Read an XBRL file as a table of facts
XBRL files are XML, which is awkward to read directly. Drop an .xbrl or .xml instance into the viewer and every fact is listed with its concept, value, period, unit and context. Facts are grouped by concept and period, the enterprise number of the reporting entity and the taxonomy the file uses are displayed, and duplicate or conflicting facts are flagged. You can export the table as CSV or JSON.
Which Belgian files this covers
- NBB annual accounts (jaarrekening in Dutch, comptes annuels in French) filed with the Central Balance Sheet Office of the National Bank of Belgium. You can download the XBRL filing of any company from the NBB consult website.
- Biztax corporate and legal-entity tax returns submitted to FPS Finance.
Compare two years
Load a second filing, for example last year's accounts, and the viewer shows which figures changed between the two files. This is a quick way to spot restated numbers, new line items or a figure that disappeared, without opening both files in a spreadsheet.
How to read a fact
Each fact has four parts: a concept such as equity, a value, a period or instant date, and an entity. Concept names are shown as written in the file, for example pfs:Equity. Human-readable labels live in the NBB and Biztax taxonomies, which are too large to ship with this page, so look up unfamiliar concept codes in the official taxonomy documentation.
A quick review workflow
- Open the filing and check that the enterprise number and the reporting period are the ones you expect.
- Scan the groups for duplicate or conflicting facts, which usually point to an export or mapping problem in the software that produced the file.
- Load the previous year as a second file and look at the largest changes first.
- Export the table to CSV and continue in a spreadsheet, or keep the JSON for scripts and audits.
Related tools
Company data from other sources can be checked with the VAT and KBO number checker. For VAT returns use the Intervat viewer, and for e-invoices the UBL invoice viewer.
Privacy
Parsing runs in your browser and the file never leaves your device. Annual accounts and tax files can contain sensitive financial data, which is why nothing is sent to gratistools.be.
Frequently asked questions
What is an XBRL file?
XBRL is an XML-based format for financial reporting. Each value is stored as a fact with a concept, a period, a unit and the reporting entity.
How do I download the annual accounts of a Belgian company?
On the consult website of the National Bank of Belgium you can search a company and download its filed annual accounts, including the XBRL version, which you can open here.
Can I compare two financial years?
Yes. Load a second XBRL file below the first one and the viewer highlights which figures changed.
Why do I see codes like pfs:Equity instead of labels?
The viewer shows concept names exactly as they appear in the file. Readable labels are part of the large NBB and Biztax taxonomies, which are not bundled.
Is my financial data uploaded?
No. The file is parsed in your browser and never leaves your device.