How to use the agency response deadline calculator
The United States has no single deadline for government agencies to answer a public inquiry. The closest thing to a uniform rule is the Freedom of Information Act, and everything else depends on the individual agency or the state records statute. Enter the receipt date and the rule that applies to get the response due date in business days.
Legal basis — FOIA requires an agency to determine whether to comply within 20 business days after receipt, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and legal public holidays (5 U.S.C. 552(a)(6)(A)(i)). In unusual circumstances the agency may extend the period by up to 10 more business days with written notice (5 U.S.C. 552(a)(6)(B)); the Department of Justice regulation at 28 C.F.R. 16.5 starts the clock on the first working day after receipt. Ordinary agency correspondence that is not a records request has no statutory deadline, and state public records laws set their own periods, commonly 3 to 10 business days. Figures current as of September 2026.
Weekends are removed automatically. Federal and state holidays move each year, so enter how many fall inside the period and the deadline shifts accordingly.
This calculator is for reference only and is not legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney or the agency FOIA public liaison about your specific request.
Frequently Asked Questions
Once the statutory period runs out you are generally deemed to have exhausted administrative remedies and may file suit in federal district court under 5 U.S.C. 552(a)(6)(C). Many requesters first contact the agency FOIA public liaison or the Office of Government Information Services before litigating.
No. FOIA counts business days and expressly excludes Saturdays, Sundays and legal public holidays. This tool removes weekends automatically and lets you enter the number of holidays that fall inside the period.