Form 8-K, Current report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d), is the current report form published by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). It sits in the SEC's forms index beside the annual report (Form 10-K), the quarterly report (Form 10-Q) and the notice of late filing (Form 12b-25). On this page you can fill out the form online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF; the SEC publishes the form itself at https://www.sec.gov/files/form8-k.pdf.
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What is 8-K?
Form 8-K, Current report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d), is a report form of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), titled as a current report made under Section 13 or 15(d).
The two sections named in its title also appear in the titles of several neighboring reports on the SEC's index of forms. Those reports are:
- Form 10-K, Annual report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d);
- Form 10-Q, General form for quarterly reports under Section 13 or 15(d);
- Form 10-D, Asset-Backed Issuer Distribution Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934;
- Form 11-K, Annual reports of employee stock purchase, savings and similar plans pursuant to Section 15(d).
The index lists the 10-K, 10-Q, 10-D and 11-K under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Form 8-K is a different document from each of them: its title marks it as the current report rather than an annual, quarterly or distribution report.
Do not confuse it with Form 1-U, Current Report Pursuant to Regulation A. The SEC lists that form under the Securities Act of 1933 and Small Businesses, and it is a separate form. Form 12b-25, Notification of late filing, is also a separate form: it is a notification, not a report.
The requirements for what the report must contain are in the SEC's PDF itself. Read the current version published by the SEC before you complete it.
Who needs to file 8-K?
The SEC's forms index places Form 8-K among its reports under Section 13 or 15(d). The index lists the neighboring annual and quarterly reports (Forms 10-K and 10-Q) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Public Companies. A company that files reports with the SEC under those sections is the audience for this family of forms, so check the form's own text to confirm that the current report applies to you.
Do not use Form 8-K in place of a different SEC form. The index lists Form 1-U, Current Report Pursuant to Regulation A, as the current report for Regulation A offerings, and Form 12b-25 as the notification of late filing. The index entry for Form 8-K does not say who may sign or file for a company, so read the signature block and the SEC's instructions in the PDF for that.
How to fill out 8-K
Open the current Form 8-K
Open the form in the online editor. Its title is Current report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d); compare it with the SEC's PDF if you want to confirm you have the current version.
Enter the identifying details requested
At the top of the form, fill in the filer information the form asks for, exactly as it appears in your SEC records.
Read the form's own item headings
Go through the headings and instructions printed in the PDF and note which ones apply to the event you are reporting.
Complete the items that apply
Enter the information each applicable item asks for, in the format the form prints. Leave the items that do not apply to your report as the form directs.
Sign and date where required
If the form has a signature block, have the person authorized for the filer sign and date it as the form directs.
Review and download the completed PDF
Check every entry against your records, then download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF and deliver it through the SEC's channels.
How to submit 8-K
The SEC publishes Form 8-K on its forms index at https://www.sec.gov/submit-filings/forms-index, and the PDF is at https://www.sec.gov/files/form8-k.pdf. Check the SEC's filing pages for how and where the completed report is delivered. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the SEC's own channels.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Using Form 1-U, Current Report Pursuant to Regulation A, when the report required is Form 8-K, Current report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d). The SEC lists them as separate forms under different laws.
- Treating Form 12b-25, Notification of late filing, as the current report. It is a notification form, and the SEC lists it separately from Form 8-K.
- Completing Form 10-K or Form 10-Q when the report you need is the current report; the SEC titles them as the annual and quarterly reports.
- Working from a saved or outdated copy instead of the PDF the SEC currently publishes at https://www.sec.gov/files/form8-k.pdf.
Frequently asked questions
What is Form 8-K?
Form 8-K, Current report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d), is a report form published by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). It is the current report, as distinct from the annual report on Form 10-K and the quarterly report on Form 10-Q.
Can I fill out Form 8-K online?
Yes. You can fill out the form online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF. FillingPDF is an independent service and does not file the report with the SEC; delivery follows the SEC's own channels.
What is the difference between Form 8-K and Form 10-K?
Form 8-K is the current report under Section 13 or 15(d), while Form 10-K is the annual report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d). The SEC's forms index lists them as separate forms, and Form 10-Q is the separate quarterly report.
Is Form 8-K the same as Form 1-U?
No. Form 1-U is the Current Report Pursuant to Regulation A, which the SEC lists under the Securities Act of 1933 and Small Businesses. Form 8-K is the current report under Section 13 or 15(d).
Where do I get the official Form 8-K PDF?
The SEC publishes it at https://www.sec.gov/files/form8-k.pdf and lists it on its forms index at https://www.sec.gov/submit-filings/forms-index. Use the SEC's current version as your reference when you complete the form.
Is Form 12b-25 a substitute for Form 8-K?
No. Form 12b-25 is listed by the SEC as a Notification of late filing, a separate form from the current report. Check the SEC's materials before relying on one form in place of another.
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