Geographical Axis Used with Pension Line Items

Rule function

This rule identifies those cases where the filer has reported the StatementGeographicalAxis in conjunction with a line item in the Compensation Related Costs and Retirement Benefits section of the taxonomy. The rule identifies those elements (Line Items) defined in the role http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/disclosure/CompensationRelatedCostsRetirementBenefits that have a value that has also used the StatementGeographicalAxis to define a value. The rule will flag an error for every fact value that meets this condition.

Problem solved by the rule

This rule identifies those cases where filers have reported retirement benefit disclosures using the Statement Geographical axis. This axis should not be used for these disclosures. FASB guidance states that plans broken down by geography should use the “Retirement Plan Sponsor Location [Axis]”. Where securities are broken down by location of the securities issuance then the members should be explicitly defined to incorporate the securities location, rather than define a geographical breakdown by axis.

Example rule message

The filing has used the StatementGeographicalAxis in conjunction with a line item DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets with a value 345,000  in the Compensation Related Costs  and Retirement Benefits section of the taxonomy. These line items should not use the StatementGeographicalAxis to report a fact. To identify the physical location of the securities a member should be created that indicates both the type of security and its issuance location.  i.e. EquityUSMmember

The properties of this DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets fact are:

Period: 2017-12-31
Dimensions: StatementGeographicalAxis = US
Unit: usd

Rule Element Id: 7641
Rule version: 7.0

For Developers

The Global Rule Logic document contains general guidelines for implementation of rules.

The rule message template contains text and parametric reference to arguments of the rule operation, using the syntax ${parameter} to indicate that insertion of a parameter’s value is to occur.

Message template

The filing has used the StatementGeographicalAxis in conjunction with the line item {$RetirementPlanItem.concept} with a value of {$RetirementPlanItem} in the Compensation Related Costs  and Retirement Benefits section of the taxonomy. These line items should not use the StatementGeographicalAxis to report a fact. To identify the physical location of the securities a member should be created that indicates both the type of security and its issuance location.  i.e. EquityUSMmember

The properties of this {$RetirementPlanItem.concept} fact are:

Period :{$RetirementPlanItem.period}
Dimensions: {$RetirementPlanItem.dimensions.join(‘, ‘,’=’)}
Unit: {$RetirementPlanItem.unit}

Rule Element Id: 7641
Rule version: {$ruleVersion}

Rule element ID index

The rule element id is used to identify unique elements or combinations of elements tested in the rule.