U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Information Policy · reviewed 2026-10-10
What this source supports: A FOIA request should describe the records clearly and state the requester's willingness to pay fees or request a waiver.
Source limit: Agency procedures and fee schedules differ. Confirm the current form and fees with the agency that holds the records.
These sources support the statements above. They do not show that every person needs this guide. They do not show a specific result.
Limits
This guide skips Saturdays and Sundays only. It does not apply holiday rules, tolling, or extensions.
Agency procedures and fee schedules differ. Confirm the current form and fees with the agency that holds the records.
Use current instructions from the responsible organization. This guide is a planning aid, not an official decision or a substitute for qualified advice.
Common questions
What does the App compute?
Turn a receipt date and a working-day period into a due date, the calendar span, and the weekends skipped.
What does the App not do?
This App skips Saturdays and Sundays only. It does not apply holiday schedules, tolling, extensions, or any legal rule.
Where do the numbers come from?
You enter every number yourself. The sources support the method and the limits. They do not produce a result for your specific case. Keep the original documents next to the sheet you build.
Before you start
Open the linked source page and keep it beside you.
Gather the values the App asks for:
Date the request was received.
Working days allowed.
Set aside ten quiet minutes; rushed numbers are the main error this guide prevents.
Free Companion App
The App computes the worked example with your own numbers, in your browser.
APP 1
FOIA Working Day Deadline Clock
Turn a receipt date and a working-day period into a due date, the calendar span, and the weekends skipped.
This guide is edited for clarity and checked against the sources it links. It is not a substitute for official instructions or qualified advice. A linked source does not show that every person needs this guide.