Which entities regulate financial reporting?

• A. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
• B. Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
• C. Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB)
• D. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB)

Answer: (D)

In financial reporting, multiple bodies shape what gets reported and how. The Securities and Exchange Commission oversees disclosure for publicly traded companies, mandating that their financial statements filed with the agency follow recognized standards and be credible and timely for investors. The Financial Accounting Standards Board creates those recognized standards—GAAP—that guide how items are recognized, measured, presented, and disclosed in financial statements. The Internal Revenue Service, while not setting accounting standards, governs tax reporting and rules that affect how items are treated for tax purposes; differences between tax rules and GAAP (book-to-tax differences) and enforcement of tax provisions can influence judgments about depreciation, allowances, and other accruals on financial statements. Because each body can influence what and how financial information is reported, the correct choice includes all three regulators.