An Information Collection Request (ICR) is a federal agency’s request for approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to collect information from the public. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), agencies must justify why the information is needed and how it will be used.
Federal agencies are required to submit an ICR whenever they create, renew, modify, or discontinue an information collection. Each ICR includes a description of the collection, supporting materials and documentation (such as forms, surveys, or scripts), and proof that the agency has met the requirements of the PRA.
The ICR is submitted to the The Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) within OMB for review and approval. OIRA grants approval for a maximum of three years, after which the collection must be renewed through a new ICR submission.
ICRs are publicly available on RegInfo.gov, and additional guidance can be found in the FAQs.
ICRs play a vital role in ensuring transparency and accountability in federal data collection. When federal agencies collect information from 10 or more "persons" (which includes individuals, businesses, and state, local, and tribal governments), they must submit an ICR to ensure that it fulfills their statutory missions, avoids unnecessary or duplicative requests, and minimizes burden on the American public. Additionally, Federal Register Notices (FRNs) and the opportunity for public comments provide a formal way for the public to be informed of proposed ICRs and participate in the process.
