Original Filing Documents

Original Filing Documents

Retrieve original SEC filing documents directly from the SEC EDGAR archive through the FinFeedAPI SEC Filings API.

Download HTML documents, XBRL files, XML schemas, text archives, PDF attachments, exhibits, and other files included in SEC filing packages using the filing accession number and document filename. Files are streamed directly from the SEC servers, preserving the original documents exactly as they were submitted to the SEC.

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What Are Original Filing Documents?

Every SEC filing published through EDGAR consists of one or more files submitted by the reporting company.

The source files behind every filing

These filing packages may include the primary filing document, XBRL instance documents, XML schemas, exhibits, text archives, PDF attachments, and other supporting files. The Original Filing Documents endpoint provides direct access to these source files, allowing applications to download them in their original format without additional processing.

This endpoint is designed for applications that require raw filing assets for custom parsing, archiving, compliance, or downstream processing.

Streamed from SEC servers

Requested files are streamed directly from the SEC EDGAR archive. Applications receive the original document exactly as it was submitted, without transformation or extraction.

Because documents are retrieved individually, applications download only the files they need instead of an entire filing package.

Why Download Original Filing Documents?

Many SEC workflows require access to the original filing rather than processed content.

Work with the source, not a derivative

Downloading original filing documents helps applications:

  • retrieve primary SEC filing documents
  • access XBRL source files
  • download exhibits and supporting attachments
  • archive original EDGAR filing packages
  • validate processed content against the source document
  • build custom document processing pipelines

Supported Filing Document Types

SEC filings often contain multiple documents rather than a single file. The Download endpoint allows applications to retrieve individual files from an EDGAR filing package.

Retrieve only the files you need

Document TypeTypical Examples
HTML documentsPrimary filing documents (.htm, .html)
XBRL documentsInstance documents, schemas, taxonomy files (.xml, .xsd)
Plain text filesComplete filing archives (.txt)
PDF documentsAttached PDF exhibits (.pdf)
Additional filing attachmentsAny other files submitted as part of the filing package

Applications can retrieve only the documents they need without downloading the entire filing package.

How Document Downloads Work

Downloading an original filing document consists of two required values: the SEC accession number and the document filename. Together, these identify and retrieve a specific file from the filing package.

From filing to file

  1. 1Find the filing
  2. 2Retrieve the accession number
  3. 3Locate the available filename
  4. 4Request the document download
  5. 5Receive the original EDGAR file

Finding the correct file name

Available filenames for a specific filing can be discovered through the /v1/filings metadata endpoint first. Metadata responses include the primary document name and related source-file information needed to request a download.

Typical filenames include primary documents such as d123456d10k.htm, XBRL files such as FilingSummary.xml, and exhibits such as d123456dexhibit99.htm.

Accession numbers must be in the format 0000000000-00-000000 (10 digits, dash, 2 digits, dash, 6 digits).

Example Download Request

Each request specifies the filing accession number together with the document filename. The requested file is streamed directly from the SEC EDGAR archive.

GET /v1/download

http
GET /v1/download?accession_no=0001564590-21-004599&file_name=tsla-10k_20201231_htm.xml

Build SEC Filing Workflows

Original filing documents often serve as the starting point for document processing workflows. After identifying a filing and its document filename, applications can download the required source file for storage, parsing, validation, or analysis.

A typical workflow

  1. 1Search filing metadata
  2. 2Select the filing
  3. 3Identify the document filename
  4. 4Download the original EDGAR file
  5. 5Store, parse, or analyze the document

The downloaded files can also be used with other SEC Filings API capabilities, such as filing content extraction or XBRL conversion, depending on the workflow.

From discovery to the original file

  1. Search metadata
  2. Accession number
  3. Document filename
  4. Download EDGAR file
  5. Store or parse

Why Developers Download Original Filing Documents

Working directly with EDGAR source files gives applications complete control over document processing and storage.

Common use cases

  • archiving original SEC filing packages
  • parsing HTML filing documents
  • processing XBRL source files
  • analyzing exhibits and supporting attachments
  • indexing filings for search
  • validating processed data against the original filing
  • preserving documents for compliance and audit purposes
  • ingesting filing documents into AI and analytics pipelines
Original Filing Documents

Start Downloading Original SEC Filing Documents

Retrieve original SEC filing documents directly from the EDGAR archive through the FinFeedAPI SEC Filings API.

Download HTML documents, XBRL files, XML schemas, text archives, PDF attachments, exhibits, and other files submitted with SEC filings using the filing accession number and document filename.

Start with Free CreditsRead the Documentation