Australia Census 2026: How to complete your form, what happens if you don’t and $364 daily fine

WHAT IS THE CENSUS?

* The census is a compulsory, nationwide survey which is Australia’s most comprehensive demographic data collection

* The data has far-reaching ramifications including for government policy, and the delivery of resources and programs to many communities

WHEN IS IT?

* The 2026 count will take place on the night of Tuesday, August 11

* The census is held every five years

HOW DO I COMPLETE THE FORM?

* Most households have been delivered either instructions on how to complete the census online, or a paper form if it was requested

* If a household has not yet received their instruction letter or a paper form, they can go to census.abs.gov.au to get a number and complete it online

* Support is available in multiple languages, with the Australian Bureau of Statistics offering over-the-phone help and in person at pop-up hubs across the country

* The ABS expects 85 per cent of households to complete their census online

WHAT IF I’M NOT HOME?

* If you stay at another household on census night, you’ll be included on the form for that household and whoever’s at your standard residence will mark you as “away” on theirs

* If you’re overseas on census night, you don’t need to complete the census at all

WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU DON’T DO IT?

* If you don’t fill in and submit a census form, the ABS will contact you and ask you to complete it

* If a household refuses to comply, it could be served a formal direction to complete the census, which is a legal instruction

* If the census is still not completed after that, you can be prosecuted and fined up to $364 a day

* Providing false information will also result in a hefty fine of $3640