Wyoming LLC Form 5472 filing guide

Wyoming is the most popular US state for foreign founders forming an LLC — low fees, strong privacy protections, and no state income tax. But Wyoming's tax advantages are state-level. A Wyoming LLC owned by a foreign person still owes the federal IRS Form 5472 each year, exactly like an LLC formed in any other state. Wyoming's zero-income-tax status has no bearing on the federal information-return obligation.

Why Wyoming?

• No state income tax. Wyoming doesn't tax LLC profits at the state level.
• Low annual report fee. $60 minimum (0.0002 × total assets, min $60), due on the first day of the anniversary month of formation.
• Strong charging-order protections. Wyoming provides some of the best LLC liability protections in the country.
• Privacy. Wyoming doesn't publish member information in public records.
• No residency requirement for members or managers. Non-US owners and non-resident managers are fully permitted.

What Wyoming doesn't change — Form 5472

Form 5472 is a federal obligation under IRC §6038A. State of formation is irrelevant. A Wyoming LLC with a foreign owner that had a reportable transaction with a related party during the year must file Form 5472 + pro forma Form 1120 by April 15.

• What triggers it: any money moving between you and the LLC — the initial capital you deposited, any distributions you took, any loans. See what counts as a reportable transaction.
• Penalty for missing it: $25,000 per form per year (IRS, IRC §6038A).
• Filed by: fax to IRS Ogden PIN Unit at +1-855-887-7737.
• Deadline: April 15 (October 15 with a Form 7004 extension filed by April 15).

The Wyoming annual report — separate from Form 5472

Confusion is common here. Wyoming requires a separate annual report filed with the Wyoming Secretary of State — this is a state filing, not an IRS filing, and has nothing to do with Form 5472.

• Due: first day of the anniversary month of formation (e.g. if you formed in March, due March 1 each year).
• Cost: $60 minimum, calculated as 0.0002 × total assets in Wyoming.
• Where: Wyoming Secretary of State online portal.
• What happens if you miss it: Wyoming administratively dissolves the LLC after 60 days. Reinstatable, but avoidable.

Wyoming LLC + Form 5472 filing checklist for foreign founders

1. Form LLC with Wyoming Secretary of State. Get Articles of Organization.
2. Apply for US EIN via Form SS-4 (fax — no SSN required). See EIN without SSN guide.
3. Open a US business bank account (Mercury, Wise Business, Relay — no US visit required).
4. Track capital contributions, distributions, and any other related-party transactions through the year.
5. File Form 5472 + pro forma 1120 by April 15. Snapfile handles this for $89.
6. File Wyoming annual report in the anniversary month.

Wyoming vs Delaware — which to choose?

Both states are popular with foreign founders. The Form 5472 obligation is identical in both — it's federal. The key differences are:

• Wyoming: no state income tax, lower annual fees ($60 min), stronger privacy, simpler for solo founders.
• Delaware: stronger investor credibility for venture-funded companies, more flexible corporate law, annual franchise tax (~$300/yr for LLCs) due June 1.

For most non-US solo founders without venture-capital aspirations, Wyoming is the better default. See the full comparison: Wyoming vs Delaware LLC for non-US founders.