Form 5472 · checked 19 October 2026

How to fill out Form 5472 and the pro forma 1120

A foreign-owned single-member LLC doesn't file a normal tax return. It sends two forms together: a mostly blank Form 1120 and a Form 5472. A form that's badly incomplete counts as not filed, and that carries the $25,000 penalty, so here's what goes where, following the IRS instructions.

The pro forma Form 1120

The IRS says the only things to fill in are:

The LLC's name and address.
Item B, the LLC's EIN, and item E on page 1.
Across the top, write "Foreign-owned U.S. DE".

Leave the income and tax lines empty. Use the owner's tax year, or the calendar year if the owner has no US tax year.

Form 5472, part by part

Part I: The LLC's details. Tick line 3 (foreign-owned U.S. DE). Line 1f includes the Part V amounts.
Part II: The foreign owner, on the 25% shareholder lines (4a to 7e).
Part III: Each related party the LLC had transactions with, usually the owner again.
Part IV: Money transactions with the foreign owner, in US dollars: loans, amounts paid and received.
Part V: Tick the box for other transactions such as formation costs, money put in, and money taken out, and attach a statement describing them.
Part VI: Only for non-cash transactions or ones at less than full value, with a schedule.
Part VII: Everyone completes it.

No ITIN? Use a reference ID

On line 4b, the owner's US number (SSN or ITIN) goes in 4b(1) if they have one. If they don't, the instructions ask for a reference ID number in 4b(2) instead: any combination of letters and numbers, up to 50 characters, no spaces or symbols, used the same way every year. The owner's foreign tax ID goes in 4b(3), or "None" if they have none. You don't need an ITIN to file Form 5472.

What counts as a transaction

The owner paying the formation fee, registered agent or state fees for the LLC.
The owner putting money into the LLC's bank account, or taking money out.
Loans between the owner and the LLC, and any interest.

Even an LLC with no income usually has at least one, because someone paid to form it. The IRS accepts reasonable estimates (within 75% to 125% of the real amount), and amounts of $50,000 or less can be reported as "$50,000 or less".

Where to send it

It can't be e-filed. Fax both forms together to 855-887-7737 (at least 300 DPI), or mail them to Internal Revenue Service, 1973 Rulon White Blvd, M/S 6112, Attn: PIN Unit, Ogden, UT 84201. How to fax from outside the US. Keep permanent records that back up every figure; failing to keep them carries the same $25,000 penalty.

Check everything my company owes

Source: IRS, Instructions for Form 5472 (Rev. December 2024), sections on foreign-owned U.S. DEs, line 4b, Parts I to VII, where to file and penalties. Read 19 October 2026. General information, not tax advice.