A government committee was formed to simplify and standardize business reporting requirements across multiple authorities in Estonia. They developed an e-reporting environment and taxonomy to allow businesses to submit annual reports electronically using a single format. This reduced duplication, saved time for businesses and authorities, and improved data quality through automated checks. All accounting entities are now required to use the e-reporting system, which facilitates digital signing and faster processing of reports.

1. Berit Loog
Ministry of Justice

2.  Before 2010 entrepreneurs reported about
their activities and economic indicators to
different authorities.
 Data was submitted in duplicate form.
 No single format for the submission of data.
 Reporting arrangement was also burdensome
for the state.

3.  A Government Committee was formed:
- Ministry of Justice
- Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications
- Ministry of Agriculture
- Ministry of Finance
- Ministry of Social Affairs
- Estonian Board of Auditors
- Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
- Bank of Estonia
- Estonian Tax and Customs Board
- Statistics Estonia
- Centre of Registers and Information Systems

4.  The main objectives of the project were:
- to simplify the submission of different
reports;
- to minimize the reporting obligation of
undertakings before different authorities.
 The main results of the project were:
- the taxonomy was developed;
- a special environment was developed for the
submission of annual reports;
- the rule was introduced: the same data may
not be asked twice.

5.  E-reporting environment uses the XBRL
standard, which provides major benefits in
the preparation, analysis and communication
of business information.
 An annual report taxonomy was created.
 The portal also accepts the e-IDs of Portugal,
Belgium, Finland and Lithuania.

6.  As of 1st of January 2010 it is mandatory to
submit annual reports electronically through
the e-reporting environment.
 An accounting entity has to follow the
taxonomy and the reporting forms prepared
on the basis of the annual report taxonomy.
 The use of the e-reporting environment of
the Company Registration Portal requires
logging in with the ID card, the mobile ID or
via online banking.

8.  Access is allowed for Board Members, general
partners, limited partners, subsidiary
managers, liquidators, bankruptcy trustees.
 E-reporting environment allows:
- to prepare the main reports;
- to add documents;
- to digitally sign the report;
- to prepare the sworn auditor’s conclusion
and to certify it electronically;
- to send the report to the Commercial
Register.

12.  A single reporting way and environment was
established, making the entry and transfer of the
data more convenient.
 Taxonomy was developed – the data of an annual
report already submitted to the Commercial
Register can be used in full.
 The submitted data is available faster.
 E-reporting environment involves automatic
checks – allows to avoid mistakes, resulting in a
more high-quality report.
 Faster processing of reports – saving time for the
registrar.

14.  The legal regulation of the whole
project.
 The content of the taxonomy of an
annual report.
 Submission of a report on data fields
in a certain environment.

15.  E-reporting environment makes the entry of
data significantly more convenient.
 The processing of business data has become
quicker and easier.
 The administration of the reporting obligation
was facilitated.
 The key principle of submitting data was
introduced.

16. To learn more please visit:
http://www.egov-estonia.eu/xbrl
berit.loog@just.ee