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Form 5472 pro forma Form 1120 checklist

What the pro forma Form 1120 cover sheet means for a foreign-owned U.S. disregarded entity filing Form 5472.

By Yann LephayPublished · Last updated

Summary

For a foreign-owned U.S. disregarded entity, the IRS instructions say Form 5472 is attached to a pro forma Form 1120. The pro forma cover is not a normal corporate income tax return for this lane; the instructions limit the required Form 1120 information to the entity name, address, and items B and E on the first page.

The pro forma Form 1120 cover is part of the official Form 5472 filing path.

Cover formPro forma Form 1120Used for this foreign-owned U.S. DE path.
Top markingForeign-owned U.S. DEIRS instructions require this marking.
Product limitChecklist onlyNo income tax return advice.

What the cover sheet does

The pro forma Form 1120 gives the IRS a filing cover for the attached Form 5472. It does not turn this product into a corporate income tax preparation service.

Required source records

Use the exact LLC legal name, EIN, mailing address, formation records, tax-year facts, owner identity, and related-party transaction records.

When to stop

Stop if the entity may owe a U.S. income tax return, has ECI or U.S. trade/business questions, has classification uncertainty, or needs a corporate tax return beyond the pro forma cover.

Common questions

Does Form 5472 Desk file with the IRS?

No. It prepares a self-review packet and checklist. The user reviews, signs where required, and files through the official IRS mail or fax path.

Does this product provide tax advice?

No. It is self-help software for a narrow packet-preparation lane. Treaty positions, ECI analysis, transfer pricing, reasonable cause, notices, and representation are outside scope.

Run the strict Form 5472 checker

Check whether the facts fit the foreign individual, 100% single-member LLC, disregarded entity, current on-time packet lane before preparing anything.

Open checker

Related guides

Form 5472 mail and fax checklist for foreign-owned U.S. DEs

A filing-channel checklist for foreign-owned U.S. disregarded entities that cannot e-file Form 5472.

Foreign-owned LLC Form 5472 filing guide

A narrow source-linked guide for foreign-owned single-member LLC owners checking the Form 5472 plus pro forma Form 1120 filing lane.

Form 5472 for a zero-income foreign-owned LLC

How a zero-income foreign-owned single-member LLC should separate no income from reportable owner capital activity before Form 5472.

Official sources

IRS About Form 5472IRS page for the current Form 5472 revision and official instructions; page last reviewed March 30, 2026. Official source reviewed for this MVP on June 10, 2026.IRS Instructions for Form 5472Official instructions define reporting corporations, foreign-owned U.S. disregarded entities, filing method, pro forma Form 1120, Form 7004 extension handling, and $25,000 penalties. Official source reviewed for this MVP on June 10, 2026.IRS Form 5472 PDFOfficial form used for the information return attached to the pro forma Form 1120 packet. Official source reviewed for this MVP on June 10, 2026.IRS About Form 1120Official Form 1120 page; the Form 5472 DE lane uses a pro forma Form 1120 cover. Official source reviewed for this MVP on June 10, 2026.IRS Instructions for Form 1120Official corporation return instructions used for regular due-date timing: generally the 15th day of the 4th month after tax year end. Official source reviewed for this MVP on June 10, 2026.IRS About Form 7004Official page for automatic extension requests for certain business income tax, information, and other returns. Official source reviewed for this MVP on June 10, 2026.IRS Instructions for Form 7004Official extension instructions; Form 5472 DE instructions give special filing-channel rules for Form 7004. Official source reviewed for this MVP on June 10, 2026.IRS single-member LLC pageIRS page explaining single-member LLC disregarded-entity classification basics and EIN context. Official source reviewed for this MVP on June 10, 2026.TD 9796 foreign-owned disregarded entity regulationsIRS Internal Revenue Bulletin item treating a domestic disregarded entity wholly owned by a foreign person as separate for limited section 6038A reporting and record-maintenance purposes. Official source reviewed for this MVP on June 10, 2026.

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