Financial and Operational Combined Uniform Single Report

(FOCUS) XBRL Filing Solution

XBRL Tagging Support for FOCUS Reports – Here’s What You Need to Know

RDG Filings is ready to support broker-dealers with full XBRL tagging, validation, and EDGAR submission services for FOCUS Reports (Form X-17A-5) in light of the SEC’s new structured data rules.

Why This Change Matters

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The SEC’s final rule, Electronic Submission of Certain Materials; Amendments Regarding the FOCUS Report (Release No. 33-11342), mandates that certain broker-dealer filings- including annual financials and portions of the FOCUS Report-be submitted using structured data formats (Inline XBRL or XML). SEC+2XBRL US+2

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Broker-dealers must file FOCUS Report Parts II, IIA, and IIC using structured data for filings due on or after March 31, 2026.

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The requirement for structuring (tagging) annual financial statements and related disclosures is phased: starting June 30, 2026 for firms meeting certain size thresholds, and for all other firms by June 30, 2028.

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As part of the amendments, the notary requirement has been removed from Part III of the Form X-17A-5, and electronic signatures are permitted in many cases.

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The rule is intended to enhance data comparability, transparency, and analytic capabilities by the SEC and third parties- reducing reliance on manually entered, unstructured data. XBRL US+2SEC+2

What Broker-Dealers Need to Do

  1. Plan for structured data compliance – Begin assessing your internal systems, financial statements, footnotes, schedules, and narrative disclosures to prepare for XBRL tagging.
  2. Decide on approach – You can tag in-house using software, or outsource to a specialist (like RDG) that knows SEC tagging rules for FOCUS reports.
  3. Integrate validation & quality control – Ensure your tagged filings pass SEC/EDGAR validations-errors or incorrect tagging can delay acceptance.
  4. Submit via EDGAR in Inline XBRL (or XML where required) – All eligible portions of your FOCUS Report must be filed in structured format through EDGAR. XBRL US+1

Why Use RDG Filings for Your XBRL Tagging & Submission

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We specialize in broker-dealer FOCUS report tagging, so we know the line items, footnote relationships, and regulatory expectations.

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Fast turnaround with rigorous checks to reduce risk of rejection by SEC.

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Flexible support: full end-to-end service or just review / validation of your tagging.

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We stay current as SEC guidance evolves, so your filings remain compliant.

Let’s get you ready for 2026 and beyond. 

Contact our XBRL team to talk through your FOCUS tagging plan.