The annual VETS-4212 filing deadline is September 30, 2026. With the deadline rapidly approaching, government contractors and subcontractors should confirm whether this requirement applies to their organization and begin gathering the necessary workforce information.​

    Who Is Required to File

    Federal contractors and subcontractors are generally required to file if they held at least one covered federal contract or subcontract values $200,000 or more.The dollar threshold for the VETS-4212 increased from $150,000 to $200,000 on October 1, 2025.There is no minimum employment count for the VETS-4212 filing requirement. This means that a small business with fewer than 25 employees may still be required to file if it meets the federal contract threshold.Even if an organization has no protected veterans or made no new hires during the reporting period, it must still file if it meets the contract threshold.

    ​How to File VETS-4212 

    Federal contractors can submit forms electronically using the VETS-4212 Reporting Application, linked below.​

    VETS-4212 Reporting Application

    ​New DOL Rule Changes Section 503 Requirements

    On August 21, 2026, the Department of Labor (DOL) published a final rule eliminating the collection of disability information from applicants and employees. Under the final rule, federal contractors will no longer be required to invite applicants and employees to complete the OMB voluntary self-identification of disability form. Barring a court injunction, the final rule is effective on September 21, 2026.  In addition, federal contractors will no longer be required to measure their workforce against the 7% utilization goal. The requirement to annually prepare a written affirmative action plan for individuals with disabilities remains.​The DOL identified several reasons for the proposed changes. Specifically, the DOL stated that while the Section 503 regulations state that the use of quotas is prohibited, contractors may, in practice, be induced to use quotas to meet the utilization goal. The DOL also detailed concerns that the disability inquiry requirement and utilization goal requirements were inconsistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).​

    Additional Information Found Here

    ​If you are unsure whether the filing requirements and updates apply to your organization or need assistance completing the report, our team at FosterThomas is here to help.