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How to choose iXBRL software

By December 22, 2025January 6th, 2026No Comments

First time fillers often assume iXBRL implementation will take months. In practice, with the right iXBRL software, onboarding and first-time tagging is not that time consuming. It can take a day or two. The difference lies in how the platform is designed – whether it offers raw functionality of iXBRL generations or it is created with a user in mind.  

What is iXBRL software 

iXBRL software is used to prepare, tag, validate, and generate reports in Inline XBRL format. Inline XBRL embeds structured XBRL tags directly into a human-readable XHTML document. This allows regulators to process data automatically, while stakeholders read a standard report in a web browser. 

In practical terms, iXBRL software acts as a compliance layer on top of an existing report. Finance, sustainability, or legal teams upload a finalised report, usually in PDF format, and apply tags from the relevant regulatory taxonomy. The software then validates the tagged report and produces the iXBRL output required for submission. 

Unlike traditional reporting tools, iXBRL software is not used to author reports or manage accounting data. Its role is to ensure that disclosures meet technical and regulatory standards set by authorities such as ESMA, national business registries, and EU regulators. As digital reporting requirements expand, iXBRL software has become a mandatory part of the reporting process rather than a specialist add-on. 

Who needs iXBRL software? 

iXBRL was initially associated with listed company reporting under ESEF. But in recent years, regulators across Europe are adopting structured digital reporting to improve consistency, validation, and accessibility of disclosures. 

ESEF. EU listed company annual financial reporting 

ESEF is the most established iXBRL requirement in the EU. Issuers publish annual financial reports in XHTML, and where IFRS consolidated financial statements are included, they must be marked up with XBRL embedded in the XHTML using the Inline XBRL format.  

For teams preparing their first submission, a practical step-by-step guide on how to comply with ESEF in practice can help them get started more easily and quickly. 

Who is impacted. Listed companies on EU regulated markets and the service providers supporting them. 

MiCA. EU crypto-asset white paper disclosures 

MiCA introduces EU-wide disclosure and data standards for crypto-assets. ESMA’s MiCA reporting materials set out technical format requirements for crypto-asset white papers, including preparation in Inline XBRL. Here is a guide that breaks down what is Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA). 

Who is impacted. Crypto-asset issuers preparing white papers and updates, plus crypto law firms, compliance advisers, and other service providers supporting issuers.  

CSRD. ESG reporting moving towards digital tagging 

CSRD expands sustainability reporting obligations. The direction of travel is digital reporting with an XBRL taxonomy for ESRS, but digital tagging is not mandatory until the EU adopts the taxonomy via the relevant technical process. The timing has been subject to change and delay proposals, so teams should treat this as “prepare now, implement when mandated”. See more information in what is CSRD article.  

Who is impacted. Large undertakings and listed SMEs in scope of CSRD, and service providers building ESG reporting and assurance practices. See the CSRD timeline. 

Netherlands SBR. Member state filing at scale 

While not an EU regulation, Dutch Standard Business Reporting is one of the largest iXBRL adoption drivers within the EU because it applies to a wide range of private companies, not only listed issuers. The Dutch Chamber of Commerce describes SBR as the required route for filing annual financial statements for most entities, including large entities.  

Who is impacted. Dutch companies required to file annual accounts via SBR, and Dutch accounting and advisory firms supporting those filings. 

Important boundary. XBRL is broader than iXBRL 

Some European regulatory regimes use XBRL data submissions that are not Inline XBRL and do not rely on XHTML reports. In those cases, organisations may need XBRL data production and validation, but not necessarily iXBRL software designed for tagging human-readable reports. This distinction matters when scoping your tooling and internal process. 

Key criteria when choosing iXBRL software 

Ease of use for non-technical teams 

iXBRL tagging is usually handled by finance, sustainability, or legal teams. These are typically non-technical teams, so the software should reduce the learning curve rather than increase it. Many iXBRL tools have complex interfaces because they are built to serve broader use cases beyond tagging, as multi-purpose reporting platforms. Tools developed specifically for iXBRL tagging are therefore a better choice for faster and more straightforward submissions. 

Onboarding time 

Cloud-based iXBRL tools are typically quicker to set up, as they do not require local installation or complex IT configuration. Access is usually granted through a web browser, allowing teams to start tagging almost immediately. By contrast, some solutions require additional setup steps, system configuration, or technical support before they can be used effectively. For first-time filers having a deadline expiring soon cloud-based tools would be a better fit. 

Validation and submission engine 

The software should validate against both iXBRL technical rules and regulation-specific taxonomy requirements. The Fujitsu Interstage XWand is a robust and credible engine for iXBRL validation, but this can vary from tool to tool and checking the validation processor credibility can help you ensure that the file generated will pass compliance checks. 

Collaboration and review functions 

Multi-user access is an important feature to look for, especially when several team members are working on the same report under tight deadlines. Structured review workflows allow preparers, reviewers, and auditors to work within the same environment, reducing version conflicts, rework, and delays during the final approval stage. CFOUR Comply supports this by allowing secure access for external users, enabling auditors to review the file directly within the platform. 

Coverage of European frameworks 

In many cases, companies are required to comply with more than one regulation. When this happens, software that supports multiple frameworks offers significantly more value. A multi-framework iXBRL tool allows teams to use a single platform for different reporting obligations, removing the need to learn and maintain several tools and helping ensure consistency across submissions. 

CFOUR Comply – the most user-friendly iXBRL software  

CFOUR Comply is a cloud-based iXBRL software platform that can be onboarded in less than 24 hours, and, unlike many tools, has intuitive interface, which many first-time fillers find efficient and easy to use. It supports ESEF, UKSEF, CSRD, SBR and MiCA. 

Reports are uploaded in PDF format, converted to XHTML, and tagged within a shared workspace. AI-based tag suggestions assist with narrative disclosures, while roll-forward allows tags from previous submissions to be reused. Validation is performed using the Fujitsu Interstage XWand engine to reduce submission risk. 

For corporate service providers and groups of companies, the platform provides multi-entity management with role-based controls for versioning and access levels. 

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iXBRL software is now a core requirement across European financial, sustainability, business, and crypto-asset reporting. Choosing a tool that is effiecient and easy to use is the best way to establish sustainable reporting process, and fast learning curve among the teams for any upcoming regulations.  

A single, user-friendly platform that supports ESEF, CSRD, SBR, and MiCA allows organisations to standardise their reporting approach and reduce pressure during submission periods. For corporate service providers, and group of companies, it offers a multi-entity management functionality, with roles to be assigned for control of versions and level of access. 

CFOUR Comply is designed with this broader regulatory direction in mind. 

See how CFOUR Comply generates iXBRL submissions. 

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