Step-by-step guide to fill out, check and file your IRS forms. Built for foreign owners of single-member LLCs in the United States.
If you are a U.S. non-resident who owns an LLC in the United States (single-member LLC), you must file two forms with the IRS every year:
The U.S. corporate income tax return. For a foreign single-member LLC, it serves only as a cover page: only a few lines need to be completed. You owe no tax if the LLC has no effectively connected business activity in the U.S.
The form that reports transactions between the LLC and its foreign owner. This is the main form: it details every transaction (capital contributions, distributions, loans, fees paid, etc.).
Penalty: $25,000 per form for failure to file, late filing, or incomplete information. This requirement applies even if your LLC had no activity and no income.
Before you start filling out the forms, prepare the following documents and information:
Tip: If your LLC was just created and its only transaction was paying the formation fees (e.g. a $100 Wyoming filing fee), that amount is your capital contribution. It must be reported!
Form 1120 is normally the corporate income tax return. For a foreign-owned disregarded entity, you only complete a simplified pro forma version.
Write "Foreign-owned U.S. DE" clearly at the top of the first page of the form.
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Header | Write "Foreign-owned U.S. DE" at the top |
| Name | Full legal name of the LLC |
| Address | Full U.S. address |
| Item B (EIN) | Your EIN in XX-XXXXXXX format |
| Box E(9) | Check this box ✓ |
| Line 1a | Gross Receipts / Sales (often $0) |
| Line 1c | Total Income (often $0) |
| Line 2 | Cost of Goods Sold (often $0) |
| Line 3 | Gross Profit = Line 1c − Line 2 |
That's it! Do not fill out anything else on Form 1120. No signatures, no schedules: it only serves as a cover page for Form 5472.
This is the most important form. It has 9 parts, but for a single-member LLC without complex activity, only Parts I through V are relevant.
Information about your LLC (the reporting entity).
| Line | Information |
|---|---|
| 1a | LLC's name |
| 1b | Full address (street, city, state, ZIP) |
| 1c | LLC's EIN |
| 1d | Principal business activity (e.g. "Consulting", "E-commerce") |
| 1e | NAICS code (e.g. 541611 for consulting) |
| 1f | Total value of transactions on THIS form |
| 1g | Total number of Forms 5472 filed (usually 1) |
| 1h | Total value of all Forms 5472 combined |
Your personal information as the foreign owner.
| Field | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Your full name |
| Address | Your foreign address (current residence) |
| U.S. ID | ITIN or SSN (if you have one, otherwise leave blank) |
| FTIN | Tax number from your country of residence |
| Country | Country of citizenship + country of tax residence |
| Ownership % | 100% (for a sole owner) |
The "related party" with which the LLC had transactions. For a single-member LLC, it is you: reuse the same information as Part II.
All monetary transactions between you and the LLC. Leave non-applicable lines at $0.
| Type | Concrete examples |
|---|---|
| Sales / Purchases | Sale or purchase of goods between you and the LLC |
| Rents | Rent if the LLC uses an asset you own |
| Interest | Interest on loans between you and the LLC |
| Management fees | Management fees you charge the LLC |
| Borrowed / Loaned | Amounts borrowed or loaned between you and the LLC |
The most important section for disregarded entities. Report here:
Parts VI through IX cover non-monetary transactions, cost-sharing arrangements, and base erosion provisions. They generally do not apply to simple single-member LLCs. When in doubt, consult a CPA.
Before filing, go through this verification checklist:
Important: Form 5472 for disregarded entities cannot be e-filed. You must send it by fax or postal mail.
The fastest method. Send Form 1120 + the attached Form 5472 to the number:
+1 (855) 887-7737
Keep the fax confirmation as proof of filing.
Send by certified mail to:
Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
Ogden, UT 84201-0039
United States
Use a tracked service (USPS Certified Mail, FedEx, DHL) so you have proof of delivery.
April 15 of the following year (e.g. April 15, 2026 for the 2025 tax year).
You can request a 6-month extension by filing Form 7004 before the deadline. This pushes the date to October 15.
Keep these documents for at least 7 years: the IRS may request clarifications at any time during that period.
Annual reminder: This filing must be done every year as long as the LLC exists. Even if the LLC has no activity, you must file the forms while it is still active.
Use our interactive tool to complete Form 1120 and Form 5472 step by step.
🚀 Open the filling toolThe "U.S. LLC + territorial residence" combo can cut your total tax to near 0%. Two detailed country guides:
🇵🇹 LLC from Portugal (NHR / IFICI 2024) · 🇵🇾 LLC from Paraguay (pure territorial, 0% on foreign income)