The US Securities and Exchange Commission has proposed allowing companies to switch to semiannual reporting, aiming to reduce costs and increase flexibility while maintaining transparency for investors.
The US Securities and Exchange Commission has proposed allowing public companies to move from quarterly to semiannual reporting, in a change it says would ease compliance burdens and give firms more flexibility in how they communicate with investors.
Under the proposal, companies that opt in would file one mid-year report and one annual report each fiscal year, rather than four interim updates. The SEC said the aim is to reduce the cost and complexity of staying public while still preserving disclosure that serves shareholders.
Chair Paul Atkins said the move is only one part of a broader review of how public markets operate. He said the commission will consider a series of proposals in the months ahead that could reshape the experience of being a public company and make listing more appealing.
Commissioner Hester Peirce backed the idea, noting that semiannual reporting was once standard practice. She said the current framework can itself discourage companies from entering public markets, and that giving firms more choice could remove one piece of the reporting burden.
The proposal has also won support from the US Chamber of Commerce, which argued that disclosure remains essential but should be calibrated so it does not make it too expensive or difficult for companies to list and remain listed.
The issue comes against a wider debate over the rising cost of public-company compliance. The Crowdfund Insider report said large firms can spend more than $5 million on a quarterly filing, while private markets have become increasingly attractive because they are easier to access and raise capital through Regulation D. It also pointed to the growing role of secondary platforms in trading private securities before a company goes public.
The SEC is now seeking comments on the proposal.
- https://www.crowdfundinsider.com/2026/05/277622-sec-proposes-semi-annual-reports-instead-of-quarterly-reports-for-public-firms/ – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.sec.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2026-42-sec-proposes-amendments-permit-optional-semiannual-reporting-public-companies – The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has proposed amendments to allow public companies to file semiannual reports instead of quarterly ones. This change aims to provide companies with greater flexibility in meeting their interim reporting obligations under federal securities laws. If adopted, companies would file one semiannual report and one annual report each fiscal year, rather than three quarterly reports and one annual report. The SEC believes this approach will better serve both companies and investors by reducing compliance burdens and encouraging more companies to go public.
- https://www.sec.gov/newsroom/speeches-statements/peirce-statement-proposing-semiannual-reporting-050526 – SEC Commissioner Hester M. Peirce has expressed support for the proposed amendments allowing companies to file semiannual reports instead of quarterly ones. She highlighted that semiannual reporting was once the norm and that the current quarterly reporting framework may deter some companies from entering the public markets. By offering greater flexibility, the proposal could alleviate one aspect of the reporting burden and potentially make public markets more attractive to companies.
- https://www.sec.gov/newsroom/speeches-statements/atkins-statement-proposing-release-semiannual-reporting-050526 – SEC Chairman Paul S. Atkins has announced proposed amendments to permit public companies to file one semiannual report on a new Form 10-S in lieu of three quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. This initiative is part of his ‘Make IPOs Great Again’ agenda, aiming to incentivize companies to go and stay public. The proposed changes are intended to provide companies with increased regulatory flexibility in determining their interim reporting frequency, better aligning with their business needs and investor expectations.
- https://www.cov.com/en/news-and-insights/insights/2026/05/sec-proposes-optional-semiannual-reporting-for-public-companies – The SEC has proposed a significant change to its periodic reporting framework, allowing public companies to elect to file semiannual reports instead of quarterly ones. This proposal is part of a broader effort to simplify the disclosure regime, reduce regulatory burdens, and incentivize companies to become and stay public. The change would provide meaningful new flexibility for both existing public companies and those contemplating going public, potentially aligning reporting practices with investor expectations and business models.
- https://bankingjournal.aba.com/2026/05/sec-proposes-amendments-to-permit-semiannual-reporting-by-public-companies/ – The SEC has proposed rule and form amendments that would give public companies the option of filing semiannual reports instead of quarterly ones to meet their interim reporting obligations under federal securities laws. If adopted, companies could elect to file semiannual reports on new Form 10-S instead of quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. This change aims to provide flexibility and enable public companies to choose the interim reporting frequency that best serves the company and its investors.
- https://tax.thomsonreuters.com/news/sec-proposes-optional-semiannual-reporting-for-public-companies/ – The SEC has proposed a rule that would give public companies the option to provide semiannual reports. This proposal is part of SEC Chairman Paul Atkins’s ‘Make IPOs Great Again’ agenda and is expected to be part of a series of reforms intended to incentivize companies to go and stay public. The proposed rule would allow companies to choose to file semiannual reports on new Form 10-S instead of quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, providing flexibility in meeting interim reporting obligations.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
10
Notes:
The article reports on a proposal by the SEC dated May 5, 2026, which is recent and has not been widely covered elsewhere. The earliest known publication date of similar content is May 5, 2026, indicating freshness. The article does not appear to be republished across low-quality sites or clickbait networks. The narrative is based on a press release from the SEC, which typically warrants a high freshness score. There are no discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes compared to earlier versions. The article includes updated data and does not recycle older material.
Quotes check
Score:
8
Notes:
The article includes direct quotes from SEC Chairman Paul Atkins and Commissioner Hester Peirce. Searches for the earliest known usage of these quotes indicate they originate from the SEC’s official press release dated May 5, 2026. The wording matches the original source, confirming the quotes are not reused from other materials. However, the quotes cannot be independently verified beyond the SEC’s press release, which may introduce a potential bias. The absence of online matches for these quotes elsewhere suggests they are not widely disseminated, raising concerns about their verification.
Source reliability
Score:
7
Notes:
The article originates from Crowdfund Insider, a niche publication focusing on crowdfunding and fintech news. While it provides coverage of the SEC’s proposal, the publication is not a major news organisation like the Financial Times or Reuters. The SEC’s press release serves as the primary source, which is reliable. However, the secondary source (Crowdfund Insider) is less established, which may affect the overall reliability of the information presented.
Plausibility check
Score:
9
Notes:
The SEC’s proposal to allow public companies to file semiannual reports instead of quarterly reports is plausible and aligns with ongoing discussions about reducing regulatory burdens on public companies. The article provides specific details about the proposal, including the filing deadlines and the option for companies to choose their reporting frequency. The language and tone are consistent with official SEC communications, and there are no inconsistencies or off-topic details. The report does not lack specific factual anchors and does not appear to be synthetic. The tone is formal and appropriate for the subject matter.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The article provides a recent and plausible account of the SEC’s proposal to allow public companies to file semiannual reports instead of quarterly ones. While the primary source, the SEC’s press release, is reliable, the secondary source, Crowdfund Insider, is a niche publication with less established credibility. The quotes are directly sourced from the SEC’s press release, which raises concerns about their independent verification. Despite these concerns, the overall assessment is a PASS with MEDIUM confidence, as the content is original, the narrative is consistent with official communications, and there are no significant discrepancies or off-topic details.