MARCH 14, 2024 — The U.S. Census Bureau today released the 2021 Nonemployer Statistics (NES). This annual series provides subnational economic data for businesses that do not have paid employees or payroll and are subject to federal income tax.  

The data consist of the number of nonemployer businesses and total receipts. The data are available for approximately 470 industries at the national, state, metropolitan and micropolitan statistical area, combined statistical area and county geography levels. The statistics are also published by Legal Form of Organization (national and state only) and by receipts size class (national only).

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 by disclosure avoidance methods used 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.

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