Aim of this survey
The Financial Services Survey (FSS) is made up of two surveys:
- Financial Services Survey: Quarterly Return of Assets and Liabilities
- Financial Services Survey: Quarterly Return of Income and Expenditure
This survey collects information on the assets and liabilities and the income and expenditure of your business. The information supplied forms part of the UK's National Accounts and Balance of Payments, which are used by the Treasury and the Bank of England to monitor the economy.
What you need to know
To complete the Financial Services Survey: Quarterly Return of Assets and Liabilities, you will need the following information:
- assets
- liabilities
- shareholders' capital and reserves
- transactions in non-financial assets
To complete the Financial Services Survey: Quarterly Return of Income and Expenditure, you will need the following information:
- income
- expenditure
- employee stock options
All information you provide is strictly confidential.
Survey information
Selection criteria: UK active and operational businesses classified within the financial industry
Population: approximately 70,000
Sample: approximately 2,000
Frequency: quarterly
Dispatch dates
Quarter 1 (Jan to Mar): 22 March
Quarter 2 (Apr to June): 23 June
Quarter 3 (July to Sept): 22 September
Quarter 4 (Oct to Dec): 20 December
Return-by dates
Quarter 1: 25 April
Quarter 2: 25 July
Quarter 3: 24 October
Quarter 4: 23 January
Dispatch and return-by dates are a guide. They are subject to change due to national holidays and weekends.
Why you were selected
Your business has been selected from a directory of businesses in the UK that are registered for Value Added Tax (VAT) and/or Pay As You Earn (PAYE) or with Companies House. Your response ensures we represent your industry.
The FSS is conducted under the provisions of the Statistics of Trade Act 1947. Once selected, your business is legally obliged to comply. You cannot appeal your selection.
Why you have received this survey
We survey businesses of all sizes to ensure our statistics are representative of the UK economy. We select large businesses (those with 100 plus employees) for any relevant Office for National Statistics (ONS) business surveys because their information is so significant.
We select some small and medium businesses, usually for a set period of time, then replace them with other businesses from their industry. They are very important to us as their trading patterns are often very different to large businesses.
How to complete this survey
Please complete and return the questionnaire following the guidelines on the front page.
Reminders are issued automatically, so you may receive one if you submit data just before or after the return date.
At the moment, this survey is not available to complete online. We are currently developing a secure online collection platform. You will receive a letter notifying you when you can complete the FSS on our new platform. We appreciate your patience.
If you need help
If your question is not answered above, you may be able to find the answer on the About ONS business surveys page.
You can call us on 01633 455770. Please quote the three-digit survey ID 266 or 267.
Er mwyn gwneud cais am ffurflen Gymraeg (to speak to someone in Welsh): 0300 1234 921.