Plain-English guide
What is a pro forma Form 1120 for a foreign-owned U.S. DE?
Short answer
The instructions say a foreign-owned U.S. DE files a pro forma Form 1120 with Form 5472 attached. The only information they say is completed on the Form 1120 is the entity's name and address and items B and E on the first page.
What the IRS says
Source: Instructions for Form 5472 (Rev. 12-2024), Instructions for Form 1120, Instructions for Form 7004.
The only information required to be completed on Form 1120 is the name and address of the foreign-owned U.S. DE and items B and E on the first page.
Note. “Foreign-owned U.S. DE” should be written across the top of the Form 1120.
A foreign-owned U.S. DE required to file Form 5472 can request an extension of time to file by filing Form 7004, Application for Automatic Extension of Time To File Certain Business Income Tax, Information, and Other Returns.
These filers do not use the mailing address provided in the Instructions for Form 1120.
In plain English
Pro forma means for form's sake. Form 5472 has to be attached to a corporate return, and a foreign-owned U.S. DE has no corporate return of its own, so the instructions describe a Form 1120 completed only to the extent stated above, carrying Form 5472 as its attachment.
Three IRS forms are involved. Form 5472 is the information return. The pro forma Form 1120 is the return it is attached to. Form 7004 is the request for an automatic extension of time to file.
The dedicated fax number and mailing address for these filers are on the page about where to send Form 5472. Fylit does not file or send any of these forms.
Related
IRS sources
Quoted text last compared with the IRS document on 2026-10-03. The IRS can revise its forms and instructions; check the current version before you rely on anything here.
What Fylit does
Fylit currently provides educational resources about this filing. It does not determine your filing obligations or prepare your return.
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