An auditor should trace corporate stock issuance and treasury stock transactions to the

Overview Rules Notices Guidance News Releases Investor Education

The Trade Reporting and Compliance Engine is the FINRA-developed vehicle that facilitates the mandatory reporting of over-the-counter transactions in eligible fixed income securities.

All broker-dealers who are FINRA member firms have an obligation to report transactions in TRACE-eligible securities under an SEC-approved set of rules.


Technical Notices

Keep track of service alerts, changes to documentation and system upgrades.

Technical Documentation

Download user guides and API specifications for the various TRACE reporting systems.

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to common questions regarding TRACE.

Fees

FINRA Rule 7730 explains the charges required for using TRACE.

TRACE Data & Licensing

Download data tables, independent research and the TRACE Fact Book.

Report Cards

TRACE report cards help firms monitor their reporting obligations.

Download the FINRA Participation Agreement (FPA), release forms, and other legal agreements pertaining to TRACE.


TRACE NOTIFICATIONS

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  • system updates
  • planned outages
  • other important events

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CONTACT TRACE

FINRA Operations: (866) 776-0800


Technical Support: (212) 231-5180


  • Exemption From Trade Reporting Obligation for Certain Transactions on Alternative Trading Systems

    Tue, 06/14/2022 - 12:00

  • FINRA Adopts Amendments to TRACE Reporting Rule to Require Identification of Portfolio Trades

    Tue, 05/24/2022 - 12:00

  • FINRA Modifies TRACE Dissemination Protocols for Specified Pool Transactions

    Tue, 02/02/2021 - 12:00

  • FINRA Requests Comment on Enhancements to TRACE Reporting for U.S. Treasury Securities

    Wed, 12/23/2020 - 12:00

  • FINRA Requests Comment on the Practice of Pennying in the Corporate Bond Market

    Mon, 08/17/2020 - 12:00

  • FINRA Requests Comment on Proposed Changes to TRACE Reporting Relating to Delayed Treasury Spot and Portfolio Trades

    Thu, 07/16/2020 - 12:00

  • SEC Approves Amendments Relating to Transactions in U.S. Treasury Securities Executed to Hedge a Primary Market Transaction

    Thu, 09/19/2019 - 12:00

  • FINRA Requests Comment on a Proposal to Require Reporting of Transactions in U.S. Dollar-Denominated Foreign Sovereign Debt Securities to TRACE

    Fri, 07/26/2019 - 12:00

  • FINRA Reminds Firms of Their Obligations Regarding TRACE Reporting

    Fri, 07/19/2019 - 12:00

  • FINRA Requests Comment on a Proposal to Publish ATS Volume Data for Corporate Bonds and Agency Debt Securities on FINRA’s Website

    Tue, 07/09/2019 - 12:00

  • FINRA Requests Comment on a Proposed Pilot Program to Study Recommended Changes to Corporate Bond Block Trade Dissemination

    Fri, 04/12/2019 - 12:00

  • TRACE Reporting of OTC Transactions in Listed Bonds

    Tue, 01/22/2019 - 12:00

  • U.S. Treasury Security Auction Awards

    Wed, 01/09/2019 - 12:00

  • SEC Approves Rule Change to Modify the Dissemination Protocols for Agency Debt Securities

    Tue, 10/16/2018 - 12:00

  • SEC Approves Amendment to Require Alternative Trading Systems to Identify Non-FINRA Member Subscribers in TRACE Reports for U.S. Treasury Securities

    Thu, 10/04/2018 - 12:00

  • FINRA Updates Designation Criteria to Require Firms Reporting U.S. Treasury Securities to TRACE to Participate in FINRA's Business Continuity/Disaster Recovery Testing

    Wed, 03/07/2018 - 12:00

  • SEC Approves Rule Amendment to Create a New TRACE Security Activity Report and End-of-Day TRACE Transaction File Effective Date: February 1, 2018

    Fri, 11/03/2017 - 12:00

  • FINRA Issues Guidance on the Enhanced Confirmation Disclosure Requirements in Rule 2232 for Corporate and Agency Debt Securities

    Wed, 07/12/2017 - 12:00

  • SEC Approves Rule Change to Reduce the Delay Period for the Corporate and Agency Debt Historic TRACE Data Sets

    Tue, 07/11/2017 - 12:00

  • Effective Date for Required Use of TRACE for Treasuries Modifiers

    Mon, 06/12/2017 - 12:00

  • FINRA Updates the Transparency Services FINRA Participant Agreement

    Mon, 04/03/2017 - 12:00

  • SEC Approves Amendments to Require Mark-Up/Mark-Down Disclosure on Confirmations for Trades With Retail Investors in Corporate and Agency Bonds

