Annual Reports

Every broker or dealer registered pursuant to Section 15 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (SEA) is required to file an annual report as specified under SEA Rule 17a-5(d).  Members must submit their annual reports to FINRA in electronic form through FINRA’s Firm Gateway.  See below for further information on FINRA Firm Gateway.  

Filing with the SEC

Pursuant to amendments to SEA Rule 17a-5(d)(6), members must file the annual report with the SEC electronically on EDGAR. Please note the SEC will no longer accept paper filings. Members are reminded that the SEC requires firms to obtain EDGAR access credentials in order to be able to file electronically.[1] The process for obtaining such credentials may take several days and members are encouraged to request the access credentials prior to the due date of their filing in order to ensure timely submissions.

SIPC Requirement

SEA Rule 17a-5(d)(6) requires firms that are members of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC) to file the annual audit report with SIPC.  Members are reminded that in August 2017 SIPC and FINRA announced an agreement designed to ease reporting burdens and compliance costs for firms.[2]  Pursuant to the agreement, when a firm that is a SIPC member files an annual audit report through FINRA’s Firm Gateway on or after September 1, 2017, this will also constitute filing with SIPC.  Members may consult the SIPC website for further information.

FINRA Firm Gateway and Entitlements

Members must use their current FINRA entitlement user ID and password to access the Firm Gateway. Questions regarding access to the Firm Gateway should be directed to your firm’s Super Account Administrator (SAA). Questions regarding the filing of reports, the resetting of passwords or general technical concerns regarding system requirements should be directed to FINRA Support Center at (800) 321-6273.

 

Contact OGC

FINRA's Office of General Counsel (OGC) staff provides broker-dealers, attorneys, registered representatives, investors and other interested parties with interpretative guidance relating to FINRA’s rules. Please see the Rules and Guidance section for more information.

OGC staff contact:
Adam Arkel
FINRA, OGC
1735 K Street, NW
Washington, DC 20006
(202) 728-6961

Notes

[1]  See Electronic Submission of Certain Materials under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; Amendments Regarding the FOCUS Report.  The SEC has posted guidance for firms to file electronically on EDGAR.  See Edgar Guidance and Apply for EDGAR Access—Applicants with an EDGAR Central Index Key (CIK) Account but No Access Codes on the SEC website.

[2]  See FINRA News Release, SIPC and FINRA Streamline Reporting Process for Broker-Dealers (August 1, 2017).


 

  • Regulatory Notice 21-05
    SEC Grants FINRA Request for 30-Day Filing Extension for Smaller Broker-Dealers
    02/18/2021
  • Information Notice – 11/11/19
    2020 and First Quarter of 2021 Report Filing Due Dates
    11/07/2019
  • Information Notice – 11/16/18
    2019 and First Quarter of 2020 Report Filing Due Dates: Annual Audit; FOCUS; Form Custody; Supplemental Statement of Income (SSOI); Supplemental Schedule for Derivatives and Other Off-Balance Sheet Items (OBS); and Supplemental Inventory Schedule (SIS)
    11/16/2018
  • Regulatory Notice 18-38
    Amendments to the SEC's Financial Reporting Requirements—eFOCUS System Updates and Annual Audit Requirements
    11/05/2018
  • Information Notice – 11/30/17
    2018 and First Quarter of 2019 Report Filing Due Dates: Annual Audit; FOCUS; Form Custody; Supplemental Statement of Income (SSOI); Supplemental Schedule for Derivatives and Other Off-Balance Sheet Items (OBS); and Supplemental Inventory Schedule (SIS)
    11/30/2017
  • Regulatory Notice 17-07
    Updated SEC No-Action Guidance and Instructions on Electronic Filing of Broker-Dealer Annual Reports
    02/10/2017
  • Information Notice – 12/5/16
    2017 and First Quarter of 2018 Report Filing Due Dates: Annual Audit; FOCUS; Form Custody; Supplemental Statement of Income (SSOI); Supplemental Schedule for Derivatives and Other Off-Balance Sheet Items (OBS); and Supplemental Inventory Schedule (SIS)
    12/05/2016
  • Regulatory Notice 16-05
    SEC No-Action Guidance on Electronic Filing of Broker-Dealer Annual Reports
    01/26/2016
  • Information Notice – 12/14/15
    2016 and First Quarter of 2017 Report Filing Due Dates: Annual Audit; FOCUS; Form Custody; Supplemental Statement of Income (SSOI); Supplemental Schedule for Derivatives and Other Off-Balance Sheet Items (OBS); and Supplemental Inventory Schedule (SIS)
    12/14/2015
  • Information Notice - 12/30/14
    Annual Audit; FOCUS; Form Custody; Supplemental Statement of Income (SSOI); Supplemental Schedule for Derivatives and Other Off-Balance Sheet Items (OBS); and Supplemental Inventory Schedule (SIS)
    12/30/2014
  • Information Notice - 1/8/14
    2014 Annual Audit, FOCUS, Form Custody, Supplemental Statement of Income (SSOI) and Off-Balance Sheet (OBS) Report Filing Due Dates
    01/08/2014
  • Information Notice - 12/3/12
    2013 Annual Audit, FOCUS and Supplemental Statement of Income (SSOI) Report Filing Deadlines
    12/03/2012
  • Regulatory Notice 11-46
    FINRA to Require Electronic Submission of Annual Audit Reports
    10/03/2011
  • Information Notice 12/09/09
    Certification of Annual Audits
    12/09/2009
  • Notice to Members 07-16
    Frequently Asked NASD Financial and Operational Questions
    04/09/2007
  • Notice to Members 04-35
    NASD Reminds Member Firms of Their Obligations to File Certain Financial Reports
    04/30/2004