Commerce Bureau's BE-15 Survey Tracks Foreign Cash Flowing into US Businesses
Published Date: 3/16/2026
Notice
Summary
The BE-15 survey asks U.S. businesses mostly owned by foreign investors to share info about their money and activities. This helps the government understand how foreign investments affect the U.S. economy. If your company qualifies, you’ll get a notice and must report by May 31 each year—no skipping it!
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
Mandatory BE-15 Annual Reporting
If your U.S. business is more than 50 percent owned (directly or indirectly) by a foreign person, you must complete the BE-15 survey each year covering the fiscal year ending in the previous calendar year and file it by May 31. BEA will mail notices to entities required to respond and the specific BE-15 form type depends on size thresholds for assets, sales or revenues, and net income.
Estimated Paperwork Burden
BEA estimates the public reporting burden for the BE-15 is an average of 23.5 hours per response under OMB control number 0608-0034. This is the time BEA expects responders to spend preparing and filing each survey.
No Obligation If Not Contacted
BEA will individually contact entities required to report; if BEA does not contact your entity, then your entity has no BE-15 reporting responsibilities.
How and Where to File
Reports can be filed electronically using BEA's e-file system at www.bea.gov/efile; BE-15 forms and instructions are available at www.bea.gov/fdi, and BEA provides phone and email contacts for inquiries.
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