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BEA Survey Questions

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.

I am using Chrome and am having issues downloading or submitting my survey report via eFile.

The eFile PDFs will only work with Adobe Acrobat or Reader (click here for more information). If you are using the Google Chrome browser, you may experience a problem with the BEA eFile System as the Chrome browser contains a built-in PDF viewer that is not compatible with BEA eFile PDF forms.

My company was liquidated or no longer foreign-owned in 2022. Do I have to file a BE-12?

If the U.S. business enterprise was still in existence and still at least 10 percent foreign-owned at the end of its fiscal year that ended in calendar year 2022, then the company is required to file a BE-12A, BE-12B, or BE-12C.

If the U.S. business enterprise was no longer in existence or no longer foreign-owned before the end of its fiscal year that ended in calendar year 2022, AND was notified to file by BEA, then the company must submit a BE-12 Claim for Not Filing.

In Part II - Determination of Reporting Status - If we always have sales or purchases in a quarter AND are over the threshold, would we always check the box in column 3 and check the box for yes in column 4? And, do we have to report a country if amount i

Yes, if you always have sales and purchases in a quarter in an amount over the threshold, you would check the box in column 3 and also check yes in column 4 for that particular transaction type. Data are rounded to the nearest thousands of dollars on the survey. If, for a particular transaction type, total receipts or payments in a particular country are less than $500, then round to 0.

How should transactions with international organizations be reported on the BE-125?

International organizations (such as the United Nations, the World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund) are, according to balance of payments conventions, considered foreign entities, even if they are headquartered in the United States.

Transactions in services with these organizations should be reported on the BE-125. Enter “Int’l Org” under “Other – Specify country” on Schedules A, B, or C and enter the data for each transaction type for which you had transactions.

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