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Report of Organization
General
1. What is the purpose of the Report of Organization?
The purpose of the NC-99001 questionnaire is to obtain an accurate and up-to-date list of your establishments (i.e., separate business locations) that were in operation or new plant(s) under construction during part or all of the survey year. This list should include establishments of your company and each of its subsidiaries except those reported on the MA-10000 form.
The purpose of the NC-99007 questionnaire is to collect data and identify new locations for the 5,000 largest employers currently listing only one physical address with the Census Bureau. The NC-99007 form is not mailed in years ending in 2 and 7 (economic census years).
2. What is the estimated time needed to complete the form?
Public reporting burden for this collection of information for the NC-99001 is estimated to vary from 30 minutes for the smallest companies to 25 hours for the largest companies, with an average of 2 hours 57 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching for existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information.
Public reporting burden for this collection of information for the NC-99007 is estimated to average 12 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching for existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information.
3. When is the Report of Organization due?
The deadline for returning data to the Census Bureau is 30 days after receiving the questionnaire.
4. How do I request a time extension?
Visit the Online Services section of our website to request a time extension. You must have your User ID (UID) and Password (PW) to gain access to Online Services. You may also call 1-800-233-6136 and a service representative will assist you.
5. How often is the Report of Organization conducted?
The Report of Organization is conducted annually in the four years between economic censuses. Forms are usually mailed in late December of the reference year. Responses are due within 30 days of receipt. Reported data are for activities taking place during the survey calendar year.
6. What is the coverage of the Report of Organization?
The Report of Organization covers large companies with over 250 employees and a selection of smaller companies to support other Census surveys. The Report of Organization is designed to keep a current list of business establishments for Census Bureau economic surveys.
The survey includes approximately 30,000 companies with more than 250 employees and approximately 20,000 smaller companies. Smaller companies are selected where separate administrative data indicate a probable organizational change and by a probability sampling procedure. In addition, the survey will include about 5,000 large single-location business entities that may have added some locations. The NC-99007 form will be used to collect data for the 5,000 large single-location businesses and will be mailed as part of the Report of Organization. The NC-99007 form is not mailed in years ending in 2 and 7 (economic census years).
7. How is the Report of Organization carried out?
It is an annual survey of approximately 50,000 multi-establishment companies. The survey is conducted via Electronic Reporting through the Census Surveyor software or through mail-out and mail-back of paper report forms.
The survey includes approximately 30,000 companies with more than 250 employees and approximately 20,000 smaller companies. Smaller companies are selected where separate administrative data indicate a probable organizational change and by a probability sampling procedure. In addition, the survey will include about 5,000 large single-location business entities that may have added some locations. The NC-99007 form will be used to collect data for the 5,000 large single-location businesses and will be mailed as part of the Report of Organization. The NC-99007 form is not mailed in years ending in 2 and 7 (economic census years).
8. What type of data does the Report of Organization collect?
Companies report for each domestic establishment:
- operational status (i.e., in operation, sold or leased to another operator, ceased operation, temporarily or seasonally inactive, and acquired)
- first quarter and annual payroll
- employment during the pay period that includes March 12
- any large foreign equity positions; and
- controlling interests held by other domestic or foreign-owned organizations
9. How are the data collected from the Report of Organization used?
The data are used to update the Census Bureau’s list of businesses and provide key source data for County Business Patterns and other statistical series. Businesses use the data for analyzing markets, developing sales and advertising programs, setting sales quotas, and determining site locations. Government agencies use the data for regional analysis and economic planning.
10. Are any reports generated from the data collected in the Report of Organization?
This survey is taken primarily to assure full coverage and high quality of other statistical programs, and does not routinely provide data products for public use; however, this survey is a major source of information for the County Business Patterns reports and is a source in responding to requests for a variety of special reports and reimbursable tabulations.
Survey results are available to the Census Bureau about eight months after each reference year and are used throughout Census Bureau economic data programs operations.
11. Where can I get information about Census publications?
Please visit the Census Bureau’s Business and Industry page to find out more about available economic data.
12. My company was sold during the year in question. Am I still required to complete the form?
Yes. Complete the new owner information and provide full calendar year data, if possible. If full year data is unavailable, complete the form up to the point the company was sold.
13. My company did not operate during 2010. Am I still required to complete the form?
If all locations closed, check the appropriate Operational Status box for each location closed and provide the date each location ceased operation.
If all locations were sold to the same company, check the appropriate Operational Status box for each location sold and provide the date of sale. Additionally, provide the acquiring company name and headquarters address in the space provided.
If some locations closed and some locations were sold, or all locations were sold to various companies, please complete the form(s) by checking the appropriate Operational Status box for each location and provide the date it was closed or sold. If sold, provide the acquiring company name and headquarters address in the space provided.
