What is SEC Filing?

Publicly traded companies and other entities are required by the SEC — or Securities and Exchange Commission — to file certain disclosure forms. These different types of SEC filings not only ensure regulatory compliance, but they also provide need-to-know information to the public. Brush up on the most common types of SEC filings and how to get the forms completed quickly.

SEC Forms

What is SEC filing? While it is often spoken about as if it's a single process, there are actually multiple forms with different purposes, deadlines and filing requirements. Taken together, the forms that must be filed with the SEC portray critical information about a company's operations and financial health. They allow investors and analysts to compare one publicly traded company with another, since all entities must complete the same set of data. They also allow regulators to verify that the company is following all applicable regulations and hold accountable any violators.

Review the most common SEC filing forms to learn when each must be filed, what it contains, and how the information is used by stakeholders, including the general public and trading analysts.

Form 10-K

Filed annually from 60-90 days after year's end, Form 10-K dives into a company's financial state. This lengthy form contains a balance sheet, cash flow statement, income statement, comprehensive summary of market position, research and development, and a discussion of operations and business health over the year. Since the 10-K is complex, it is accompanied by an annual report that summarizes key takeaways with visuals.

Read More: SEC Form 10-K

Form 10-Q

This is a simplified 10-K filed on a quarterly basis. It conveys a snapshot of the company's financial condition and must be filed with the SEC within 40, or 45 days of the quarter's end. Investors and analysts use a company's Form 10-Q to gauge its financial health vis-a-vis competitors.

Read More: SEC Form 10-Q

Form 8-K

Necessary for disclosing important events that fall between time-bound 10-K and 10-Q statements, Form 8-K is used for major actions — from asset acquisition and executive appointments to bankruptcy filing, stock option adjustments and earnings releases. This document provides investors with timely access to information that might sway their behavior.

Read more: SEC Form 8-K

Section 16 Forms 3, 4 & 5

These three forms are lumped together because they must be filed by corporate insiders, which is a term that includes executive officers, directors and anyone who owns at least 10% of the business. Form 3 is the initial filing, with mention of ownership amount. Form 4 is filed when ownership changes. Form 5 is an annual update to Form 4. Savvy analysts review these forms to better understand the actions of corporate insiders and weigh their stock holdings accordingly.

Read More: Section 16 Filings

Form 144

Any time a corporate insider wants to sell more than 5,000 shares of company stock within a 3-month time period, this form must be filed.

Read More: SEC Form 144

Form S-1

Whenever a company is preparing to sell shares to the public for the first time — in what's known as an IPO or initial public offering — Form S-1 must be filed. The two-part form contains a prospectus of business operations, financial health, and company management plus relevant information such as recent securities sales, the number of shares on offer and risk factors that could impact investors' decisions. Form S-1 helps investors better understand the upcoming public offering and decide whether they wish to take part. An S-1 is also filed for secondary offerings when a company is not eligible to use a short form registration like an S-3.

Read More: SEC Form S-1

Form S-3

Form S-3 notifies the public that shares will be offered at a later date. Think of it like a grocery store circular: This form is there to alert interested parties to what is coming next, so they can budget funds accordingly if they want to participate.

Read More: SEC Form S-3

Form S-4

Publicly traded companies are required to file an S-4 form in the event of a merger or acquisition between them. This contains a variety of need-to-know information concerning the deal, which is of vital importance to any shareholders. Typical filings include basic elements of the deal as well as reasons for the merger from both perspectives, financial data on both companies and mandatory information about any underwriters involved.

Read More: SEC Form S-4

Form S-8

If a business offers its employees stock options as part of a benefits packages, then Form S-8 must be filed. The form officially registers the shares to the employee in question; their shares must be registered upon receipt so the employee can sell them at a later date.

Read More: SEC Form S-8

Schedule 13D

Anytime an individual acquires more than 5% of a company's voting shares, a Schedule 13D form must be filed within 10 days. It covers basic demographic information about the individual, along with an explanation for the transition and the source of funding used for share purchases.

