The U.S. Department of Labor’s Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS) has opened the 2026 VETS-4212 filing cycle, and covered federal contractors and subcontractors must submit their annual reports no later than September 30, 2026. The filing period runs from August 1 through September 30 each year.
The VETS-4212 report is used to collect workforce and hiring data relating to protected veterans and assists the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) in evaluating compliance with federal veteran affirmative action requirements.
Which Employers Must File?
Generally, federal contractors and subcontractors with a qualifying federal contract or subcontract valued at $200,000 or more must file a VETS-4212 report annually. The requirement applies regardless of the employer’s workforce size.
Covered contracts may involve a broad range of services and agreements with federal agencies, including procurement, construction, research, insurance, transportation, banking, and related services.
Required Reporting Information
The VETS-4212 report requires employers to provide workforce data regarding protected veterans and new hires. Among other information, employers must report:
- The number of protected veterans employed within each of the EEO-1 job categories;
- The total number of employees within each EEO-1 job category;
- The number of protected veteran hires during the previous 12-month period; and
- The total number of hires during the previous 12-month period.
Filing Methods
Employers may submit reports electronically through the VETS-4212 Reporting Application, and the Department of Labor encourages online filing. Batch filing options are also available for employers submitting reports for multiple establishments.
Employers Impacted
The filing requirement is particularly relevant for:
- Federal contractors and subcontractors;
- Employers subject to VEVRAA affirmative action obligations;
- Contractors maintaining affirmative action programs; and
- HR and compliance professionals responsible for federal contractor reporting.
Employer Takeaway
Covered federal contractors should confirm whether they meet the current $200,000 contract threshold, identify the employee snapshot period used for reporting, and prepare workforce and hiring data well in advance of the September 30, 2026 filing deadline. Employers that fail to file may face federal contractor compliance risks and heightened scrutiny during OFCCP evaluations.