    Wed, 02/15/2017 - 12:00

  • SEC Approves Rule Amendment to Create a New Academic Corporate Bond TRACE Data Product

    Wed, 11/16/2016 - 12:00

  • SEC Approves Rule Change to Require Reporting of Transactions in U.S. Treasury Securities to the Trade Reporting and Compliance Engine (TRACE)

    Wed, 10/19/2016 - 12:00

  • SEC Approves Amendments to Disseminate Collateralized Mortgage Obligation (CMO) Transactions and to Reduce the Reporting Time for CMO Transactions

    Mon, 10/17/2016 - 12:00

  • FINRA Reminds Firms of their Obligation to Report Accurately the Time of Execution for Transactions in TRACE-eligible Securities

    Wed, 08/10/2016 - 12:00

  • Exemption from Trade Reporting Obligation for Certain Transactions on Alternative Trading Systems

    Wed, 04/27/2016 - 12:00

  • SEC Approves Amendments to Require Firms to Add a No-Remuneration Indicator in TRACE Trade Report

    Mon, 11/23/2015 - 12:00

  • SEC Approves Amendments to Require Firms to Report Transactions in TRACE-Eligible Securities As Soon As Practicable

    Tue, 10/27/2015 - 12:00

  • FINRA Requests Comment on a New Academic TRACE Data Product

    Thu, 07/16/2015 - 12:00

  • FINRA Requests Comment on the Reduction of the Delay Period for Historic TRACE Data

    Tue, 06/23/2015 - 12:00

  • SEC Approves Amendments to Require Firms to Identify Transactions with Non-Member Affiliates in TRACE Trade Reports

    Wed, 05/06/2015 - 12:00

  • FINRA Requests Comment on a Proposal to Disseminate Additional Securitized Products and to Reduce the Reporting Time Frame for These Products

    Mon, 02/09/2015 - 12:00

  • FINRA Reminds Alternative Trading Systems (ATSs) and ATS Subscribers of Their Trade Reporting Obligations in TRACE-Eligible Securities

    Fri, 11/21/2014 - 12:00

  • SEC Approves Amendments to Disseminate Additional Asset-Backed Securities Transactions and to Reduce the Reporting Time for Such Transactions

    Tue, 08/26/2014 - 12:00

  • FINRA Issues an Interpretation to Clarify the Classification and Trade Reporting of Certain "Hybrid" Securities to FINRA

    Fri, 05/16/2014 - 12:00

  • SEC Approves Amendments to TRACE Rules and Dissemination Protocols to Disseminate Rule 144A Transactions in TRACE-Eligible Securities and Related Fees

    Wed, 10/30/2013 - 12:00

  • Frequently Asked Questions Regarding TRACE Reporting

    Thu, 08/01/2013 - 12:00

  • FINRA Announces Modifications Regarding Historic TRACE Data

    Mon, 07/22/2013 - 12:00

  • Reduction of Reporting Times for Agency Pass-Through Mortgage-Backed Securities Traded TBA

    Wed, 04/17/2013 - 12:00

  • SEC Approves Amendments to FINRA Rule 6730(d) (2) Requiring Firms to Report Factor in Asset-Backed Securities Transactions Executed in Agency Capacity and Subject to Commission Charges

    Fri, 04/12/2013 - 12:00

  • SEC Approves Amendments to Establish Two Optional TRACE Data Delivery Services and Related Fees

    Thu, 02/28/2013 - 12:00

  • SEC Approves Amendments to TRACE Rules and Dissemination Protocols to Disseminate Specified Pool Transactions and SBA-Backed ABS Transactions and to Reduce the Time to Report Such Transactions

    Thu, 12/20/2012 - 12:00

  • FINRA Waives Certain Trade Reporting and Compliance Engine (TRACE) Late Trade Reporting Fees in Connection With Hurricane Sandy

    Mon, 12/03/2012 - 12:00

  • for Amendments to TRACE Rules Relating to the Reporting and Dissemination of Agency Pass-Through Mortgage-Backed Securities Traded To Be Announced and Related TRACE Fees in FINRA Rule 7730 from November 5, 2012, to November 12, 2012

    Thu, 11/01/2012 - 12:00

  • FINRA Requests Comment on TRACE Dissemination Issues

    Wed, 09/05/2012 - 12:00

  • SEC Approves Amendments to TRACE Reporting Requirements and Dissemination of Agency Pass-Through Mortgage-Backed Securities Traded To Be Announced and Related Fees

