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US LLC Compliance Checklist: All Annual Obligations

US LLC compliance checklist 2026: Form 5472 + 1120, deadlines, Wyoming Annual Report, W-8BEN-E, and BOI status — every obligation in one calendar.

US LLC compliance annual calendar — abstract cover composition with brand glow

A Wyoming LLC is formed quickly — it is kept alive through compliance. This checklist walks every obligation of a foreign-owned single-member US LLC through the year, as of July 2026: from Form 5472 to the Wyoming Annual Report to the current BOI status. Know the deadlines and there is no stress — miss them and five-figure penalties are on the table.

One-time at formation

  • Apply for an EIN with the IRS
  • Appoint a registered agent in Wyoming
  • Issue a W-8BEN-E for banks and payment providers
  • Set up bookkeeping under § 1.6038A-3 (records, contracts, owner transactions)
  • Set up banking (Mercury, Relay, Wise — all open remotely)

The bookkeeping duty is often underestimated: § 1.6038A-3 requires records from which every reportable transaction between the LLC and its foreign owner can be reconstructed — they are the data basis for the annual Form 5472.

Annually with the IRS

  • File Form 5472 + pro forma 1120 by April 15
  • Filing only by fax or mail to the IRS center in Ogden — no e-filing option
  • If needed: extension via Form 7004 (must be requested before April 15)
  • Keep the W-8BEN-E current (check validity, reissue on changes)
  • File the Wyoming Annual Report (approx. $62–150/year)
  • Renew the registered agent
  • BOI/FinCEN filing: domestic US LLCs currently exempt — monitor the rules

On the BOI status: under the FinCEN Interim Final Rule of March 2025, domestic US companies — including foreign-owned Wyoming LLCs — are exempt from the Corporate Transparency Act’s BOI reporting; only entities formed abroad and registered in the US still file. As of July 2026 that means: no filing required, but the rules belong on your watchlist.

The annual calendar

  1. Q1

    Collect the records

    Compile all transactions between the LLC and its owner — the data basis for Form 5472 under § 1.6038A-3.

  2. before Apr 15

    Consider an extension

    Running out of time? File Form 7004 — the extension must be requested before the deadline expires.

  3. Apr 15

    Form 5472 + pro forma 1120

    Deadline for the annual filing. Submission exclusively by fax or mail to the IRS center in Ogden.

  4. annually

    Wyoming Annual Report + registered agent

    File the report (approx. $62–150) and renew the registered agent — otherwise the LLC loses good standing.

  5. ongoing

    W-8BEN-E and BOI status

    Keep the W-8BEN-E current with banks and payment providers; monitor the FinCEN/BOI rules.

Practical note: shipping and notarizations

Originals and apostilles belong exclusively in an express courier shipment (UPS, FedEx, or DHL Express) — never in regular mail: the risk of loss is high and transit times are unpredictable. Notarizations for the US structure run through a remote online notarization service, fully online and without a local notary appointment — details: Apostille and remote notary. Structure basics: US LLC + Georgia; if you do not run the LLC operationally yourself: The holding-director structure.

FAQ

FAQ

Does my LLC have to file Form 5472 even without US tax due?

Yes. The filing obligation exists regardless of any tax liability: Form 5472 with a pro forma 1120 is due by April 15 — by fax or mail to the IRS center in Ogden. The penalty for non-filing is $25,000 per form and year.

Can I extend the April 15 deadline?

Yes, with Form 7004 — but the request must be filed before the deadline expires. The extension postpones the filing, not the duty to keep proper records under § 1.6038A-3.

Does my Wyoming LLC have to file a BOI report with FinCEN?

As of July 2026: no. The FinCEN Interim Final Rule of March 2025 exempts domestic US companies — including foreign-owned Wyoming LLCs — from BOI reporting. We monitor the rules, as they may change.

What does ongoing Wyoming compliance cost?

The Annual Report runs approx. $62–150 per year, plus the registered agent fee. The real effort sits in the IRS filing: collecting the data, preparing the forms, and shipping them to Ogden on time.

This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal or tax advice. If you remain taxable in your home country, you must declare foreign income, shareholdings, and accounts there — always involve a tax advisor in your home jurisdiction. Last updated July 2026; rules may change.