95 Hours of Paperwork: Uncle Sam Tracks Your Foreign Investments
Published Date: 8/18/2025
Notice
Summary
The Department of Commerce is asking for approval to continue its big annual survey that checks how U.S. companies invest in other countries. About 3,000 U.S. companies will spend time filling out detailed forms, helping the government understand global business impacts. This update keeps the survey going with some changes, and folks have 30 more days to share their thoughts before it kicks off.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
Mandatory annual reporting for U.S. parents
If your organization is a U.S. parent company of foreign affiliates, you are required to respond to the BE-11 Annual Survey. About 3,000 U.S. parent companies must respond; BEA estimates an average of 95.2 hours per U.S. parent and a total annual burden of 285,630 hours. Responding is mandatory under the International Investment and Trade in Services Survey Act.
Detailed financial data collection requirements
The BE-11 requires U.S. parents to provide detailed financial and operational data, including balance sheets, income statements, property, plant and equipment, employment and employee compensation, merchandise trade, sales of goods and services, taxes, and research and development activity. BEA uses these sample data to produce measures of U.S. direct investment abroad and to derive universe estimates in nonbenchmark years.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-06039 — Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Direct Investment Surveys: BE-13, Survey of New Foreign Direct Investment in the United States
The government is asking businesses with new foreign investments in the U.S. to keep filling out the BE-13 survey, which helps track how much foreign money is coming into the country. About 3,400 companies will respond yearly, spending around 36 minutes each. This survey stays mandatory, with no changes, and helps understand the impact of foreign investments on the U.S. economy.
2026-06040 — Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Direct Investment Surveys: BE-605, Quarterly Survey of Foreign Direct Investment in the United States-Transactions of U.S. Affiliate With Foreign Parent
The Department of Commerce is updating a quarterly survey that asks U.S. companies owned by foreign parents about their business deals. About 2,100 companies respond each quarter, spending around an hour each time. This update helps keep important economic data accurate without adding extra hassle, and the public has 30 more days to share their thoughts.
2026-05074 — BE-577: Quarterly Survey of U.S. Direct Investment Abroad-Transactions of U.S. Reporter With Foreign Affiliate
If your U.S. business owns or controls a foreign company, you’ll need to fill out the BE-577 survey every quarter. This survey helps the government track how much money U.S. companies invest abroad and how it affects the economy. You’ll have 30 days after each quarter to report, or 45 days if it’s the year’s final quarter—so keep an eye on those deadlines!
2026-05080 — BE-29: Annual Survey of Foreign Ocean Carriers' Expenses in the United States
The BE-29 survey asks U.S. agents of foreign ocean carriers to report their expenses in the U.S. if they handled 40+ port calls or spent $250,000+ in a year. This mandatory survey helps the government track trade in shipping services and understand its impact on the economy. Reports are due within 45 days after the calendar year ends, so get ready to share your numbers on time!
2026-05075 — BE-11: Annual Survey of U.S. Direct Investment Abroad
The BE-11 survey asks U.S. companies that own more than half of a foreign business to share info about their investments abroad. This helps the government understand how American money moves around the world and affects the economy. If you’re one of these companies, get ready to report your last fiscal year’s data by May 31—it’s mandatory and important!
2026-05076 — BE-9: Quarterly Survey of Foreign Airline Operators' Revenues and Expenses in the United States
If you work for a foreign airline with offices in the U.S., you’ll need to fill out a quarterly survey about your money coming in and going out here. This helps the government understand how foreign airlines impact the U.S. economy and trade. You’ll have 30 days after each quarter to send in your report, so get ready to share your numbers on time!
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