation of data and brings together the many disparate reports that organizations provide (as opposed to being an add-on to existing reports).

Congress is Keen on XBRL

AICPA staff members are very busy keeping up with activity related to eXtensible Business Reporting Language in the U.S. Congress.  Earlier this month House Ways and Means Human Resources Subcommittee Chairman Geoff Davis (R-KY) and Ranking Member Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) introduced H.R. 3339, the Standard Data and Technology Advancement Act, or the “Standard DATA Act.” The bill aims to establish consistent requirements for the electronic content and format of data used in the administration of key human services programs. Specifically, it calls for the incorporation of existing nonproprietary standards, such as XBRL.

If enacted, this bill would improve the collection and dissemination process for the federal government by standardizing data and eliminating time-consuming and error-prone manual processes. 

The Incredible eXtensible Business Reporting Language

Image via Wikipedia

Back in 1998, Charlie Hoffman, a CPA, embarked on a quest to revolutionize the way the world creates and shares business information. Based on eXtensible Markup Language, a new document markup language at the time, the eXtensible Business Reporting Language was created. Hoffman took his idea to the AICPA, which funded and championed the project. By 2000, XBRL 1.0 was published and interest had grown beyond the borders of the U.S. into the international community. Countries from Australia to Spain were signing up and applying XBRL to form better business information.