    Mon, 05/21/2012 - 12:00

  • FINRA Addresses Frequently Asked Questions About TRACE Reporting Issues

    Wed, 12/21/2011 - 12:00

  • Reporting Asset-Backed Securities to the Trade Reporting and Compliance Engine (TRACE)

    Tue, 05/10/2011 - 12:00

  • FINRA Establishes a New Effective Date for Reporting Asset-Backed Securities to TRACE and Related Rule Changes

    Wed, 10/27/2010 - 12:00

  • SEC Approves Reporting Asset-Backed Securities Transactions to TRACE and Related Fees

    Fri, 04/23/2010 - 12:00

  • SEC Approves Access to Historic TRACE Data and Related Fees Effective Date: March 31, 2010

    Fri, 03/05/2010 - 12:00

  • SEC Approves Amendments Expanding TRACE to Include Agency Debt Securities and Primary Market Transactions

    Tue, 09/29/2009 - 12:00

  • SEC Approves Amendments Expanding the Definition of "TRACE-Eligible Security"

    Fri, 05/15/2009 - 12:00

  • FINRA Adopts Amendments Relating to Reporting Transfers of Proprietary Positions in Debt and Equity Securities in Connection With Certain Corporate Control Transactions

    Wed, 04/15/2009 - 12:00

  • FINRA Announces Modifications to the TRACE System Relating to Certain Securities with Equity CUSIPs and Reminds Firms of Their Reporting Obligations Regarding Equity-Linked Notes and Convertible Debt

    Fri, 02/22/2008 - 12:00

  • SEC Approves Exemption from TRACE Reporting Requirements for Certain "Derivative-Related Transactions"

    Tue, 12/11/2007 - 12:00

  • Reporting of Transactions in TRACE-Eligible Securities With Execution Dates More Than T+365 Days Before Date of Report

    Fri, 05/04/2007 - 12:00

  • SEC Approves Amendments to TRACE Reporting Exempting Trades in TRACE-Eligible Securities Conducted on a Facility of, and Reported to, the New York Stock Exchange

    Thu, 04/26/2007 - 12:00

  • SEC Approves Amendments to TRACE Rules to Reflect the Availability of TRACE "Snapshot" Data for a Reduced Monthly Fee

    Mon, 03/26/2007 - 12:00

  • SEC Approves Immediate Dissemination of Information on TRACE Transactions

    Tue, 01/03/2006 - 12:00

  • Transactions in TRACE-Eligible Securities That Occur in Connection with Options, Credit Default Swaps, Other Swaps or Similar Instruments Must Be Reported to TRACE

    Wed, 11/09/2005 - 12:00

  • SEC Approves Amendments to TRACE Fee Structure Establishing an Enterprise Fee and Lowering Fee for Receipt of Real-Time TRACE Transaction Data via Web Browser

    Wed, 08/17/2005 - 12:00

  • NASD Restructures Certain TRACE Fees for Market Data and Amends the Definition of "Non-Professional" in Connection with TRACE Market Data

    Tue, 05/17/2005 - 12:00

  • NASD Reminds Members that the TRACE Reporting Period Will Be Reduced to 15 Minutes on July 1, 2005, and Rescinds Interpretive Guidance Regarding Rejected TRACE Transaction Reports

    Thu, 04/14/2005 - 12:00

  • NASD Eliminates the TRACE Bond Transaction Data Service (BTDS) Non-Professional Real-Time Data Display Fee and the BTDS Professional Delayed-Time Data Display Fee Pilot Program

    Tue, 01/25/2005 - 12:00

  • Stage Two of the Expansion of Dissemination of TRACE Transaction Data to Begin on February 7, 2005 Instead of February 1, 2005

    Tue, 01/04/2005 - 12:00

  • NASD Issues Interpretive Guidance Regarding Various Trade Reporting and Compliance Engine (TRACE) Rules

    Wed, 12/08/2004 - 12:00

  • SEC Approves Amendments to TRACE Rules to Disseminate Transaction Information on All TRACE-Eligible Securities, Modify and Supplement Defined Terms, and Enhance Notification Requirements

    Wed, 09/08/2004 - 12:00

  • SEC Approves Amendments to TRACE Rule 6230 to Reduce the Reporting Period to 30 Minutes on October 1, 2004, and to 15 Minutes on July 1, 2005

    Wed, 07/14/2004 - 12:00

  • SEC Approves Amendments to Clarify the Term "TRACE-Eligible Security" and to Expand the Scope of an Exemption from TRACE Reporting Requirements

