The date
For an LLC with a calendar tax year, which is almost every foreign-owned LLC, Form 5472 and the pro forma Form 1120 are due on the 15th day of the fourth month after the year ends: April 15. For the 2026 tax year that is Thursday, April 15, 2027. When the 15th falls on a weekend or a federal holiday, the deadline moves to the next business day.
An LLC with a different fiscal year follows the same rule: the 15th day of the fourth month after its year-end.
The extension
File Form 7004 by the original due date and the deadline moves six months, to October 15 (October 15, 2027 for the 2026 tax year). The extension is automatic: the IRS does not approve it, but it only counts if Form 7004 is filed on time and for the right form, Form 1120. An extension gives more time to file, not to fix a missed deadline.
Your first year
The first filing is for the year in which the LLC was formed, even if it was formed in December. Paying the formation costs yourself, or putting money into the company's new bank account, is already a reportable transaction. An LLC formed in 2026 therefore usually files its first Form 5472 by April 15, 2027.
Your last year
Closing the LLC does not end the obligation for the year it closes. The final Form 5472 covers the year up to the date of dissolution and is due by the 15th day of the fourth month after that date.
The penalty for missing it
Filing late, not filing, or filing an incomplete Form 5472 carries a penalty of $25,000 per form, per year. If the IRS sends a notice and the form is still not filed 90 days later, a further $25,000 is added for every 30 days it remains outstanding. The IRS can waive penalties for reasonable cause, but that is a request, not a right, and it takes a written explanation.
Missed it already?
File as soon as possible rather than waiting for a notice. A complete, late filing with a clear explanation stands a much better chance than one that only arrives after the IRS has written. A tax adviser can help with a reasonable-cause statement.
Never miss it again
Put April 15 in the calendar of whoever runs the company, and keep a record of every transfer between you and the LLC during the year, so the form is quick to prepare. CORA, the bookkeeping tool we work with, shows the deadline on your dashboard and prepares Form 5472 and the pro forma 1120 from your books.
Frequently asked
Is the Form 5472 deadline the same as my own tax return deadline?
For a calendar-year LLC both fall on April 15, but they are separate filings. Form 5472 is filed by the LLC, under its EIN.
Does Form 7004 also extend the time to pay tax?
No. An extension only gives more time to file. A foreign-owned single-member LLC that files only Form 5472 usually has no tax to pay with it.
My LLC was formed in December. Do I file for that short year?
Usually yes, because the formation itself creates reportable transactions between you and the company.
This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice. Rules and fees change; check your own situation with a professional.