Form 5472 guide
Form 5472 Deadline
Form 5472 has no separate schedule of its own. It is filed with the pro forma Form 1120 and inherits that return's due date — for a calendar-year foreign-owned LLC, generally 15 April of the following year.
Written and reviewed by Michal Zacik, US Tax Professional · Last updated 2026-09-01
The original filing deadline
The tax year drives everything. For a tax year ending 31 December, the filing is generally due 15 April of the following year. A fiscal-year entity has a due date that shifts accordingly. When a due date lands on a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, it generally moves to the next business day.
Example. An LLC formed in March 2025 with a calendar tax year has its first filing period from formation to 31 December 2025, and that filing is generally due 15 April 2026.
Extension
An extension of time to file the pro forma Form 1120 is requested on Form 7004, and it must be requested by the original due date. Because the information return is attached to the pro forma return, extending the return extends the attachment with it.
Two things an extension does not do:
- It does not remove the obligation to file.
- It cannot be requested after the original due date has already passed.
Original deadline, extension and late filing are three different things
| Status | What it means |
|---|---|
| Original deadline | The date the filing is due without any extension request |
| Extended deadline | A later date obtained by filing Form 7004 on time |
| Late filing | Filed after the applicable due date, with penalty exposure to consider |
If the deadline has already passed
A late or missing return carries exposure to a penalty of $25,000 per form, subject to the applicable rules and circumstances. Filing late is generally preferable to not filing, and reasonable-cause relief may be available depending on the facts. Where a filing we prepare is late, we include preparation of a reasonable cause statement at no additional charge when the circumstances support one — see late Form 5472 filings. For the penalty framework itself, see the penalty guide.
Prior-year filings
Each tax year stands alone: a 2024 filing does not cover 2023. Where several years are unfiled, they are prepared year by year using that year's forms and instructions.
Practical timing
Preparation needs the EIN, formation details, owner information and the year's record of transactions with the owner. Gathering those early is the main thing that keeps a filing comfortably ahead of the date — see the step-by-step process.
Frequently asked questions
Written and reviewed by Michal Zacik
US Tax Professional · IRS PTIN Holder · PTIN: P03281868
Over 10 years in US corporate tax and more than 7 years working with nonresident taxation. A PTIN is a paid tax preparer identification number issued by the IRS; it is not an IRS endorsement, approval or certification. This page is general information, not tax or legal advice for your specific situation.
Sources
- IRS — Instructions for Form 5472
- IRS — Instructions for Form 1120
- IRS — About Form 7004 (extension of time to file)
Rules can change and many situations have exceptions. Where guidance is nuanced, the IRS instructions above control.
Related guides
Form 5472 penalty
How the $25,000 penalty framework works, and what reasonable cause means.
How to file Form 5472
Step by step, from identifying related parties to submitting the completed package.
Late Form 5472 filing
Late and prior-year filings, and how a reasonable cause statement works.
What is Form 5472?
The information return behind the requirement, and how it fits with the pro forma Form 1120.
No upfront payment to get started.
We prepare your filing first. Once it is ready, payment is required before you review the completed documents, sign the pro forma Form 1120 and authorize submission to the IRS.