A Comparison of XBRL Filings to Corporate 10-Ks - Evidence from the Voluntary Filing Program

51 Pages Posted: 1 May 2009 Last revised: 26 Jul 2014

See all articles by Jon W. Bartley

Jon W. Bartley

North Carolina State University

Y. Al Chen

North Carolina State University

Eileen Zalkin Taylor

North Carolina State University

Date Written: February 18, 2010

Abstract

The SEC phase-in of XBRL financial statement filings began June 2009, and by 2011, all public registrants will be required to file XBRL disclosures. While the SEC expects the interactivity of XBRL-tagged data to add value to financial reports, this benefit will materialize only if the XBRL statements are accurate and reliable. If inaccuracies or other significant problems occur in initial XBRL filings, registrants stand to lose credibility and users will lose confidence in the data, potentially forcing the abandonment of the XBRL reporting initiative. This study evaluates the accuracy of early voluntary filings and develops an expectation about the accuracy of mandated filings. While improvements in the XBRL standard and related technology will mitigate certain errors, other errors, related to inexperience, will persist. This study identifies those errors and makes recommendations about how to reduce experience-related errors.

Keywords: XBRL, Interactive Data, SEC

JEL Classification: G28

Suggested Citation

Bartley, Jon W. and Chen, Y. Al and Taylor, Eileen Zalkin, A Comparison of XBRL Filings to Corporate 10-Ks - Evidence from the Voluntary Filing Program (February 18, 2010). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1397658 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1397658

Jon W. Bartley

North Carolina State University ( email )

Raleigh, NC 27695-8110
United States
919-515-2256 (Phone)

Y. Al Chen

North Carolina State University ( email )

Raleigh, NC 27695-8110
United States
919-515-2256 (Phone)

Eileen Zalkin Taylor (Contact Author)

North Carolina State University ( email )

Campus Box 8113
Nelson Hall
Raleigh, NC 27695-8113
United States
919-513-2476 (Phone)

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