XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language) Term Paper

XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language) - Term Paper Example This exchange occurs across all technologies as well as software, including the internet. As an XML-based framework, XBRL provides a method based on standards that can be used by the financial community in the preparation of financial statements in various formats. Extensible Business Reporting Language does not aim at establishing new standards in accounting. Rather, the main aim encompasses the enhancement of the already existing standards through the use of XML (digital language in business). XBRL can also be regarded as a computer programming add-on, which tags each segment that makes up the computer business information using an identification marker or code (Eccles & Krzus 67-90). Origins The origins of this specification can be traced back to calls on â€Å"a quantum leap over existing technologies† by reporting language SEC chairman, Christopher Cox, conceived by Charlie Hoffman, a rebel accountant. As a Certified Public Accountant with a passion for technology, Hoffma n read a book in 1997 about XML. He noted that other industries widely applied the use of this technology in the conduct of their business. As such, he decided to discover how this technology could be implemented for financial statements. In April, the same year, he began to develop prototypes of financial statements, as well as audit schedules with the use of XML (Eccles & Krzus 67-90).... History After the realization about the potential of using XML in financial reporting, Hoffman took the initiative to inform Wayne Harding, the AICPA High Tech Task Force Chairman. He asked Charlie to inform the task force about the potential of XML in September of 1998. The High Tech Task Force on AICPA came up with a product description, which proposed the creation of a set of financial statements through the use of XML. Karen Waller, a Certified Public Accountant and an AICPA member of staff helped in the perfection of the product description. On the 2nd October, 1998 the results of the High Tech Task Force were presented to the committee of AICPA in charge of Committee organization by Wayne Harding (Eccles & Krzus 67-90). Following the presentation, the AICPA declared its determination to fund the project, which would see the use of XML to create a set of financial statements. The prototype developed by Mark Jewett and Charlie Hoffman came to completion on December 31, 1998. Jeff rey Ricker of XML Solutions contributed significantly to the initial prototype. 50% of the development cost incurred in this initial prototype came from Knight, Vale and Gregory CPA firm. On the 5th of January 1999, this initial prototype was presented to the AICPA (Eccles & Krzus 67-90). Charlie Hoffman and Wayne Harding urged the AICPA to adopt it since XML proved essential to the profession of accounting. The AICPA requested the preparation of a business plan that could look into the base in regard to XML, particularly financial statements based on XML. This saw the code naming of the project as XFRML and the completion of the business plan took place on the 15th of June 1999. Those behind the creation of this