An official website of the United States government
All transactions should be reported on an accrual basis, except telecommunication services which are recorded on a settlement basis.
View and print all FAQs related to the BE-25 survey (PDF)
Goods should not be reported on the BE-25. The BE-25 covers transactions in services and intangible assets only.
View and print all FAQs related to the BE-25 survey (PDF)
Yes, royalties and license fees should be reported on BE-25. Question 11, page 4 lists the royalties and license fees transactions that are covered by the survey. Detailed descriptions of these transactions are on page v of the General Instructions.
View and print all FAQs related to the BE-25 survey (PDF)
No. Your transaction is with a U.S. affiliate of that German company. This would be considered a domestic transaction and therefore not applicable to the BE-25.
View and print all FAQs related to the BE-25 survey (PDF)
Since your transaction was with a German entity, you should report this as a transaction with Germany. Where the money actually goes is irrelevant, even if you were to send your payments to a bank in the U.S. as a matter of convenience.
View and print all FAQs related to the BE-25 survey (PDF)
No. A single submission, whether by mail, fax, or ASTAR, is sufficient.
View and print all FAQs related to the BE-25 survey (PDF)
You can obtain a MS Excel version of the BE-25 by sending an email to be-25@bea.gov. This is an automated system, and it will automatically send you an .xls version.
View and print all FAQs related to the BE-25 survey (PDF)
Complete pages 1-4 of the survey. If you do not check a box “yes” in Step 2 or Step 3 and you do not wish to report on a voluntary basis on Schedule A or B, then mail the form to the address on the first page.
View and print all FAQs related to the BE-25 survey (PDF)
a. If your company was acquired by a U.S. company, please complete the survey through question number 8, and include the name and address of the company that purchased your company.
b. If your company was purchased by a foreign company, complete the survey as it pertains to you and go to http://www.bea.gov/surveys/fdiusurv for information on foreign direct investment survey requirements.
This survey is authorized by the International Investment and Trade in Services Survey Act. U.S. entities who receive this survey, or who have transactions covered by the survey with unaffiliated foreign persons are required to complete and return the survey to the Bureau of Economic Analysis.