Making it easier to make a difference
Participation in ABS surveys is an opportunity to make a real difference.
Each quarter, businesses of all shapes and sizes provide information to help us build a picture of business across Australia.
Each business’ contribution helps government and industry understand the challenges and success they experience, and informs decisions that impact individuals, businesses and communities.
However, the value of the statistics we produce is only maintained with the support of businesses.
ABS Business Reporting is one of a number of initiatives to modernise the way we do things, and to make it easier for people and businesses to contribute.
What is ABS Business Reporting?
ABS Business Reporting is a web application co-designed with businesses, accountants and bookkeepers to make it easier for small businesses to provide data to the ABS.
The app allows businesses to use information held in their accounting software to complete their ABS survey.
How does it work?
If your small business is eligible, you will receive an email or letter with instructions to complete the Quarterly Business Indicators Survey (QBIS) using ABS Business Reporting.
If your business uses Xero, MYOB or QuickBooks, connecting securely to your accounting software in ABS Business Reporting can make it faster and easier to complete your survey.
When you connect, you will be able to see information from your accounting software on screen as you complete your survey. You can select accounts or categories to include for each survey question, and a total will be generated automatically.
Once you have worked through all the questions, you will see a report with a total amount for each question, which you can review and submit to the ABS.
The accounts or categories you choose for each question will be saved and available to re-use if you need to report again. This will make it even quicker to report in future.
Why should you connect to accounting software?
People who have connected to accounting software to complete their survey have found it streamlines the reporting process and is intuitive and easy to use.
Watch the short video on our Why should I connect page to see how connecting to accounting software will help you.
Giving back
The ABS thanks all businesses for their continued support in responding to our surveys.
When you complete your survey through ABS Business Reporting, you will be presented with a snapshot of the statistics we produce from the information you and others provide each quarter.
The information shows what you are contributing to and makes it easier for you to explore our statistics and keep up to date with industry trends.
Data will be presented for key indicators at an industry level. If you connected to your accounting software, you can also select the ‘Compare my business’ function to see the same indicators for your business, shown next to industry data for comparison.
Your information is safe, secure and confidential
Protecting your privacy and keeping your information secure is of the utmost importance to the ABS.
The information you provide will remain strictly confidential to the ABS. You and the business you are reporting for will not be identifiable in any published results.
ABS Business Reporting uses many tools to protect your information including website security, encryption and firewalls. The system is secured and approved in compliance with standards provided by the Australian Cyber Security Centre and Commonwealth Government guidelines for interacting securely online.
We comply with the Australian Privacy Principles.
We have conducted a Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) to consider potential privacy impacts of ABS Business Reporting, on the privacy of individuals whose personal information would be collected through the application. The assessment found that ABS Business Reporting complies with all the Australian Privacy Principles.
If you believe we have breached these principles, please see the information on how to lodge a complaint about privacy matters contained within our privacy policy.
For more information on how the ABS handles the information you provide to us through ABS Business Reporting, visit our Data usage page.
Who can use ABS Business Reporting
ABS Business Reporting is being introduced gradually. Currently, eligible small businesses selected in the Quarterly Business Indicators Survey (QBIS) can use ABS Business Reporting to complete their survey. If your business is eligible, you will receive an email or letter with instructions on how to complete your survey using ABS Business Reporting.
Small businesses selected for other surveys may be asked to report using other platforms. We are working to expand the use of ABS Business Reporting to other surveys in future.
Ready to report?
If you have received an email or letter asking you to report, go to ABS Business Reporting to get started.
The ABS Business Reporting help page provides information on how to use ABS Business Reporting, including help with technical difficulties.
Accessibility
We are committed to providing access to ABS Business Reporting to the widest possible audience.
We are working to comply with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 to Level AA, which describe how to make web content more usable and accessible for everyone. We want to provide our information for everyone, including people with a disability.
We’re always improving this service and will continue to explore different ways to make it easy for you to access. If there's information you need that you can’t get, please contact us.