AUGUST 17, 2023 — The U.S. Census Bureau today released the 2020 Nonemployer Statistics (NES). This annual series provides subnational economic data for businesses that have no paid employees or payroll, are subject to federal income tax and have receipts of $1,000 or more ($1 or more for the Construction sector).  

The data consist of the number of businesses and total receipts by industry for over 450 industries at detailed geographic levels, including national, state, county, and metropolitan/micropolitan and combined statistical areas. The statistics are also published by Legal Form of Organization (for U.S. and state only) and by receipts size class (for U.S. only).

Most U.S. business establishments are nonemployers. The NES data originate from business income tax records the Internal Revenue Service provides to the Census Bureau.

The data are subject to nonsampling error (such as errors of self-classification by industry on tax forms) as well as errors of nonreporting and coverage. Receipt totals are slightly modified using the Noise Infusion disclosure avoidance method to protect confidentiality. All dollar values are expressed in current dollars, i.e., they are not adjusted for price changes.

For more information about the methodology and data limitations, visit <www.census.gov/programs-surveys/nonemployer-statistics/technical-documentation/methodology.html>.

No news release associated with this data series. Tip sheet only.