Aim of this survey
The Annual Acquisitions and Disposals of Capital Assets Survey (ACAS) is the only survey conducted by Office for National Statistics (ONS) that collects detailed product breakdown on capital expenditure. It collects acquisition and disposal data on:
vehicles and other transport equipment (including new, used and goods vehicles)
machinery and equipment
new building work (excluding dwellings)
services associated with buildings and other capital expenditure (including computer services, business consultancy, engineering and construction services)
intangibly produced assets (such as the value of computer software, entertainment, literary and artistic originals)
Results from the survey are needed to more accurately deflate the Quarterly Acquisitions and Disposals of Capital Assets Survey (QCAS). It provides essential information for the UK National Accounts and feeds into the compilation of gross fixed capital formation (GFCF), which is a major component of the expenditure measure of UK gross domestic product (GDP).
What you need to know
To complete the survey, you will need the following information:
value of acquisitions relating to major improvements and construction work
value of acquisitions and disposals relating to services and costs associated with major improvements and construction work
value of acquisitions and disposals of transport assets and equipment
value of acquisitions and disposals of computers and telecommunication equipment
value of acquisitions and disposals of furniture and office equipment
value of acquisitions and disposals of electronic appliances and electrical equipment
value of acquisitions and disposals of general and special purpose machinery and equipment
value of acquisitions and disposals of fabricated and other products
value of acquisitions and disposals of intellectual property assets
value of acquisitions and disposals of other capital assets
value of capital assets acquired under a financial leasing arrangement
information relating to any lags between paying for and receiving capital items
With regards to the disposal of assets we only require the data if your assets were sold for monetary value. Do not include any items that you have written off.
All information you provide is strictly confidential.
Survey information
Selection criteria: UK trading businesses registered for Value Added Tax (VAT) and/or Pay As you Earn (PAYE)
Population: approximately 2.5 million
Sample: approximately 2,500
Frequency: annually
Dispatch dates
Between 3 and 8 February
Return-by dates
5 May
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 VAT and/or PAYE or with Companies House. Your response ensures we represent your industry.
The ACAS 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 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
Your letter explains how to submit your data using our online collection system. Please use your unique enrolment code to report your information.
If you have any difficulties enrolling, please email surveys@ons.gov.uk or call us on 0300 1234 931 providing your company name, reference number and the survey ID code 171.
Reminders are issued automatically, so you may receive one if you submit data just before or after the return date.
If you need help
If your question is not answered above, you may be able to find the answer in the About ONS business surveys section.
You can call us on 0300 1234 941. Please enter the three-digit survey ID 171.
Er mwyn gwneud cais am ffurflen Gymraeg (to speak to someone in Welsh): 0300 1234 921.