# 2026-19301: Census Wants to Swap Business Secrets for Better Econ Stats? 2026-19301, Proposed Data Sharing Activity, is a Federal Register notice from Commerce Department, Census Bureau published 2026-09-22, effective Written comments must be submitted on or before November 23, 2026.; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-09-29). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-19301 - As of: 2026-09-29 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Document number: 2026-19301 - Title: Proposed Data Sharing Activity - Type: Notice - Agencies: Commerce Department; Census Bureau - Citation: 91 FR 60081 - Published: 2026-09-22 - Effective: Written comments must be submitted on or before November 23, 2026. - Comments close: 2026-11-23 - Significant: no - Touches household money: yes - Regulation identifier numbers: none - Last updated: 2026-09-29 ## In one line Census Wants to Swap Business Secrets for Better Econ Stats? ## Summary The Census Bureau wants to share some business data with the Bureau of Economic Analysis to help improve economic reports. This change affects businesses whose data is collected and aims to make government info more useful without extra costs. People have until November 23, 2026, to share their thoughts on this plan. ## Abstract The U.S. Bureau of the Census (Census Bureau) is proposing to share certain business data with the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) within the Department of Commerce. In accordance with the requirements of the Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act of 2002 (CIPSEA), the Census Bureau and BEA are providing the opportunity for public comment on this data sharing activity. ## Effects PRIA read - Census will share company-level business data: benefit, low. The Census Bureau plans to provide BEA with select company-level data from specific surveys, including the Economic Census, Commodity Flow Survey, Quarterly Financial Report, Annual Integrated Economic Survey, Business and Professional Classification Survey, and the Annual Business Survey (includin… - Mandatory response remains required for listed surveys: cost, medium. Response to the listed surveys is mandatory under 13 U.S.C. 224 and 225. Businesses required to respond to the Economic Census and the other listed surveys remain legally obligated to provide the requested information. - Federal tax information will not be shared: benefit, low. The Census Bureau states it will not provide any Federal Tax Information to BEA as part of this data-sharing activity. Company-level Census data will be shared, but federal tax return information is excluded. - Strong confidentiality rules and penalties apply: benefit, low. BEA employees granted access to Census confidential data must obtain Census Bureau Sworn Special Status, complete annual compliance training, and are subject to penalties for improper disclosure of up to five years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, or both under 13 U.S.C. 214. The shared data… - Data sharing aims to reduce duplicative burden: benefit, medium. The Census Bureau and BEA state they will identify opportunities to eliminate duplicative collections, reduce reporting burdens, and reduce statistical program costs while improving data quality, consistent with 44 U.S.C. 3576(b). The notice says sharing existing data can achieve efficiencies and i… ## Related documents - [2026-20249](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20249): Notice of Data Sharing Activity, 2026-10-02 - [2026-20167](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20167): Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request;…, 2026-10-01 - [2026-20155](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20155): Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request;…, 2026-10-01 - [2026-20153](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20153): Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request;…, 2026-10-01 - [2026-18481](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-18481): Decennial Census of the Population of Americans; Proposed Residence Criteria and Proposed Regulations for Demographic Questions, 2026-09-10 - [2026-18304](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-18304): Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request;…, 2026-09-09 ## Sources - [2026-19301 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/09/22/2026-19301/proposed-data-sharing-activity) - [2026-19301 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-09-22/pdf/2026-19301.pdf) ## Related - [Previous: 2026-19300, Regulatory Guides: Design-Basis Floods for Nuclear Power Plants and Guidance fo…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-19300) - [Next: 2026-19302, Center for Scientific Review; Amended Notice of Meeting](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-19302) - [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-19301 (as of 2026-09-29).