Crash Course in Accounting and Financial Statement Analysis, Second Edition

Form 10-K (Annual Filing)

At the end of each fiscal year, publicly traded companies must file a 10-K report, which includes a thorough overview of their businesses and finances as well as their financial statements.

Forms 10-K are due 60 days after the close of a company’s fiscal year.

Why Is the 10-K Important?

Companies are required by the SEC to file it annually. Form 10-K usually provides the most detailed overview of companies’ financial operations and regulations governing them.

Annual Report versus 10-K: What’s the Difference? In addition to a 10-K, at the end of each year companies also issue an annual report that contains management discussion, financial information, and data quite similar to a 10-K, and is sometimes confused with a 10-K. However, an annual report is not the same as a 10-K. An annual report is not a required SEC filing, and companies have a considerable amount of latitude in the structure and contents of this report. While the annual report may contain details not reported elsewhere, in general, the 10-K presents a more detailed and unfettered picture of the company’s operations and situation than is found in its regular annual report.