14. Can estimates be used to complete the report form?
Yes. A good estimate is acceptable if book figures are not available for specific items. We do not expect businesses to incur additional expenses to develop information not available from their records.
15. Are copies of forms acceptable for filing?
Yes. Please be sure that all data, including the label information and barcodes, are legible.
16. Can I report on a fiscal year basis?
We prefer the data to be reported for the calendar year. If calendar year book figures are not available except at considerable cost, reasonable estimates are acceptable.
However, if your fiscal year ends between October 31 and February 28, fiscal year figures are acceptable for all items except employment, plant hours, and payrolls. (Calendar year figures for these employment items should be available from your quarterly tax records.) Indicate in Item 4, Certification, the exact dates covered.
17. How do I access the previous year(s) submitted data?
If your company previously reported electronically via Census Surveyor software, you may still be able to access your information. Is the person who completed the previous forms still employed with your organization? If so, the person may still have the Census Surveyor software on his/her computer and that person can simply open the software to view previously submitted data.
If the software is no longer available, or if you reported via paper or online via Direct Internet Reporting, the Census Bureau can research your request to see if prior data is available. To ensure privacy, requests must be submitted online via our Secure Messaging Center. To register/login for the Secure Messaging Center please visit econhelp.census.gov/cos and click on the link for "Secure Messaging Center" under the Tools header on the left hand side of the page. Once registered and logged in you will have a menu option for "Request for Previously Submitted Data." Select that option, complete the short form, and submit your request. Requests will be researched as time permits, and response time will vary depending on the number of requests received.
18. Changes that were made last year are not present in this year’s form. Why?
If your data was submitted past our processing date, changes may not have been made. If you need further information, please Contact Staff.
19. How can I obtain a copy of the data my company submitted last year?
If your company previously reported electronically via Census Surveyor software, you may still be able to access your information. Is the person who completed the previous forms still employed with your organization? If so, the person may still have the Census Surveyor software on his/her computer and that person can simply open the software to view previously submitted data.
If the software is no longer available, or if you reported via paper or online via Direct Internet Reporting, the Census Bureau can research your request to see if prior data is available. To ensure privacy, requests must be submitted online via our Secure Messaging Center. To register/login for the Secure Messaging Center please visit econhelp.census.gov/cos and click on the link for "Secure Messaging Center" under the Tools header on the left hand side of the page. Once registered and logged in you will have a menu option for "Request for Previously Submitted Data." Select that option, complete the short form, and submit your request. Requests will be researched as time permits, and response time will vary depending on the number of requests received.
20. My business does not have a physical address for one or more locations. What should I report?
Describe the physical location referencing distances from cities, major highways, shopping centers, etc. (i.e., ½ mile south of Boise on Route 728).
21. My company has acquired additional locations since last year. Where do I report them?
Report in Item 5B any additional locations that your company operates.
22. Where can I obtain paper copies of the NC-99001 report form?
If you want to have survey forms mailed to your company, visit the Online Services section of our website to make the request. You may also call 1-800-233-6136 and a service representative will assist you.
23. Where can I obtain a copy of the instructions to complete the form?
You may print copies of the instructions from the Forms and Instructions tab on the Report of Organization Homepage.
24. How do I confirm the Census Bureau received my data?
Visit the Online Services section of our website to check your filing status. You must have your User ID (UID) and Password (PW) to gain access to Online Services. You may also call 1-800-233-6136 and a service representative will assist you.
25. Will my business be visited by an enumerator?
Nearly all Census Bureau business surveys are conducted by mail, phone, or electronically.
The Census Bureau only sends field representatives to visit businesses for two construction-related surveys. If a Census Bureau employee visits your business, he or she will 1) show you official Census Bureau identification and 2) tell you the name of the survey for which your participation is needed.
26. How do I contact the Census Bureau?
- By Telephone (7:30 am - 4:00 pm, ET – Monday through Friday): 1-800-233-6136
- By Mail: U. S. Census Bureau
National Processing Center
1201 East 10th Street
Jeffersonville, IN 47132-0001 - By Secure Messaging Center
27. Can I combine all of my data?
No. Separate data are required for each establishment or place of business operated during the survey year. To publish meaningful data for all geographic areas and economic activities, it is necessary to obtain information for each of your locations.
28. Why doesn’t this look like the NC-99001 I got last year?
This questionnaire has been modified to include additional questions regarding your company operations to provide more complete data for operating revenue and insight into the use of intellectual property and contract manufacturing services. The operating revenue data will be used to assess the quality of the reporting unit data for the Economic Census and related surveys. The royalty and license fee data provides information necessary for the national accounts. The manufacturing services question will help to classify companies and establishments under newly designated criteria. A sample of companies were mailed this version of the questionnaire to properly assess the content of the questions and the availability of the data.
