A set of standard compounds for x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS): KBH4, NaBPh4, and KBF4 has been identified. Literature data on XPS for salts of the anions $\rm{BH_4^-}$, $\rm{BF_4^-}$, and $\rm{BPh_4^-}$, the donor-acceptor complexes LBF3, and also their related compounds was analyzed with a view toward the validity of the data.