EKOMAR
One of the most important datasets used in the production of statistics is the annual report (AR) filed with the Business Register. On the basis of AR data, the EKOMAR questionnaire is prefilled in eSTAT to reduce the response burden placed on enterprises and to avoid repetitive data requests. Respondents only need to add information not requested or provided in the annual report.
The EKOMAR questionnaire has been designed to obtain more detailed data on the financial indicators of enterprises in order to assess Estonia's economic growth, grant business subsidies, and prepare business overviews. The reference period for the EKOMAR questionnaire is a calendar year. In order to facilitate completion, the questionnaire is designed to be as similar as possible to the AR questionnaire.
The EKOMAR questionnaire is prefilled with AR data, as less information is available from the quarterly questionnaires, and the sum of the four quarters and the data from the annual report may differ. If an enterprise fails to file an annual report on time or at all, it will have to submit more data in EKOMAR. Submitting an annual report with annexes by due date considerably reduces the time needed to complete the questionnaire.
The questionnaire is prefilled also with data of an unauthenticated or unsigned annual report, provided that a final PDF has been generated from it in the e-Business Register (i.e. the data have been verified and are free of errors) and the box “I agree that the data will be forwarded to Statistics Estonia before the report is signed and approved for pre-filling in the statistical questionnaires” has been checked.
If an enterprise submitted the EKOMAR questionnaire also in the previous year, the column “At the end of the previous reference period” is prefilled in tables “Changes in fixed assets” and “Assets, liabilities and equity”. This column will be overwritten upon receipt of the AR data.
Useful tips to facilitate the submission of the EKOMAR questionnaire
Using the annual economic data questionnaire EKOMAR, Statistics Estonia prepares business overviews and assesses economic growth. The questionnaire is the basis for the most extensive and important statistical activity involving annual data.
We would like to offer a few tips to help you fill in the questionnaire.
- What is the easiest way to complete the questionnaire?
It is easier to fill in the questionnaire if annual report (AR) data have already been submitted. AR data are used to partially prefill EKOMAR, reducing the response burden.
The elements listed in the annual report taxonomy regulation can be used for prefilling. Indicators created by the enterprise, which are not included in the taxonomy regulation, cannot be used.
- How quickly do Business Register data appear in the EKOMAR questionnaire?
The prefilling data usually reach the EKOMAR questionnaire within one working day, however, during the peak period for the submission of annual reports, the time between receipt of data and prefilling may be longer.
The prerequisite for prefilling the EKOMAR questionnaire is that the annual report has been signed and is visible in the Business Register.Only questionnaires with the status “Not started” or “Cancelled” in eSTAT are prefilled.
Every workday morning, an e-mail notification of the prefilling is sent to the enterprises whose EKOMAR questionnaire was prefilled with AR data on the previous working day.
- What should I do if I have started filling in the questionnaire but want to use prefilling?
The questionnaire already started must first be cancelled in eSTAT. To do this, click on the gear icon on the top right corner in the questionnaire, select “Cancel questionnaire”, and start again after the AR data have been added. - Where can I find more information about the tables and variables?
For further information on tables and variables, click on a table’s title.
Example: EMPLOYMENT, HOURS WORKED. - How to choose the right income statement scheme for submitting data?
There are two income statement schemes used in the EKOMAR questionnaire, similarly to the annual report. Only one of them, i.e. the same scheme as in the annual report (either scheme 1 or 2), must be chosen. Please note that cost indicators are entered as positive numbers in the income statement. - What does the ∑ symbol mean?
The auxiliary rows or columns marked with ∑ contain calculated values which are displayed after saving the questionnaire. These fields are grey and help to correct potential errors. - In the absence of values, it is not necessary to enter zero (0) in the fields.
- How can I check if the information was entered correctly?
At the completion of each table, the data must be saved (click “Save”). In order to check a table, click “Validate table” on the right side above the table. This makes it easier to correct errors in the particular table. When clicking “Check”, the entire questionnaire is checked and the errors in all the tables and between tables are displayed simultaneously. We recommend clicking this button once all the tables have been filled in and validated one by one. - What do the dots in front of some table rows mean? These indicate subdivisions.
Example: There are multi-level subdivisions under turnover: firstly, how much of the turnover came from sales to non-residents and, in turn, how much of this came from sales to European Union member states.
TURNOVER C_010_1 .. total sales to non-residents C_011_1 .... to European Union member states (except Estonia) C_012_1 -
In the fixed assets table 6.2., some of the column headings are preceded by the word ‘including’.
Example: Machinery and equipment is broken down into three categories: how much of it is transport equipment, computers and computer systems, and other machinery and equipment.Machinery and equipment including transport equipment including computers and computer systems including other machinery and equipment -
Where should data on land and construction works be reported?
According to their intended use, land and construction works are to be included either in the property, plant and equipment or the investment properties table.
The table for property, plant and equipment includes land and construction works (and related rights) used by an enterprise in its economic activities, such as the manufacture of products, provision of services, etc. The table of investment properties includes land and construction works held first and foremost to earn rentals or for capital appreciation or both rather than for the use in the production of goods and services.
For an explanation and examples of how to account for property, plant and equipment or investment property, see the Accounting Standards Board's guideline “Investment Property” (ASBG 6).