Census Bureau Tests Easier Ways for Businesses to Report Data
Published Date: 10/29/2026
Notice
Summary
The U.S. Census Bureau is asking for approval to try new, easier ways for businesses to share their data for surveys. This will help keep important economic info flowing while making it less of a hassle for companies. They’re inviting everyone to comment before moving forward, aiming to save time, cut costs, and protect privacy.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Census tests easier business reporting
The Census Bureau will research alternative ways for companies to send business-survey data to try to reduce reporting burden and speed up statistics. The project is phased with planned respondents of Phase 1: 125, Phase 2: 180, and Phase 3: 500; average hours per response are Phase 1: 1 hour 47 minutes, Phase 2: 1 hour 30 minutes, and Phase 3: 3 hours, and total burden hours are 1,993. Participation is voluntary and participating companies may provide files as often as monthly and at least once annually.
Rules on data sharing and retention
The Census Bureau will share only information about its collection strategy and lessons learned with other federal statistical agencies; it will not disclose actual respondent submissions to those agencies. If companies send extra data through alternative methods, the Census Bureau says it will filter submissions and retain only the information required by the authorized surveys.
Some firms removed from standard surveys
In Phase 1 the Census contacted 100–125 companies; 50–70 provided test files, and about 15–30 companies provided sufficient data that they were removed from standard survey collection for at least one survey. Companies that meet Census requirements through alternative submissions are approved to report via the alternative method and given a Reporting Plan describing which surveys the files satisfy.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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