Aim of this survey

The aim of the Income and Expenditure Surveys is to collect information on the income and expenditure of insurance companies who undertake long-term and general insurance (including investment contract business).

The survey has been devised mainly to meet the needs of the financial and sector accounts and the compilation of gross domestic product (GDP) estimates within the UK National Accounts and UK Balance of Payments.

What you need to know

To complete the survey, you will need information regarding:

  • regarding the reporting period, your general business income, your general business expenditure, your reconciliation of insurance liabilities, comments to explain significant movements and contact details

All information you provide is strictly confidential.

Survey information

Selection criteria: all companies that undertake insurance business in the UK, regulated by the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)

Population: approximately 400 (long-term and general insurance combined)
Sample: approximately 65
Frequency: quarterly

Dispatch dates

Quarter 1: 25 March

Quarter 2: 24 June

Quarter 3: 26 September

Quarter 4: 16 December

Return-by dates

Quarter 1: 12 April

Quarter 2: 12 July

Quarter 3: 11 October

Quarter 4: 10 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, which are registered for Value Added Tax and/or Pay As You Earn or with Companies House. Your response ensures we represent your industry.

The Quarterly Survey of Insurance Companies: General Business Income and Expenditure 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 and over employees) for any relevant 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 Quarterly Survey of Insurance Companies: General Business Income and Expenditure on our new platform. We appreciate your patience.

If you need help

If your question is not answered in the previous sections, you can find out more in the About ONS business surveys section.

You can contact us by telephone on 01633 456971. Please quote the three-digit survey ID 104.

From outside the UK, you can contact us by telephone on +44 1633 810495.

Er mwyn gwneud cais am ffurflen Gymraeg (to speak to someone in Welsh), you can contact us by telephone on 0300 1234921.