U.S. flag
              An official website of the United States governmentSkip to main content
end of header


Census.gov
                                    >                                
                                Business and Economy    >Quarterly Services    >Information for Respondents    >Get Started
 Skip to looking for section Main	About	Information for Respondents	Data	Time Series/Trend Charts	Technical Documentation	Release Schedule	Definitions	FAQs	Contact Us Back to Our Surveys & Programs
 Main	About	Information for Respondents	Data	Time Series/Trend Charts	Technical Documentation	Release Schedule	Definitions	FAQs	Contact Us
                                Back to Our Surveys & Programs
  How do I get started?
 To begin, link yourself to your survey. You link your account to your survey by an authentication code sent to you from the Census Bureau. Once you have this code, click on the “Add Authentication Code” button under “My Surveys.” Enter and submit your unique 12-digit code. After submitting your authentication code, a survey “card” will appear under “My Surveys.” This “card” will contain the following: Name of the survey,
	Due date (or extended date if a time extension was granted)
	Company name
	Company ID
	“Report Now” (used to start reporting or access a printable PDF worksheet)
	“Options” (used to request time extensions, if available; check filing status; access survey FAQs; find contact information)
	“i” (used to learn more about the survey) Each unique authentication code can only be used one time. If others in your company need access to your survey, please refer to the “How Do I Share Survey Access?” section. The Census Bureau will mail separate, unique authentication codes for different surveys. Each code can be entered and a separate survey “card” will appear under “My Surveys.”
  How do I add an authentication code?
 Under “My Surveys” click on the “Add Authentication Code” button. Enter and submit your unique 12-digit code. Each unique authentication code can only be used one time. If others in your company need access to your survey, please refer to the “How Do I Share Survey Access?” section.
  How do I find out who used the authentication code I was given?
 If you are attempting to add an authentication code and receive an error message stating “Authentication Code already used” then someone in your company has already linked themselves to the survey. The Census Bureau may not be able to identify this person for you. You can try to identify the account owner who originally used the authentication code and ask them to share access to the survey with you. Refer to the “How Do I Share Survey Access?” section to learn more. If you cannot identify the account owner who originally used the authentication code, then you will need to contact the Census Bureau. Refer to your letter for the appropriate telephone number to call.
  How do I handle this survey request if I am not the appropriate person to complete the survey?
 If you are not the appropriate person to complete this survey, and have not yet entered the authentication code found in your letter, please forward the letter to the appropriate person in your company. If you have already entered the authentication code, you have two options: 1. Share survey access with the appropriate person in your company. Please refer to the “How Do I Share Survey Access?” section to learn more. 2. Have the appropriate person call the Census Bureau to request a new authentication code. Refer to the letter for the appropriate telephone number to call.
  How do I begin reporting with my user ID and password?
 If the Census Bureau has recently mailed you a letter containing a user ID and password, you will need to follow the directions found in that letter. This system is only compatible with surveys that are using authentication codes. All of our economic surveys will eventually migrate to using authentication codes, but for the time being two separate systems exist.
  How do I start reporting?
 If you have not done so already, link yourself to your survey. You link your account to your survey by an authentication code sent to you from the Census Bureau. Once you have this code, click on the “Add Authentication Code” button under “My Surveys.” When you have linked your account using an authentication code the survey “card” will appear under “My Surveys.” You can click on “Report Now” to access your electronic reporting instrument where you can begin entering data, or print the questions/instructions (PDF document) found on the main menu that can be used as a guide prior to reporting.
  How do I learn more about my survey?
 Click “Options” on your survey card.
	Select “Survey FAQs” to view commonly requested information. OR Click the “i" symbol on your survey card.
	View a short description of the survey.
	Click the “MORE INFORMATION” link at the bottom of the text.
	View survey information found on the main census.gov website.
  How do I change my password?
 Select “Manage Account”
	Select “Change Password”
	Enter the email address associated with the account & submit
	Enter your current password
	Create and enter a new password
	Re-enter to confirm new password
	Click “Submit”
	Click “Return to Respondent Portal”
  How do I update my security questions/answers?
 Select “Manage Account”
	Select “Update My Security Questions”