Form 40-F 

Form 40-F is required by Canadian companies that are dual-listed on U.S. exchanges. It is used to register securities or to file annual reports with the SEC, ensuring compliance with U.S. securities laws. The form provides detailed financial information like what is filed in Canada.

Read More: SEC Form 40-F

Form 1-K

Form 1-K is an annual report filed by companies that have raised funds under Regulation A of the Securities Act of 1933. It includes information on the company's financial condition, operations, and any significant events that occurred during the year.

Read More: SEC Form 1-K

Form 1-Z

Form 1-Z is used by companies to inform the SEC about the termination or completion of a securities offering under Regulation A. These SEC filings confirm the company has completed its fundraising activities and outlines any remaining shares. It is important for transparency and compliance with SEC regulations.

Read More: SEC Form 1-Z

Form 12b-25

Form 12b-25 is filed by companies that need additional time to submit periodic reports, such as annual reports (Form 10-K) or quarterly reports (Form 10-Q). Filing this form notifies the SEC of the delay and provides a reason for the extension. Companies must also disclose the estimated date of when the report will be filed.

Read More: SEC Form 12b-25

Form 20-F

Form 20-F is filed annually by foreign private issuers to provide financial statements, governance disclosures, and other business information. This filing is similar to the Form 10-K used by U.S. companies, and it ensures that foreign companies meet U.S. financial reporting standards. It plays a crucial role in maintaining investor confidence and market transparency.

Read More: SEC Form 20-F

Form F-1

Form F-1 is used by foreign companies to register securities that will be offered to the U.S. public for the first time. This filing includes detailed financial statements, risk factors, and information about the company’s business and operations. It helps potential investors make informed decisions about purchasing securities.

Read More: SEC Form F-1

Form S-6

Form S-6 is filed by unit investment trusts (UITs) to register securities with the SEC under the Securities Act of 1933. This form includes information about the trust, the securities being offered, and the fees associated with the investment. It ensures potential investors receive key information about the UIT's structure and investment objectives.

Read More: SEC Form S-6

Form S-8

Form S-8 is used by companies to register securities that are offered to employees through stock purchase plans, savings plans, and other compensation programs. This form simplifies the process of offering company stock as part of employee benefit packages.

Read More: SEC Form S-8

Form N-PX: 

Form N-PX is filed by mutual funds and other registered investment companies to disclose how they voted on proxy matters. This form provides transparency to shareholders regarding how the fund's managers are voting on issues like corporate governance and executive compensation.

Read More: SEC Form N-PX

Foreign Investment Disclosures

This form is filed by foreign companies that offer securities on the U.S. stock market. There are also other important SEC filings that foreign companies must make. The purpose of the disclosures is for American investors to evaluate the company before investing. There's a benefit to the companies, however: By making information publicly available in English, they can potentially boost their shareholder base and raise more capital.

Proxy Statement

Companies must present proxy statements before shareholder meetings, during which every shareholder has the chance to vote on topics including executive compensation, board of directors’ compensation and other business. A proxy statement discloses management's perks and salary, as well as any other information that's up for vote. The statement also tells shareholders important info about how they can vote, whether by mail, email, over the phone, or by designating a proxy individual. The company must also file the proxy statement with the SEC in advance of the shareholder meeting.

Read More: Proxy Statement Solutions

How DFIN Can Help With SEC Filing

Keeping up with deadlines for SEC submissions and handling all reporting requirements is complex, but companies don't need to do it on their own. DFIN helps businesses deal with the complexities of financial reporting, including all the requirements of various SEC filing types.

Our ActiveDisclosure software provides the core filing tools needed to quickly prepare, validate and submit SEC filings efficiently, with collaborative tools for real-time teamwork and robust encryption for total security. Clients also have access to 24/7/365 customer support.

Additionally, we also offer our interactive SEC filing calendar. This tool helps businesses see filing deadlines and use a downloadable calendar to keep track of all relevant filing dates.

Stop stressing about SEC deadlines and deliverables and let us simplify your approach with our secure, cloud-based filing software.