    Wed, 05/19/2004 - 12:00

  • NASD Issues Interpretive Guidance to the Trade Reporting and Compliance Engine Rules (TRACE Rules)

    Tue, 09/30/2003 - 12:00

  • SEC Approves Amendments to TRACE Rule 6260 to Require New Issue Notifications to Include Dissemination Eligibility Information and Be Submitted in Writing

    Tue, 08/19/2003 - 12:00

  • SEC Approves Amendments to TRACE Rule 6230 to Reduce the Reporting Period to 45 Minutes

    Mon, 06/30/2003 - 12:00

  • SEC Approves Amendments to TRACE Rule 6250 and Other TRACE Rules: Transaction Information to be Disseminated on More than 4,000 Corporate Debt Securities

    Fri, 02/14/2003 - 12:00

  • NASD Issues Interpretive Guidance to the Trade Reporting and Compliance Engine Rules (TRACE Rules)

    Thu, 10/31/2002 - 12:00

  • SEC Approves Rules To Require Fixed Income Transaction Reporting And Dissemination

    Sun, 03/11/2001 - 12:00

  • Guidance

    Beginning Thursday, September 1, 2022, certain depository institutions (Covered Depository Institutions) will be required to report transactions in U.S. Treasury securities, agency debt securities and agency mortgage-backed securities (Covered Securities) to FINRA’s Trade Reporting and Compliance Engine (TRACE).

    Project Timetable*


    Launch

    September 1, 2022

    Firm Pre-launch User Testing (NTF region)

    June 27, 2022

    February 15, 2022

  • Guidance

    Effective Feb. 3, 2020, FIX will be the only protocol supported for reporting trades to FINRA's TRACE and ORF platforms.

    February 13, 2019

  • 2018 Exam Findings Report

    The TRACE Reporting section of the 2018 Report on Exam Findings informs member firms’ compliance programs by describing recent findings and observations from FINRA’s examinations, and, in certain cases, also providing a summary of effective practices.

    December 07, 2018

  • FAQ

    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) covering reporting of corporate and agencies debt, reporting of mortgage and asset backed securities to the Trade Reporting and Compliance Engine (TRACE)

    September 14, 2018

  • Guidance

    In the near-future, FINRA is introducing a new TRACE Markup/Markdown Analysis Report on the Report Center. The report displays a firm's markup and markdown behavior compared to the industry and provides the underlying details used to calculate the markup or markdown.

    May 23, 2018

  • Guidance

    On May 14, 2018, amendments to FINRA Rule 2232 will take effect, which require a member firm to disclose on the customer confirmation the amount of mark-up or mark-down it applies for certain trades with retail customers in corporate or agency debt securities. Disclosed mark-ups must be calculated consistent with existing Rule 2121.

    April 03, 2018

  • 2017 Exam Findings Report

    The Order Capacity section of the 2017 Report on Exam Findings informs member firms’ compliance programs by describing recent findings and observations from FINRA’s examinations, and, in certain cases, also providing a summary of effective practices.

    December 06, 2017

  • 2017 Exam Findings Report

    The TRACE Reporting section of the 2017 Report on Exam Findings informs member firms’ compliance programs by describing recent findings and observations from FINRA’s examinations, and, in certain cases, also providing a summary of effective practices.

    December 06, 2017

  • Filing and Reporting

    TRACE Reporting Timeframes and Transparency Protocols1

    Type of TRACE-Eligible SecurityOther Transactions - Reporting TimeframesList or Fixed Offering Price Transaction (as defined in FINRA Rule 6710(q)), or Takedown Transaction (as defined in FINRA Rule 6710(r))- Reporting TimeframeTransparency2
    Corporate Bond (see FINRA Rule 6710(a)) Within 15 minutes of time of execution (see FINRA Rule 67

    July 10, 2017

  • Guidance

    On-Demand Recording: Phone-In Workshop | Original Program Date: June 8, 2017

    June 27, 2017

  • Webinar

    On this recording of a June 8, 2017, TRACE Phone-In Workshop, FINRA staff review relevant rules and regulations, and discuss testing and other relevant technical information related to the July 10 requirement for to begin reporting transactions in U.S. Treasury Securities to FINRA via the Trade Reporting and Compliance Engine (TRACE).

