What is a special purpose financial report? In accounting-speak it is a financial report that is not a general purpose financial report. It seems obvious that such reports are prepared for a special purpose. This leads to the view that the purpose for which they are prepared should be clearly stated.

A special purpose report includes any form of financial report prepared to fulfil that purpose. Suitable forms may range from a schedule of numbers to a full set of financial statements prepared using double-entry books of account. Special purpose financial statements are mostly made for internal users i.e. management, those charged with governance or for limited external users i.e. governments and banks.