I received a notification to file the benchmark survey from BEA. How did you get my information?

The Bureau of Economic Analysis uses previous survey filings with BEA and other sources, such as external databases and news media reports, to identify entities that may be subject to the reporting requirements of the survey. BEA then alerts entities regarding the mandatory filing requirement. While companies meeting the survey requirements are required to complete the survey whether or not they are contacted by BEA, the notification letter helps companies to comply with the law.

How do I file a BE-12 benchmark survey?

File your BE-12 survey report online with eFile at www.bea.gov/efile. This is the best method of submission providing a confirmation of submission and access to your previously submitted eFile data.

You may also file by attaching your submission to a secure message in eFile, sending by fax to 301-278-9500, or mailing to the address on the form. We do not recommend submitting your survey report via email as this is not a secure transmission method for your company’s confidential information.

I have forgotten my username and/or password for my eFile user account. How do I get this information?

To retrieve your username: Go to www.bea.gov/efile and select Forgot your username? next to the username login. You will be asked for the email address associated with the user account. If the email address matches an account in the BEA eFile System, the username will be sent to that email address.

The person working on this form has left our company. How do I retrieve the login information to file our BE-12 survey?

Only one contact person can have login credentials for a U.S. affiliate at a time. If you still have access to the previous user’s email, you can retrieve the existing login information by going to www.bea.gov/efile, selecting Forgot your username? to have the username sent via email, and then selecting Forgot password? to reset the password.

Re: changes to the BE-125 for Q3 2016 forward - I need to file a report for a reporting period prior to September 30, 2016. Should I use the new form?

No. The changes to the survey are only effective 2016 Q3 forward. If you choose to submit a report for a prior reporting period via eFile, the filing system will load the correct format for you. If you opt to file a prior report via mail or fax, please contact us at be-125help@bea.gov, or call (301) 278-9303 and we will send you the previous version of the survey.

I have downloaded the PDF survey form from the BEA eFile System, but I am unable to enter data in the form, save data in the form, or I am unable to submit the form. What do I do?

BEA eFile PDFs require Adobe Acrobat or Adobe Reader.

The BEA surveys that utilize PDF forms will only work with Adobe Acrobat or the free Adobe Reader version 7 or later. No other PDF software will work. If you attempt to use any other PDF software, you will not be able to submit the data that you enter into the form. Follow the steps below to be sure that your forms are opened in Adobe Acrobat.