    June 27, 2017

  • Guidance

    On-Demand Recording: Phone-In Workshop and WebEx Presentation; Original Program Date: April 6, 2017

    May 04, 2017

  • Guidance

    The Fixed Income Distributions file is a cumulative list of distributions that have been announced during the calendar year. These include cash, stock and in kind distributions as a result of a bankruptcy reorganization plan, default interest payments, or other distributions in fixed income securities. FINRA’s Operations Department reviews and processes these company-related actions pursuant to SEA Rule 10b-17 and FINRA Uniform Practice Code (FINRA Rule 11000 Series) to facilitate the orderly trading and settlement of OTC securities.

    February 24, 2017

  • Guidance

    On this free, on-demand recording of a WebEx presentation, FINRA staff members discuss new and updated fixed income-related Report Cards.

    November 25, 2015

  • FAQ

    1. Q: If I am an existing subscriber or vendor of the SPDS (Structured Products Dissemination Service) will I automatically receive the new ABS data set on June 1, 2015? A: Existing subscribers or vendors of SPDS will automatically receive disseminated transactions in publicly traded ABS. No changes to the vendor agreement are required.

    February 17, 2015

  • Guidance

  • Guidance

    This document provides guidelines regarding the use of the Trace Reporting and Compliance Engine and TRACE trademarks. Any use of these trademarks must be in accordance with these guidelines.

  • FAQ

    Reporting of Corporate and Agencies Debt Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

  • FAQ

    FAQ regarding Reporting of Mortgage and Asset Backed Securities (Securitized Products)

  • Compliance Tools

    The TRACE Markup/Markdown Analysis Report is a monthly report designed to assist firms in their supervision activities by providing transparency into a portion of FINRA's surveillance program of corporate and agency fixed income transactions customer pricing.  

    The TRACE Markup/Markdown Analysis Report is built upon logic developed to pair purchase and sale transactions reported to TRACE.  

  • Compliance Tools

    The tables below provide a reference description for all of the elements found in all views of the TRACE Quality of Markets Corporate Bond and Agency Debt Report Cards. (See TRACE Quality of Markets Report Card Figures 1 - 3 for a sample report.)

    Term

    Definition

  • Compliance Tools

    The TRACE Quality of Markets Report Card for Securitized Products is a monthly status report for the reporting of transactions in Asset Backed Securities, Mortgage Backed Securities and other similar securities, collectively defined as "Securitized Products", to the Trade Reporting and Compliance Engine (TRACE). Firms are required to report trades in accordance with established FINRA rules and regulations.

  • Compliance Tools

    The TRACE Quality of Markets Report Card for Treasuries is a monthly status report for treasuries transactions that a firm reported to the Trade Reporting and Compliance Engine (TRACE). Firms are required to report trades in accordance with established FINRA rules and regulations. Firms should make no inference that the staff of FINRA has or has not determined that the information contained on the TRACE Quality of Markets Report Card does or does not constitute rule violations.

  • FAQ

    Frequently asked questions about Structured Product Reports

  • Compliance Tools

    The TRACE Treasuries Execution Time Difference report is a monthly summary of execution time comparisons for inter-dealer trades in U.S. Treasury Securities reported to TRACE. Firms are required to report trades in accordance with established FINRA rules and regulations.

  • Compliance Tools

    These monthly reports cover trades of Treasuries, Securitized Products, Agency Bonds, and Corporate Debt that a member firm reported to the Trade Reporting and Compliance Engine (TRACE).

  • March 10, 2020

  • March 28, 2019

  • July 12, 2017

  • February 27, 2017

  • October 19, 2016

  • December 10, 2015

  • July 16, 2015

  • June 01, 2015

  • November 17, 2014

  • June 30, 2014

  • July 22, 2013

  • November 13, 2012

  • October 18, 2011

  • October 01, 2009

What should corporate capital stock transactions should ultimately be traced to?

All corporate capital stock transactions should ultimately be traced to the: Minutes of the board of directors.

Where no independent stock transfer agents are employed and the corporation issues its own stocks and maintains stock records?

When no independent stock transfer agent is employed and the corporation issues its own stock and maintains stock records, canceled stock certificates should: Be defaced to prevent re issuance and attached to their corresponding stubs.

When auditors obtain an understanding of internal control for the financing cycle documentation?

Terms in this set (10) When the auditors obtain an understanding of internal control for the financing cycle, documentation will frequently include a written description as well as a(n): Summary of tests of controls.

Which of the following questions would auditor likely include on an internal control questionnaire for notes payable?

Correct Answer:DSection: Auditing and Attestation (II) (Volume D)ExplanationExplanation/Reference:Explanation:Choice "d" is correct. An internal control questionnaire for notes payable would likely ask if directborrowings on notes payable are authorized by the board of directors.