The Census Bureau would like to remind businesses to fill out their 2012 census forms because they are overdue.

Last fall, the U.S. Census Bureau mailed 2012 Economic Census forms to more than 4 million businesses. The Census Bureau pointed out that reliable statistics are needed for economic development, decision making and strategic planning.

The Economic Census is the U.S. government’s official five-year measure of American business and the economy. For those businesses that have responded to the Economic Census, the Census Bureau thanks them. But for those businesses that were mailed a form but have not yet responded to the survey, the Census Bureau is urging them to do so as soon as possible.

The census law (Title 13, United States Code, Section 224), coupled with the Sentencing Reform Act of 1984 (Title 18, Sections 3551, 3559, and 3571), provides for penalties of up to $5,000 for failure to report, and $10,000 for intentionally providing false information.