	Enter the email address associated with the account & submit
	Enter your account password & submit
	Select and answer 5 security questions
	Click “Submit”
	Click “Return to Respondent Portal”
  How do I update my email address, name, and/or phone number associated with this account? You cannot update your email address, but you can update your name and/or phone number by following these steps:  Select “Manage Account”
	Select “Update Account Info”
	Enter the email address associated with the account & submit
	Enter your account password & submit
	Make changes to first name, last name, and/or phone number
	Click “Submit”
	Click “Return to Respondent Portal”
  How do I share this account with others in my company?
 Your personal Census Bureau account should not be shared with others in your company. Each individual should create their own account. The survey authentication code can only be used to link one individual to the survey, though if you are linked to this survey you can share your survey access with others – see “How can others in my company help me complete this survey?”
  How can others in my company help me complete this survey?
 The first option for others to help you complete this survey is by sharing access. Sharing access gives each person the same privileges – each can view and overwrite survey data, submit the survey, request an extension, share access with additional people, and remove others (including you) from this survey. If you would like to share access to this survey, follow these steps:  Click “Options” on your survey card.
	Select “Share Survey Access”
	Enter the person’s email address and an optional note that will be included in the email invitation. You MUST enter the email address that the other person will use when creating an account, otherwise their account will not be linked to this survey.
	Click “Submit Request”
	An email invitation will be sent to the provided email address. No authentication code will be needed by this person, but they will be required to register for their own personal Census Bureau account to access the survey.
	These steps can be repeated to add additional people  A second option for others to help you complete this survey is to print and provide the questions to others. To print, enter the reporting instrument via the “Report Now” button and print the questions/instructions (PDF document) found on the main menu (or reporting dashboard). As the account holder, you will need to gather and compile paper input before submitting the data through the electronic reporting instrument accessed through “Report Now.”
  How do I check the reporting progress of those I have shared survey access?
 The only way to view the reporting progress for those who share survey access is to click the “Report Now” button and view the reporting status in the electronic reporting instrument.
  How do I remove someone else that has access to my survey?
 Click “Options” on your survey card.
	Select “Share Survey Access”
	Those who have access to the survey are listed on the bottom of the pop-up screen under “Current Delegates.”
	To remove a current delegate, click on the trash can icon found under the “Options” column. Be sure to select the correct row if multiple delegates are listed.
	Delegates who have been removed will now appear under “Removed Delegates.”  NOTE: If you are the only delegate listed for the survey you will not be able to delete yourself. Someone else would need to be added as a delegate before your name can be deleted.
  How do I request a time extension?
 Click “Options” on your survey card.
	Select “Request extension” (if this option is greyed out, time extensions are not available)
	Click on the calendar icon or down arrow under “Extended Due Date”
	Select an available date in the calendar.
	Click “Submit”
	A confirmation message will appear on your screen, and your survey card will now display the original survey due date along with the extended date granted to you.
  How do I check my filing status?
 Click “Options” on your survey card.
	Select "Filing Status"
	Review the displayed table. Surveys with an entry in the “Date Received” column have been received by the Census Bureau. Blanks in this column indicate the survey is not yet received.
	Return to the “Report Now” button to access the electronic reporting instrument to complete and submit any missing surveys.
  How do I contact the Census Bureau? Click “Options” on your survey card.
	Select “Send Message” to email the Census Bureau. OR Click “Options” on your survey card.
	Call the Census Bureau at the telephone number listed.  OR Refer to your letter for the appropriate telephone number to call.
  How do I get to the email message(s) that I sent to the Census Bureau?
 Select “Message Status”
	Click on “Active” to view your emails that have not yet been resolved by the Census Bureau.
	Click on “Resolved” to view your emails that have been resolved by the Census Bureau.


CONNECT WITH US

Information Quality
                    Data Linkage Infrastructure
                    Data Protection and Privacy Policy
                    Accessibility      
                    FOIA
                    Inspector General
                    No FEAR Act
                    U.S. Department of Commerce
                    USA.gov
                   Measuring America's People, Places, and Economy