Form T

What Is Form T: Equity Trade Reporting Form?

Form T is an electronic form that FINRA requires brokers to use for reporting equity trades executed outside of normal market hours. Form T trades occur during extended hours, before the market opens and after it closes.

Form T must also be used to submit last sale reports of over-the-counter (OTC) transactions in equity securities, for which electronic submission is not possible. The objective of the Form T report is to maintain market transparency and integrity.

Who Can File Form T: Equity Trade Reporting Form?

Investors executing trades in extended hours, as well as those trading in over-the-counter securities that aren't electronically reportable, are required to file Form T. Trading during extended hours allows investors to react quickly to events that typically occur outside regular market hours, such as earnings reports.

However, liquidity may be constrained during such Form T trading, resulting in wide bid-ask spreads. The growing popularity of electronic communication networks means that Form T trading and filings are bound to continue increasing.

Form T trading is especially suited for overseas investors since they may conduct the bulk of their U.S. trading when their markets are open but U.S. markets are closed.

Form T Guidelines

In July 2011, FINRA announced a new Form T submission process, which is still in effect:

"FINRA reminds firms of their obligation to submit to FINRA on the Form T Equity Trade Reporting Form, as soon as practicable, last sale reports of over-the-counter (OTC) transactions in equity securities for which electronic submission is not possible. In addition, FINRA is announcing a new process for the electronic submission of the Form T."

Form T Filings: Some Lessons

In the OTC market, Form T trades are mostly the result of accumulated buys or sells handled on a not held basis by block desks, otherwise known as "late prints." They have nothing to do with short-selling. Large blocks of shares may not all be sold in a single day, so a broker or market maker would file a Form T for the remainder of shares listed at the average price that day's shares sold for as if they all had sold. If all the shares had sold in that one session, the transaction would have been recorded normally.

An investor can sometimes tell if a Form T transaction is by a buyer or seller by looking at the price the trades were entered at. If entered at the lower end of the day's range and the shares were under pressure, it's likely a seller. If entered at the high end of the range, and shares were surging, it's likely from a buyer.

How to File Form T: Equity Trade Reporting Form

Form T is filed using a filing portal known as the FINRA Gateway. FINRA explains:

Through the Firm Gateway, in addition to creating and submitting Form T filings electronically, firms will be able to view, edit, and delete draft filings, as well as view previously submitted filings. Firms will be required to continue providing trade details on an Excel spreadsheet as part of the Form T submission. Previously, Form T submissions were done by email, and before email, via paper (email submissions were still called "Paper Form T").