29. Should I report for the establishment shown in the label of the form or should I report for the entire company.
The data should represent the consolidated data for your domestic operations including all establishments under common ownership of the location shown in the label. If your company has requested forms be mailed to multiple addresses, the data should represent the consolidated data for the establishments included in each mailing package.
30. Can the data be reported on a fiscal year basis?
If your fiscal year ends between October 31 and February 28, fiscal data is acceptable. If your fiscal year doesn't end in that period, please use the available data and your knowledge of the business to develop estimates for the requested data. Data should be reported on a calendar year basis.
31. These questions seem to apply to manufacturers. Do I still need to complete them?
While the questions include inquiries on activities that are commonly associated with manufacturing, you should still complete the inquiries. For companies with no association to the manufacturing industries, most responses will be ‘No’.
32. Why have these questions been added to the form? It is too complicated.
There is a growing need for information on the production of goods sold in the United States. These questions are seeking to identify the extent to which companies in this country have royalty income and have products manufactured abroad.
33. What is supposed to be reported as Operating Revenues and Net Sales?
For companies with no foreign subsidiaries, this should correspond to the total revenue figure included in your annual report, financial statement, or tax return. For companies with foreign subsidiaries, it should be your total revenues less the sales of foreign subsidiaries plus transfer billings (intercompany sales) from domestic locations to the foreign subsidiaries.
For retail, wholesale, and taxable service companies, report the cash and credit sales of merchandise and receipts for motor vehicle rental, delivery, maintenance, repair, service contracts, alteration, storage, and other services provided in 2012 whether or not payment was received in 2012. For these companies, excise taxes (such as those on gasoline, liquor, and tobacco) paid by manufacturer or wholesaler should be included but other sales and excise taxes should be excluded.
For manufacturing and mining companies, report the value of products shipped from establishments in the company during 2012, receipts for services rendered, value of re-sales, and other miscellaneous receipts. Do not include freight, excise taxes, or non-operating income such as interest, dividends, or the sale of fixed assets.
For financial, real estate, and insurance institutions, report the gross revenues from receipts for interest; dividends; royalties; commissions and fees for exchanging currency, selling money orders, and cashing checks; and net realized capital gains (losses). Real estate institutions should include the net gains (losses) on the sale of real estate owned by this company, gross sales of real property developed or buildings built by this company for sale, and gross rents from real property owned by the company and leased to others.
For tax-exempt organizations, include gross receipts from services provided, merchandise sold, interest, dividend, gross rents, royalties, gross contributions, gifts, grants, member dues and assessments, and gross receipts from fundraising activities.
For advertising agencies, travel industries, and other service companies operating on a commission basis, include commissions, fees, and other operating income; not gross billings or sales.
For hospitals, include the net patient revenue, not the gross patient revenue
34. What are domestic inter-company sales?
These are sales or billings between domestic reporting units of your company. Most companies make adjustments to eliminate these in consolidated reporting.
35. Should I include sales or excise taxes?
Operating Revenues and Net Sales should exclude sales and other taxes collected directly from customers and paid directly to a state, local, or federal tax agency. Excise taxes (such as those on gasoline, liquor, or tobacco) paid by the manufacturer or wholesaler and included in the cost of goods purchased by this company should be included.
36. As a tax exempt organization, should I include profits from investments / interest received / grant money received / gifts received / contributions received / receipts from the sale of assets as part of Operating Revenues and Net Sales?
Taxable companies should not include these types of receipts in Operating Revenues and Net Sales.
Tax-exempt companies should include these receipts in Operating Revenue and Net Sales.
37. Should I include management fees collected from other company-owned establishments as part of Operating Revenues and Net Sales?
Management fees collected from establishments of your own company (if covered by the form’s reporting units) should be excluded as they represent intercompany revenues. These billings / transfers between locations of the company should be excluded when the revenue for the locations is consolidated for the total company.
38. I sell merchandise on a commission / agency basis, what do I report for Operating Revenue and Net Sales?
For wholesalers or retailers selling on a commission basis, revenue should be reported on a gross basis rather than as commissions plus the sales of any goods sold on your own account net of sales taxes and allowances. For real estate offices and brokers, you should report the commissions and fees received for arranging the sale of real property owned by others.
39. Where do I report trademark royalties?
Trademark use is often included as part of the license of a patent or a franchise and should be reported on line 3.C.3.a. or 3.C.3.d., as appropriate. If the Trademark royalties are not an integral part of the use of the patent or franchise, please report the value in Line 3.C.3.e “Other – Specify”. Entries should include a brief description of any specifics regarding the trademark royalties.
40. Do royalty and license fees for the use of intellectual property include franchise fees received for the use of a tradename?
Yes, franchise fees should be included. If your records do not include these fees as intellectual property fees, make sure you adjust the value you report in Item 3C. part B. to include both the royalty and license fees and the franchise fees.
