BEA Survey Questions

The sale of general use software for individual or personal use that is downloaded or otherwise electronically delivered is recorded as computer services, transaction code 12.1. Licenses related to customized software, that is, software designed for a specific user, is also recorded as transaction code 12.1. Note that software sold on physical media with the right to perpetual use is treated as goods, and therefore not reportable on the BE-125 survey.

For paper submissions, simply print and fill out additional Schedule/Overflow Pages provided in the PDF or Excel versions of the BE-125, or download additional copies at https://bea.gov/be125. For eFile submissions, select “Add Overflow” from the “Survey Selection” page.

You should report transactions between your U.S. operations and foreign entities. You should not report any transactions between your foreign parent and other foreign entities or between your foreign affiliates and other foreign entities.

If you are a financial services provider, you should be reporting financial related fees and commissions on the BE-185 Quarterly Survey of Financial Services Transactions between U.S. Financial Services Providers and Foreign Persons. Your transactions with foreign persons in non-financial services, such as advertising, computer services, should be reported on the BE-125.