The US Securities and Exchange Commission
(SEC) has adopted the 2011 US GAAP financial reporting
taxonomy.
The taxonomy is a list of computer-readable
tags in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language), which allows
companies to tag thousands of pieces of financial data included in
typical long-form financial statements and related footnote
disclosures.
The tags then allow computers to automatically
search for, assemble, and process data so it can be readily
accessed and analysed by investors, analysts, journalists, and
regulators.
The 2011 taxonomy contains updates for
accounting standards and other improvements to the official
taxonomy previously in use by SEC issuers.
The Financial Accounting Foundation is
responsible for the ongoing maintenance of the taxonomy applicable
to public issuers registered with the SEC.
