Legal Issues

50.  Can my company be exempt from filing forms?

No. Because of the mandatory reporting requirement, the Census Bureau cannot excuse your company from filing. For more information on mandatory reporting, see the legal information page.

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51.  Is my data confidential?

Yes. No one outside of the Census Bureau is entitled to view your report. Title 13 of the United States Code provides complete protection for all reported information. Census forms, including copies retained by respondents, are immune from legal action. Also, Federal law specifically exempts the reports from the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act.

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52.  What is the legal authority for conducting the Annual Survey of Manufactures?

Title 13, United States Code requires firms to complete questionnaires sent to them. For more information on Title 13, please see the legal information page.

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53.  Where can I view Title 13, United States Code?

A full text, searchable version of Title 13 is available at Cornell Law School's Legal Information Institute.

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54.  Who sees my completed report forms?

Individual reports are seen only by sworn Census Bureau employees and only for the purpose of developing statistical totals and summaries.

Census publications provide no information about an individual firm's operations.

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55.  Is this a legitimate business survey conducted by the Census Bureau?

Official business of the U.S. Government

Any request for survey information from the Census Bureau will be clearly identified as coming from the U.S. Census Bureau and as OFFICIAL BUSINESS of the United States.

It is a Federal offense for anyone to pretend they represent the Census Bureau, or any other office of the United States Government. Section 912 of Title 18, U.S. Code, states the following:

"Whoever Falsely assumes or pretends to be an officer or employee acting under the authority of the United States or any department, agency or officer thereof, and acts as such, or in such pretended character demands or obtains any money, paper, document, or thing of value, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both."

Census Bureau surveys look different from other surveys, and we provide information that will help you in answering the census or survey.

When you are in a Census Bureau business su rvey, we will tell you, generally by letter: 1. Why the information is needed; 2. Whether your response is required by law or voluntary, and the applicable laws; 3. that your response is confidential; and 4. When your response is due

You can also look for certain things if we send a questionnaire to your business. 1. An official survey code: all surveys have a code, such as OMB No. 0607-0763, in the upper right hand corner. This indicates that the questionnaire and th eneed to collect the information is approved by the federal Office of Management and Budget. 2. An expiration date: following this official code, there is usually an approval expiration date, meaning the questionnaire and the approval to collect the data will again be reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget around the time of the expiration date. 3. A Census Bureau form number: this is usually located in the upper left corner. 4. A due date: All questionnaires indicate a specific due date or provide a timeframe (such as, within 30 days of receipt of the form). For some surveys, you may request an extension of the due date if you need more time to complete the form. 5. A return envelope: most forms are returned to the Census Bureau's National Processing Center in Jeffersonville, IN, but other forms may be addressed to Washington, DC.

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56.  Will my business be visited by an enumerator?

Nearly all Census bureau business surveys are conducted by mail, phone, or electronically.

If a Census Bureau employee contacts you, they will identify themselves, providing their name and the name of the survey they are working on.

The Census bureau sends field representatives to visit businesses only for two construction-related surveys. If a Census Bureau employee visits your business, he or she will 1. Show you their Census bureau identification badge, 2. Tell you the name of the survey for which your participation is needed.

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