BE-120 Benchmark SurveyTransactions in Selected Services and Intellectual Property with Foreign Persons
It's time for BEA's Benchmark Survey of Transactions in Selected Services and Intellectual Property with Foreign Persons
- The BE-120 survey covers fiscal years ending in 2022.
- All entities subject to the reporting requirements must file by July 31, 2023 even if they are not contacted by BEA.
- Launch the Decision Tool below and/or refer to our FAQs on this page to see who is required to file a 2022 BE-120.
- Federal law protects the confidentiality of the data that companies report.
This tool will help you determine if you need to file the BE-120 form.
Launch Decision ToolFile Online
File via Mail or Fax
- BE-120 (PDF) | BE-120 (Excel)
- Additional Schedule A or B overflow sheets(PDF)
- Additional Schedule C overflow sheets (PDF)
Information for Survey Respondents
Federal Register Notice detailing changes to the 2022 Benchmark BE-120 form.
While a response to the survey is mandatory for all entities notified by BEA, you may be subject to reduced reporting requirements if you meet any of the following conditions:
- No reportable transactions during your fiscal year ending 2022- complete questions 1-6 of the survey.
- Not in existence during any part of your fiscal year ending 2022-complete questions 1 and 2 of the survey.
- Owned more than 50% by another U.S. entity during fiscal year ending 2022- complete questions 1-3 of the survey.
- Are filing under a different U.S. ID number- contact us before filing.
Videos
- Overview of the BE-120 Survey
- What’s New for 2022?
- How to Report Mergers, Acquisitions, and Ownership Changes
- How to File for Partially Operational or Non-Operational Companies
Why does BEA conduct a benchmark survey?
The BE-120 is BEA's most comprehensive survey on transactions in selected services and intellectual property with foreign persons. The data are used in compiling the U.S. international transactions accounts and national income and product accounts. The information is also used to formulate U.S. policy on such international transactions, and to analyze the impact of that policy and the policies of foreign countries.
More About BEA's International Services Data and Surveys
- Definition of International Services
- Interactive tables: International Services
- Pre-Formatted Tables: International Services (XLS)
- U.S. International Economic Accounts: Concepts and Methods
- International Services Articles
- Survey of Current Business: Trade in Services in 2021 and Services Supplied Through Affiliates in 2020
- Guide to BEA's Services Surveys (PDF) Updated: August 2018
- Other BEA Services Surveys
- Guide to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- I file the BE-125 Quarterly Survey of Transactions in Selected Services and Intellectual Property with Foreign Persons. Do I still need to complete the 2022 BE-120?
- How do I request a filing extension for the 2022 BE-120?
- Why was I contacted to file the 2022 BE-120?
- Why do I need to complete the 2022 BE-120?
- What are the 2022 BE-120 filing requirements?
- How do I obtain a copy of the 2022 BE-120 survey or additional overflow sheets?
- What is the due date for filing the 2022 BE-120?
- How do I file the 2022 BE-120?
- Can I submit the BE-120 electronically?
- Do I need to mail a hard copy of the form if I submit the form via eFile or email?
- Can I provide estimates on the 2022 BE-120?
- How should I account for mergers and acquisitions on the BE-120?
- Should I report on an accrual basis or cash basis on the BE-120?
- Should I net payments against receipts on the BE-120?
- How should I round currency amounts on the BE-120?
- At what level should data reported on the BE-120 be consolidated?
- Should we report any amortization of purchased IP over future periods, or is the purchase reportable all at once in the period of acquisition?
- What about shared services amount between the subs & parent companies? Do we need to report them in BE-120?
- How should I interpret the terms "sales" and "purchases?" Many organizations and transactions types are really not related to sales or the organization is not involved in sales.
- Should the intercompany charges to foreign affiliates for the reimbursement of management time and expense, advertising expense, etc. be considered "sales" for the purpose of the survey?
- If the country amount is less than $500 do I list the country and $0.00 or do not have to list the country at all?
- How does the 2022 BE-120 survey differ from the 2017 BE-120?
- How do I report more than one transaction type or more countries than the Schedules allow?
- I believe I am exempt from filing data on Schedule A, B, C, D, or E on the BE-120 survey. What do I do?
- We purchased services from a company in country A, but we sent the payments to a bank in a different country. How should we report this transaction on the BE-120?
- We provide services to a U.S. affiliate of a foreign company. Is this transaction applicable to the BE-120?
- Are the purchases or sales of goods reported on the BE-120?
- When reporting data by country on the BE-120, can regions be used instead?
- How should transactions with international organizations be reported on the BE-120?
- How do I indicate on the BE-120 what type of services I am selling/purchasing?
- Should I report all services not otherwise listed on the BE-120 under service code 42, other selected services?
- My company has been hired by the U.S. Government to provide educational and training services to organizations located abroad. Are such transactions reportable on the BE-120?
- We provide services to one of our foreign affiliates. Is this reportable on the BE-120?
- We provide services to our foreign parent. Is this reportable on the BE-120?
- We provide services to a foreign affiliate of a foreign parent. Is this reportable on the BE-120?
- Under which transaction code do I report licenses to use computer software, i.e. end-user licensing agreements?
- Under "rights related to patents, processes, and trade secrets," why is there no category for "rights to reproduce and/or distribute?"
- Do "education services" include tuition charged to foreign exchange students?
- Do "health services" include in-patient or out-patient care provided directly to foreign residents?
- For financial services providers - Are fees and commissions received and paid reported on the survey?
BE-120
When communicating by email with BEA, please do not include sensitive Personally Identifiable Information (PII) in the text or in an unencrypted attachment.
Sensitive PII is information that can be used to distinguish or trace an individual’s identity, such as a Social Security Number (full or partial).
Any document containing sensitive PII that is attached to an email must be encrypted. Any email received by BEA that contains sensitive PII in the text or in an unencrypted attachment will be blocked and deleted.
If you have any questions, please contact us using the contact information on the survey you are completing.