Published October 31, 2026Updated October 31, 2026All founders
Form 5472 for foreign-owned LLCs (2026 guide)
A single-member US LLC owned by a non-US person usually files Form 5472 with a pro forma Form 1120 every year, even with no income. We summarise what the IRS instructions say about who files, what is reported, how and by when.
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What is Form 5472?
Form 5472 is an IRS information return. A US company uses it to report certain transactions with a foreign owner or other related parties. It does not calculate tax and does not come with a payment. For a single-member LLC owned by someone who lives outside the United States, it is usually the main yearly federal filing.
This post summarises the IRS instructions for Form 5472 (revision 12/2024, accessed 31 October 2026). It is general information, not tax advice. Your US tax professional decides how the rules apply to your company. For the short definition, see our glossary in 30 seconds.
Who has to file Form 5472?
According to the IRS instructions, a foreign-owned US disregarded entity is a domestic entity wholly owned by one foreign person. For Form 5472 purposes the IRS treats it as a corporation, so it becomes a reporting corporation. A Wyoming or Delaware LLC with a single owner who lives abroad usually fits that description.
The rule follows the owner, not the state. A Wyoming LLC and a Delaware LLC are treated the same way here. The instructions also note that one exception available to some other filers does not apply to foreign-owned disregarded entities. An LLC with several members, or one taxed as a corporation, follows different rules; ask your tax professional.
What counts as a reportable transaction?
A reportable transaction is a money or property movement between the company and a related party, such as its foreign owner. The IRS instructions give examples that matter for small LLCs: contributions to the company, distributions from it, and amounts paid in connection with forming or dissolving it. A year with no sales can still contain reportable transactions.
| Example | Why it may be reportable, according to the IRS instructions |
|---|---|
| The owner pays the state filing fee for the new LLC | An amount paid in connection with the formation of the entity |
| The owner transfers money to the company account | A contribution to the entity |
| The company transfers profit back to the owner | A distribution from the entity |
| The owner pays a company expense personally | A transaction with a related party |
Keep records of each of these as they happen. The instructions say a reporting corporation must keep books and records sufficient to show that the return is correct, including the related-party transactions.
How does a foreign-owned LLC file Form 5472?
A foreign-owned disregarded entity has no income tax return of its own, so the IRS asks it to attach Form 5472 to a pro forma Form 1120. Only a few parts of that Form 1120 are completed. The instructions also give a dedicated fax number and mailing address, and they state that this filing cannot be made electronically.
- Have an EIN. The company needs its own EIN. On Form SS-4 the IRS names the entity type to write for this case; our Form SS-4 walkthrough shows where.
- Collect the year's transactions. List contributions, distributions and payments between the company and its owner.
- Prepare Form 5472. It identifies the company, the foreign owner and the reportable transactions.
- Attach it to a pro forma Form 1120. Complete only the name, address and items B and E on page 1, and write "Foreign-owned U.S. DE" across the top.
- Send it by fax or mail. The IRS instructions list fax 855-887-7737 and a mailing address in Ogden, Utah.
- Keep a copy and the proof of sending. File them with the rest of your company records.
When is Form 5472 due, and what if it is late?
The instructions say the filing is due on the Form 1120 due date, including extensions. For a company that uses the calendar year, that is generally the fifteenth day of the fourth month after the year ends, so 15 April. An extension can be requested on Form 7004, also marked "Foreign-owned U.S. DE" at the top.
| Topic | What the IRS instructions say |
|---|---|
| Due date | The due date of Form 1120, including extensions |
| Extension | Form 7004, filed by the regular due date |
| Electronic filing | Not available for a foreign-owned US disregarded entity |
| Penalty for not filing | $25,000 per failure, with further penalties if it continues after IRS notice |
The penalty is the reason this form matters: it applies to the failure to file, whether or not any tax is owed. If you formed your LLC recently, ask your tax professional which year your first filing covers.
What does LaunchUS do, and what does it not do?
LaunchUS forms your LLC, prepares your EIN application without an SSN and keeps your formation documents and EIN letter in one vault. Your dashboard's annual obligations calendar shows Form 5472 with its date and a page where you collect the details your US tax professional will need. LaunchUS does not prepare or file tax returns.
Our LLC formation and EIN service pages explain who does what, and pricing shows which yearly services are included. The FinCEN BOI report is a separate topic: US-formed companies are now exempt, as our FinCEN BOI post explains. For other questions, see the US company FAQ.
Form 5472 is one item on a longer list: see the yearly obligations checklist, and ITIN vs EIN for the two numbers.
For the basics of what a foreign-owned LLC is and why it files this form, read what is a US LLC?.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to file Form 5472 if my LLC had no income?
Possibly yes. The obligation depends on reportable transactions with a related party, not on income. Paying the formation fee or putting money into the company can be one. Ask a US tax professional to confirm your case.
Can I file Form 5472 online?
No. The IRS instructions say a foreign-owned US disregarded entity cannot file Form 5472 electronically. It is sent by fax or by mail to the address in the instructions, attached to a pro forma Form 1120.
Does my LLC pay tax with Form 5472?
Form 5472 is an information return; it does not calculate tax and is not a payment form. Whether your company or you owe any US tax is a separate question for a qualified tax professional.
Does LaunchUS file Form 5472 for me?
No. LaunchUS does not prepare or file tax returns. Your dashboard shows the Form 5472 date and collects the details your tax professional will need, so you can hand them over in one place.
Official sources
- www.irs.gov/instructions/i5472 (retrieved October 31, 2026)
- www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-5472 (retrieved October 31, 2026)
- www.irs.gov/instructions/iss4 (retrieved October 31, 2026)
This post is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Programme terms and amounts apply only as stated on the official page; the programme decides on every application.