Census of Services

The Census of Services (CSR) provides periodic and comprehensive data about service establishments and their activities. The United States Code, Title 13, requires this census and provides for mandatory responses. The universe consists of domestic establishments that provide services to consumers, businesses, governments, and other organizations. These include all taxable establishments and tax-exempt establishments with payroll classified in SIC Division I except: academic and professional schools (SIC 821-2); labor, political, and religious organizations (SIC 863 and 865-6); and households (SIC 88). In 1992, over 8.7 million employer and nonemployer establishments reported receipts or revenues of some $1.6 trillion.

Basic data obtained for all establishments include kind of business, Federal income tax status, geographic location, taxable operating receipts (revenue for tax-exempt establishments), annual and first quarter payroll, and employment for the pay period including March 12. Establishments receiving a census form provide additional data on operational and organizational status, sources of receipts, business characteristics, and industry specific measures such as exports and the number of hotel accommodations. Other measures for tax-exempt organizations include gifts and endowment income.