[ by Howard Haykin ]

FINRA published the 2013 schedule for all firm financial filings, along with a warning that firms face late fees if they do not strictly adhere to the submission deadlines.  The specific reports include:

• Annual Report
• FOCUS report  [Financial and Operational Combined Uniform Single report]
• Supplemental Statement  of Income (SSOI) Report. 

In all instances, all FINRA must be in receipt of the report on or before the deadline - the date a firm submits a report is inconsequential if FINRA has not received the report on or before the deadline.    Questions should be directed to each firm’s Regulatory Coordinator.

Annual Audit Report.   Securities Exchange Act (SEA) Rule 17a-5(d) requires, among other things, that every broker or dealer registered pursuant to Section 15 of the SEA file an annual audit report.  A completed SEC Form X-17A-5 Part III (Facing Page) must accompany a member firm’s annual audit report.  Member firms may request an extension of time to file their annual audit report in accordance with the relevant policies posted on FINRA’s website.  Filings are due no later than 11:59 p.m. ET on the due dates listed in this Notice.

For Periods Ended:                       Report is Due:  

December 31, 2012   ----------   March 1, 2013
January 31, 2013        ----------   April 1, 2013
February 28, 2013      ----------   April 29, 2013
March 31, 2013           -----------  May 30, 2013
April 30, 2013             ------------  July 1, 2013
May 31, 2013              ------------  July 30, 2013
June 30, 2013            ------------  August 29, 2013
July 31, 2013              ------------  September 30, 2013
August 31, 2013        ------------  October 30, 2013
September 30, 2013 ------------  November 29, 2013
October 31, 2013      ------------   December 30, 2013
November 30, 2013 ------------  January 29, 2014
December 31, 2013 ------------  March 1, 2014

As discussed in Regulatory Notice 11-46, and pursuant to NASD Rule 3170, FINRA is requiring member firms to submit their annual audit report in electronic form. Firms must continue to file annual audit reports in hard copy form with the SEC as required pursuant to SEA Rule 17a-5(d)(6).

FOCUS Reports.   FINRA member firms are required to submit FOCUS reports to FINRA pursuant to SEA Rule 17a-5.  Member firms must submit their FOCUS reports electronically through the eFOCUS system available on the FINRA Firm Gateway. For information about completing the FOCUS report, please see the FOCUS filing submission guidance  on FINRA’s website.

[Note:   Refer to page 3 of InfoNote for due dates applicable to:  (i) Monthly and Fifth FOCUS II/IIA Filings;  (ii) Quarterly FOCUS Part II/IIA Filings;  and, (iii) Annual Schedule I Filings.]

Supplemental Statement of Income (SSOI).   Pursuant to new FINRA Rule 4524, FINRA is requiring each member firm to file an SSOI, which is designed to provide more detailed categorization of the revenue and expense line items that are on the Statement of Income (Loss) page of the FOCUS report.  For information about completing the SSOI, please see the Supplemental Statement of Income (SSOI) page on FINRA’s website.

[Note:   Refer to page 4 of InfoNote for due dates applicable to:  SSOI Filings].

Call  (800) 321-6273  with questions about filing FOCUS reports, resetting passwords, and getting advice on technical questions concerning system requirements, file uploads, and submission problems for the Firm Gateway.

For further details, go to:   [ FINRA InfoNote, 12/3/12 ]. 

FINRA Provided the following additional information:

Referenced Rules and Notices.   NASD Rule 3170  ....   FINRA Rule 4524  ....  Regulatory Notice 11-46   ...   Regulatory Notice 12-11  .....  SEA Rule 17a-5.
Suggested Routing:   Compliance  .....    Legal  .....  Operations  ..... Regulatory Reporting  ..... Senior Management.