Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Digital.gov Guide Explore

Burden activities

Many activities count as burden. These questions can help you to determine if a burden activity should be factored into your estimate. This isn’t a comprehensive list, but a starting point for you to begin thinking about the scope of burden in your collection.

Reviewing instructions

  • How much time, effort, and cost will it take for respondents to understand what information the agency is asking for and how to collect it?

Compiling materials necessary for collection

  • How much time, effort, and cost will it take for the respondents to locate, gather and compile necessary documentation required for the information collection?

Technology and systems

  • What technology and systems do respondents need to gather, process, store, and send information?
  • Is this new technology that needs to be bought?
  • If it doesn’t exist at all, what’s the cost of development? Is there a cost associated with installation or with training? Are there one-time costs?
  • Is there a cost to use the technology, like a subscription?

Adjusting existing methods

  • If a previous collection has been updated or changed, how will the current methods need to be adjusted?

Training personnel

  • Will the collection require staff, contractors, or other agents to undergo training to respond?
  • How much time or money is needed to ensure they understand both program and policy context, and can respond to the collection?
  • Will there be additional training for actual reporting and recordkeeping methods?

Searching data sources

  • Are there public or private data sources that respondents can use to respond to the collection?
  • What would be the cost of creating new data sources?

Completing and reviewing collected information

  • How much time, money, and effort will it take to perform all tasks in the collection?
  • Does the information also need to be certified for accuracy and reliability?

Sending and disclosing information

  • What must be done to send the collected information to the federal agency requesting it?
  • Does it need to be sent or disclosed to a third party, like other federal agencies or offices, state or local governments, other companies, or members of the public?

pra.digital.gov

An official website of the U.S. General Services Administration and the Office of Management and Budget

Looking for U.S. government information and services?
Visit USA.gov