Economic Activity Survey

EAS includes questions on employment, income and expenditure, profit or loss, inventories, and capital expenditure. 

Yes. The industry, business and government users of EAS statistics need the most accurate and timely information possible so they can make important decisions. When completing your form, if exact figures are not available, please provide careful estimates.

Yes. Under the Census and Statistics Act 1905, this business is obliged to provide the information requested by the ABS. We conduct follow-up of delayed response and we will assist you if you are having difficulties. 

The form you receive for the EAS is based on the main industry of the business, according to the ABS Business Register. The majority of the questions asked on the EAS are the same for all industries. If the survey form has some questions which don't apply to the business/organisation, you should still complete the survey noting the correct business activity in the survey form.

We understand that this business/organisation may not yet have finalised its accounts or completed its tax return. Please note that we accept careful estimates where final data is not yet available. If you need more time, please log in to your ABS Survey Account and enter the Form Access Code on your invitation letter or email, then call us on 1800 010 223 to request an extension.

This survey includes a range of businesses/organisations, varying in size and industry, across Australia to best reflect the Australian economy. Participation is vital because this business/organisation has been selected to represent activity in its industry, and every industry is important. Some businesses/organisations must be included in the sample for this survey each year because they have distinct characteristics or contribute substantially to their industry, region, or group.

Please complete your survey form with comments indicating the sale of the entity and the date of the sale. If the business/organisation operated by the selected entity (e.g. ABN) was sold during the reference period, then the survey should be completed using figures up to, and including, the day that the business was sold, as well as figures relating to any other new activity undertaken by the selected entity for the remainder of the financial year. Please also provide the name of the new business owners.

You will still need to submit the survey with comments stating that the business/organisation did not trade this year. You do not need to include any figures or zero values. 

Please complete the survey using figures up to, and including, the day that the business/organisation was liquidated or went into administration. It is also important to report the date that this occurred. If you are unable to access the accounts, then the liquidator or administrator should complete the survey. Where this is not possible, best available estimates of the data should be provided. It is acceptable to provide an estimate based on a percentage change from the previous year’s figures. Where estimates are not possible, or the business/organisation did not trade during the reference period, please call us on 1800 010 223 and one of our team will be happy to assist you.  

Yes. Your completed form and personal information will remain strictly confidential to the ABS. The information is used to calculate statistics and these are only released in the form of aggregated data that do not allow identification of individuals, businesses, or organisations.

EAS statistics are used in the compilation of the Australian national accounts including annual estimates of gross domestic product (GDP). The ABS provides statistics free-of-charge via the ABS website. The EAS statistics are also published in Australian Industry. This publication can be used for its industry analysis, business performance by size, and state and territory performance. 

The purpose of this checklist is to assist you, to check the information which you have supplied in the survey before submitting it to ABS. Use of the checklist may reduce the need for us to contact you with further enquiries. The points covered reflect some of the most common reporting errors.

Employment 

• Are the reported numbers a headcount of persons working for the business/organisation? (Should not be FTE.) 
• Have you reported only those who worked for the business/organisation in the last pay period ending in June 2023? 
• Working proprietors and partners should only be reported for an unincorporated businesses/organisations, not if the business/organisation is incorporated (e.g. Pty Ltd). 

Financial information 

• Are all reported financial items reported in $'000s (thousands)? For example, if business/organisation income for the year were $123,456, it should be reported as 123 on the survey.
• Have the nature and amount of the main components of 'Other...' items been provided in Other Income and Other operating expenses? 
• If income from sales of goods produced by the business/organisation has been reported, have associated purchases been reported correctly, i.e. as Purchases of materials, components, containers, packaging materials, electricity, fuels and water? 
• If income from sales of goods not produced by the business/organisation has been reported, have associated purchases been reported correctly, i.e. as Purchases of finished goods for resale? 
• Have the values of both opening and closing inventories been reported, where applicable? 
• If cost of capital assets developed in-house by employees of this business/organisation is reported, the value must be less than or equal to the sum of Capital expenditure items.

Other information 

• Have you provided comments on any unusual movements regarding the information you have supplied. By taking the opportunity to do this you will enhance the value of the data you supply as well as minimising the chance of ABS staff being required to call you directly for clarification. 
• Have you provided an estimate of the time taken to complete this survey? (Please note that we use the time taken information)