Form 5472 for foreign-owned US LLCs
Foreign owners of US single-member LLCs file Form 5472 with a pro forma Form 1120 every year, even when the LLC earned nothing. Missing it carries a $25,000 penalty. We prepare both forms, list the transactions the IRS asks about and send them in.
Updated November 2026
What do we file each year?
The forms are short. Getting the transactions right is the part that takes care.
A filing check
Whether your LLC files, and for which years.
Form 5472
Every reportable transaction between you and the LLC.
Pro forma 1120
The return it attaches to, with only a few lines filled in.
An extension
Form 7004 when you need more time, to October 15.
Sent, with proof
Faxed or mailed to the IRS unit listed in the instructions.
A yearly record
Contributions, distributions and payments, kept simple.
- Money you put into the LLC, including what you paid to form it
- Money the LLC paid out to you
- Loans in either direction
- Expenses you paid personally on the LLC's behalf
- Sales between the LLC and you or your other companies
Because paying the formation fees counts, most LLCs file in their very first year, before they earn anything.
| Not filing, or an incomplete form | $25,000 per form, per year |
|---|---|
| Still unfiled 90 days after an IRS notice | Another $25,000 for each 30 days |
| Records | The LLC keeps records that support what it reports |
What does Form 5472 filing cost?
A fixed yearly price for both forms. No monthly plan needed.
Quiet LLC
Formation and funding only
$500a year
- Form 5472 and the pro forma 1120
- Up to 10 reportable transactions
- Sent to the IRS, with proof
Active LLC
Regular money in and out
$750a year
- Everything in Quiet LLC
- Up to 50 reportable transactions
- Contributions and distributions summarized
Active with books
The year's books done too
$1,200a year
- Everything in Active LLC
- Bookkeeping for the year
- A list of what to keep for next year
Everything under What's included is in the price for every tier, from the filing check to sending it in.
Priced on top
- Past years you didn't file, quoted after we review them
- Your personal Form 1040-NR, if you have US business income
- State annual reports and franchise taxes
- Full bookkeeping, if the LLC has regular activity
Not sure which tier fits? We confirm it, and the fixed price, on a free call before any work starts.
How does the yearly filing work?
Your part is mostly sending us the LLC's bank statements.
Filing check
Which years, and what moved.
Transactions listed
From your bank statements.
You review
We walk through both forms.
Sent to the IRS
By fax or mail, proof saved.
Form 5472 questions, answered.
From $500 a year for both forms.
Get it filedSources: Form 5472, instructions, Form 7004
Free tools: Form 5472 guide, Form 7004 extensions, Form 1040-NR guide
My LLC had no activity. Do I still file?
Usually yes. Paying the formation fees or a registered agent counts as a reportable transaction between you and the LLC, so most LLCs file even in a quiet year.
Can you file for past years I missed?
Yes. We review each year, prepare the missing filings and explain the penalty exposure before you decide. Filing before a notice arrives gives you the best chance of keeping penalties down.
Do I need an ITIN for Form 5472?
The filing uses the LLC's EIN. You only need an ITIN if you personally file a US return, like a 1040-NR.
Can Form 5472 be e-filed?
No. With a pro forma 1120 for a disregarded LLC, it goes to the IRS by fax or mail.
Is Form 5472 my only US filing?
Not always. If the LLC runs a business in the US, you may owe a 1040-NR, and the state may want an annual report or franchise tax. We map out every filing on the first call.
Tell us what's messy. We'll tell you what it takes.
Tell us what you need and get a fixed price before any work starts. No pressure and no contract.