Form FAQs

 RE-53101 - Real Estate Services

 Categories

• Sector Questions
• Form Questions

 Questions

• Sector Questions

1.  Which real estate and rental and leasing form should I use?
2.  Are real estate investment trusts in the RE Sector?
3.  Are operators of public performance facilities in the RE Sector?
4.  Should each automobile rental office report separately?



• Form Questions

5.  Does revenue include commissions paid by property owners (Item 5)?
6.  What should I include in gross rents (Item 5)?
7.  Should I include commissions to independent agents in my payroll (Item 7)?
8.  Should I include real estate agents as employees (Item 7)?
9.  What are employer costs for fringe benefits (Item 7)?
10.  What is the difference between owner/operators and managers (Item 19)?
11.  What if my kind of business is not listed (Item 19)?
12.  What if I have more than one kind of business (Item 19)?
13.  Must I report revenue in both dollars and percents (Item 22)?
14.  What if I don't know my revenue by revenue line (Item 22)?
15.  What if my revenue line is not listed (Item 22)?
16.  What is a franchise (Item 26)?
17.  Why is a certification required (Item 30)?

 Answers

• Sector Questions




1.  Which real estate and rental and leasing form should I use?

Please use the census form that you received. For most real estate and rental and leasing establishments, any RE-53xxx form can be used to report census information. Completing and returning the form you received will expedite your response. If necessary, use an "Other..." category available in many items (such as Item 19), and include any needed explanation of your response in the "Remarks" section available on most forms (after Item 29). If you need forms, please contact us.

back to top



2.  Are real estate investment trusts in the RE Sector?

Yes. Some real estate investment trusts (or REITs) are included in the RE sector. Equity REITs are classified in RE based on the type of rent they receive or the type of property owned. For example, if an equity REIT owns an apartment complex for which they receive revenue, then they would be classified in sector 53 as NAICS code 53111010, and they should use a census form numbered RE-53160. However, mortgage REITs typically receive revenue from interest income and are classified in sector 52, Finance and Insurance. If REITs do receive another form, they should use the available "Other..." categories available in many forms (such as in Items 19 and 22) to report census data and include any needed explanations of their responses in the "Remarks" section available on most forms (after Item 29).

back to top



3.  Are operators of public performance facilities in the RE Sector?

No. NAICS classifies establishments that organize, promote, or manage public events for the owners of public performance facilities in sector 71, Arts, Entertainment and Recreation, and they should use a census form numbered AE-71xxx. If a sector 71 establishment does receive another form, they should use the available "Other..." categories available in many forms (such as in Items 19 and 22) to report census data and include any needed explanations of their responses in the "Remarks" section available on most forms (after Item 29).

back to top



4.  Should each automobile rental office report separately?

Not if the business operates a common automobile fleet, through several offices, in the same metropolitan area. In this situation, the office that controls all metropolitan area operations should be considered the census "establishment," and it should report consolidated information for all its metropolitan area operating locations (for example, airport and walk-in rental offices).

back to top



• Form Questions




5.  Does revenue include commissions paid by property owners (Item 5)?

Yes. Please include commissions and fees paid by all sources, including fees for managing, listing, selling, or renting property owned by others.

back to top



6.  What should I include in gross rents (Item 5)?

For all properties owned by your establishment, please include all the rental revenues you have received from occupants and all the charges you have billed to occupants for your services. Examples of billed services may include building improvements, parking, repairs, and utilities.

back to top



7.  Should I include commissions to independent agents in my payroll (Item 7)?

No. Please do not include commissions paid to independent licensed real estate agents in your reported payroll, and do not include these agents in your reported number of employees. This information should be included in Item 26 of your census form.

back to top



8.  Should I include real estate agents as employees (Item 7)?

If you reported full- or part-time real estate agents or other personnel on an IRS Form 941, please report them as employees for each establishment and EIN that completes a census form. Please exclude any independent agents or contractors.

back to top



9.  What are employer costs for fringe benefits (Item 7)?

Employer costs for fringe benefits are the costs of any benefits that employers provide but that are not required under Federal or state law. Examples include the cost of premiums an employer may pay for employee life or health insurance benefits.

back to top



10.  What is the difference between owner/operators and managers (Item 19)?

The primary difference is who owns the affected residential or nonresidential real property. Owner/operators rent, lease or manage property that they own. Managers provide services such as collecting rents, and overseeing maintenance and security services, for property that is owned by others.

back to top



11.  What if my kind of business is not listed (Item 19)?

Please mark an "X" in the box next to "Other kind of business" at the end of the list, and briefly describe your establishment's principal business activity in the space provided near the box.

back to top



12.  What if I have more than one kind of business (Item 19)?

Please mark an "X" in the box that best describes the principal kind of business your reporting establishment conducts. "Principal" means the kind of business that generated the most receipts or revenue during calendar year 2007. If your principal business is not listed, please choose "Other kind of business" at the end of the list and briefly describe it in the space provided near the box.

back to top



13.  Must I report revenue in both dollars and percents (Item 22)?

No. Report dollars if your form only has space for dollar figures, and report either dollars or percents if your form has space for both dollars and percents (see the "How to Report" information ahead of Items 5 and 22 of your form).

back to top



14.  What if I don't know my revenue by revenue line (Item 22)?

If business records are not available for your establishment, or for each revenue line, please provide your best estimate of the percentage of your total revenue for each applicable revenue line. Include any needed explanation of your response in the "Remarks" section available on most forms (after Item 29).

back to top



15.  What if my revenue line is not listed (Item 22)?

Please use the "other products" space in Item 22 to provide information for any previously unlisted revenue line(s). Go to the end of the revenue line listings in Item 22 and use the "other products" space to estimate the total for all unlisted lines and to describe and provide an estimate for each separate unlisted line.

back to top



16.  What is a franchise (Item 26)?

A franchise is a license granted by a company (the franchisor) to an individual or firm (the franchisee) to operate a retail, food, or other business outlet where the franchisee agrees to use the franchisor’s name; products; services; promotions; selling, distribution, and display methods; and other company support.

back to top



17.  Why is a certification required (Item 30)?

Certification confirms the time period for reported information, identifies the form's completion date, and provides a contact for use if the Census Bureau has any questions about the completed form.

back to top