Title: The information effect of XBRL extensions: the role of accruals and note disclosures

Authors: Jochen Zimmermann

Addresses: Institute for Finance and Accounting, Universität Bremen, Max von Laue-Str. 1, D-28359 Bremen, Germany

Abstract: This study examines how XBRL extensions in financial reports affect information asymmetry, distinguishing between accrual accounting elements (primary financial statements) and note disclosures. It is shown that the implications of XBRL extensions depend on whether they are applied to the highly standardised primary financial statements or lowly standardised note disclosures. It is found that information asymmetry increased by extensions in primary financial statements and decreased by extensions in note disclosures. This is consistent with XBRL extensions reducing comparability in primary financial statements, while at the same time providing useful firm-specific details in note disclosures. My results support filers in better aligning their use of XBRL extensions with their reporting intentions and encourage regulators to limit extensive tagging in the accrual accounting elements of financial reports.

Keywords: XBRL; interactive data; XBRL extensions; primary financial statements; note disclosures; information asymmetry.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCA.2026.154614

International Journal of Critical Accounting, 2026 Vol.15 No.1, pp.82 - 104

Received: 14 Jul 2025
Accepted: 14 Jan 2026
Published online: 07 Jul 2026 *

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