Participation in the test is mandated by law, per Title 13 of the U.S. Code. This same law also requires the Census Bureau to keep respondents’ answers confidential and use them for statistical purposes only. In other words, the Census Bureau doesn’t publish data that would identify individuals.

Questions about the online or paper questionnaire

You may call the 2014 Census Test Telephone Questionnaire Assistance line (1-866-226-2836). Business hours are Monday through Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., and Sunday 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. (except holidays). Telephone Questionnaire assistance also available in:

• Español (Spanish)
• 한국어 (Korean)
• 中文 (Chinese)
• tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)
• Français (French)
• በአማሪኛ (Amharic)

Verifying Census workers

All census workers will carry official government photo identification badges which should be presented with any visit. If you still are not certain about their identity, call toll-free: 1-888-253-7077. 

The Census Bureau is bound by a strict law and solemn commitment to protect the confidential information we collect.  Title 13 requires the Census Bureau to keep all information about all respondents strictly confidential.  Any Census Bureau employee who violates these provisions is subject to a fine up to $250,000 or a prison sentence up to five years, or both.

We have a workforce of trained federal employees who conduct household and business surveys via the Internet, telephone, in-person interviews, and mail. We understand your personal information is sensitive and we go to great lengths to protect the data we collect.

We protect the identity of individuals and businesses, starting from the point at which the data are collected and continuing decades after the results are published as aggregate statistics. This includes protecting the addresses of residences and businesses we collect and maintain.

For more information, visit <//www.census.gov/privacy/>.

The 2014 Census Test is designed to measure how well a variety of new technologies and census-taking methods work. It is not designed to obtain a complete and accurate count of the test areas. The results of this test could help us significantly improve how the Census is conducted throughout the country in 2020.

For purposes of the 2014 Census Test, respondents should fill out the census questionnaire based on the people and circumstances of the household as of July 1, 2014. Even if you are filling out the form a few days before or a few days after the July 1 “Census Day,” base your answers about people living in your household on July 1, 2014.

“Self-response” is where households complete and return their census questionnaire in a timely manner, directly to the Census Bureau, without requiring a Census worker to visit the house to obtain their responses in person. The 2014 Census Test includes different strategies to notify and encourage households to respond online. This is important: self response – particularly via the Internet – is significantly less costly than in-person follow-up. Internet response is already an option for 61 other surveys administered by the Census Bureau.

Administrative records are records collected by government agencies in order to run or administer a program. This includes, for example, information you submit to the IRS for your taxes. The Census Bureau is looking at ways to use information households have already provided the government so that you do not have to provide the same information to an enumerator, wherever possible. This would decrease the burden on respondents, significantly decrease the cost of conducting the census, and maintain the Census Bureau’s commitment to quality – all while safeguarding the confidentiality of personal information.