41. Should I include the value of goods that are part of the franchise arrangement as part of the franchise fees?
No, franchise fees should only include the fees for the use of the franchise not the sale of the goods associated with the franchise. This should be reported as cost of goods sold for the franchisee and as net sales for the franchisor.
42. Should I include the sale of custom written software in the computer software category?
The sale of custom software and programming services should not be included in the computer software category. This should include only the fees received for the right to reproduce, distribute or use computer software protected by copyright owned by your company.
43. What is included in Item 3C part B for revenues from royalties and license fees for rights to use intellectual property?
Item 3C part B should include all revenue received from others for the use of intellectual property owned by your company. Intellectual Property includes industrial property, which includes inventions (patents), trademarks, brand names, industrial designs, trade secrets, franchises, and geographic indications of source; and Copyright, which includes literary and artistic works such as novels, poems and plays, films, musical works, artistic works such as drawings, paintings, photographs and sculptures, and architectural designs. Rights related to copyright include those of performing artists in their performances, producers of their recordings, and those of broadcasters in their radio and television programs.
44. I don’t have records on the types of royalty and license fees for the use of intellectual property categories / share of revenue from contract manufacturing / share of the cost of sales from contract manufacturing. What do I do?
Please make your best effort to estimate any data for which company records are not readily available based on your experience with your company’s operations. It would be help us understand the data if you indicate how any estimates were developed.
45. Why include Franchise fees in Royalties and License Fees?
While franchise fees are not always considered royalties or license fees, they are related in that they are initial fees paid by a franchisee for the use of the franchisors names or branding. This line of the inquiry also includes continuing fees paid to maintain the franchise that are referred to as advertising fees, management service fees, marketing fees, fixed service fees, etc.
46. What is contract manufacturing?
An arrangement wherein a manufacturer provides services to the owner of the design, specifications and output produced. Manufacturing involves the mechanical, physical or chemical transformation of materials, substances, or components into new products. The products can be prototypes, semi-finished goods or finished goods.
The contracting company dictates the specifications, designs, or formulas that the contract manufacturer must use in the production of goods. In addition, the contracting company usually controls or limits the production of goods by performing quality control on the input materials or finished goods; reviewing the contracted companies facilities and processes; and approving the primary suppliers and may provide selected input materials.
The contract manufacturer provides the facilities and labor and assembles or produces the good but also may purchase input materials and deliver finished products to customers under the direction of the contractor. The manufacturer can be an unaffiliated company (either domestic or foreign) or a foreign subsidiary of the contracting company. In semiconductor companies, the term for the contracting company is a fabless manufacturer while the contracted company is sometimes referred to as an electronics foundry. In industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals, minerals, metals, photographic, paper coatings, ink and paint, and cosmetics may use the terms toll manufacturing, toll processing, tolling, toll conversion, or custom manufacturing. Related terms for this activity include outsourcing, electronic manufacturing services (EMS), Contract Manufacturing Organization (CMO), Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO), and Original Design Manufacturer (ODM).
The following activities are included as manufacturing: (These are shown as these come from the NAICS description for manufacturing. Should some of these be deleted because there are no contract manufacturers engaged in the specified activity?)
Milk bottling and pasteurizing
Water bottling and processing
Fresh fish packaging (oyster shucking, fish filleting)
Apparel jobbing (assigning of materials for contract factories or shops for fabrication or other contract operations)
Printing and related activities
Ready-mixed concrete production
Leather converting
Grinding of lenses to prescription
Wood preserving
Electroplating, plating, metal heat treating, polishing for the trade
Lapidary work for the trade
Fabricating signs and advertising displays
Rebuilding or remanufacturing machinery (i.e., automotive parts)
Ship repair and renovation
Tire retreading
The following are not included as manufacturing:
Logging
Beneficiating (using processes to separate the minerals from the gangue) of ores and other minerals
Construction of structures and fabricating operations performed at the site of construction by contractors
Breaking of bulk and redistribution in smaller lots including packaging, repackaging, or bottling such as liquors or chemicals; the customized assembly of computers, sorting of scrap, mixing paints to customer order, and cutting metals to customer order
Publishing and the combined activity of publishing and printing
Following are additional activities that have been addressed during respondent interviews / telephone calls as to whether they are considered contract manufacturing for ESP purposes:
Refurbishing ships and railroad locomotives – This is not considered contract manufacturing service even though the activity is considered manufacturing because the contracting company provides no design or specifications for the process.
Dress design with contract manufacturing – This is considered a contract manufacturing service since the contracting company typically provides specifications on the design, material, or other details required for the manufacture of the garment.
Machine shops producing custom parts – This is not considered a contract manufacturing activity.
Development and prototype – Companies that are developing prototypes for other companies are considered to be a contract manufacturing provider and should be classified as Manufacturing Service Providers.
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