The Annual Refiling Survey (ARS) is used in conjunction with the Unemployment Insurance tax reporting system in each State. The primary purpose of the ARS is to verify or to correct the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code assigned to establishments as well as to obtain accurate mailing and physical location addresses of establishments. As a result, changes in the industrial and geographical compositions of the economy are captured in a timely manner and reflected in the BLS statistical programs. Federal, State, and local government officials as well as private researchers depend on accurate geographical and industrial coding based on the 2017 North American Industry Classification System Manual. BLS routinely shares NAICS codes with the Census Bureau to improve consistency, reduce costs and burden, and improve the accuracy of their products.
With this request, the BLS would like to include establishments with three or fewer employees that had previously been excluded, using only email as the contact method.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.