For residents of Romania who own a US LLC
US LLC Owned From Romania: Form 5472, Taxes and Filing
A US LLC owned from Romania has a yearly IRS filing even if it earns nothing in the US. This guide shows the filings, the Romanian tax ID that goes on Form 5472, and what it means that the US has a tax treaty with Romania.
Quick answer
Does an LLC owned from Romania file with the IRS every year?
In most cases. Form 5472 with a pro forma Form 1120 is due for any year the LLC had a transaction with you, which includes funding it. Profit is not required. The filing identifies you as the foreign owner living in Romania, and since the US has a treaty with Romania, treaty rules can limit US tax on profits.
At a glance
- Yearly US filing
- Form 5472 with a pro forma Form 1120
- US tax treaty with Romania
- Yes, per the IRS treaty list
- Your home tax ID
- The Personal Numerical Code (CNP), which the Romanian tax administration uses as the tax identification number for individuals
- Currency
- Convert Romanian lei to US dollars; the form is in US dollars
- Fees
- See our Form 5472 filing service page, or request a quote
The yearly US filings for an LLC owned from Romania
Here is the yearly list for a single-member LLC whose only owner lives in Romania.
- Every year with a related-party transaction: Form 5472, attached to a pro forma Form 1120. Forming the LLC, funding it and taking money out all count (IRS instructions). The LLC usually owes no US income tax as a disregarded entity; this is an information return.
- Once, soon after you start: the BE-13 survey to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, generally within 45 days of a foreign person setting up or buying a US business (BEA rule).
- Every year, to the state: whatever the formation state charges; US LLC annual fees by state lists them.
- Only sometimes: Form 1040-NR, when the LLC earns income effectively connected with a US trade or business (IRS).
Missing Form 5472 costs US$25,000 per failure, and a substantially incomplete form counts as not filed.
Documents for owners living in Romania
Most of what goes into the filing comes from the LLC's own records. The parts that come from you, as an owner living in Romania, are short.
| Item | For an owner in Romania |
|---|---|
| Identity | Passport and current home address |
| Tax ID | The Personal Numerical Code (CNP), which the Romanian tax administration uses as the tax identification number for individuals |
| Money in and out | Statements showing what you paid into the LLC and took out during the year, including amounts in Romanian lei |
| Company papers | Articles of organization and the IRS EIN letter |
For a resident of Romania, this is usually the Personal Numerical Code (CNP), which the Romanian tax administration uses as the tax identification number for individuals (OECD tax ID sheet).
Is there a US tax treaty with Romania?
Yes: the IRS lists Romania among the countries with a US income tax treaty (IRS treaty list). The treaty does not remove Form 5472. What it can change is how much US tax applies to the LLC's profit and to payments you receive.
| Question | With the treaty | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Is the LLC profit taxed in the US? | Generally only the part attributable to a US permanent establishment, such as an office or dependent agent in the US | Form 8833 |
| Do I have to tell the IRS I rely on that? | Yes, on Form 8833 with the return; not disclosing costs US$1,000 | Form 8833 |
| Can I get lower withholding on US dividends, interest or royalties? | You can claim it on Form W-8BEN by naming Romania; otherwise 30% generally applies | W-8BEN, Pub 515 |
Treaty benefits depend on the exact article and on whether you qualify under it, so we check the treaty text before relying on it.
The Romanian side of your LLC
Romanian developers, agencies and online sellers use a US LLC to contract with US clients and to sell in US dollars.
The US view of the LLC does not decide how Romania sees it. Ask a tax adviser in Romania how the LLC and its profit are treated there; we prepare the US filings and share the figures your adviser needs.
How we help Romanian owners
We prepare Form 5472 and the pro forma Form 1120 for Romanian owners, and can look after the whole year for a single-member LLC. Gurleen Kaur, CPA licensed in British Columbia and Washington State, signs the filings. Fees are set out on our Form 5472 filing service; request a quote below.
See our Form 5472 filing service, the annual compliance package and which state to form in.
Treaty and US law sources
Where each rule on this page comes from, for an owner resident in Romania.
Treaty
- The IRS lists the 1973 income tax treaty. General effective date (IRS Table 3): treaty Jan. 1, 1974 (IRS treaty documents for Romania; treaty text; IRS Table 3).
- Article 3 (Fiscal Residence), which decides who counts as a resident for treaty benefits.
- Article 5 (Permanent Establishment), which defines a US permanent establishment.
- Article 7 (Business Profits), under which business profits are taxed in the US only if attributable to a permanent establishment.
- Article 10 (Dividends), on dividends.
- Article 11 (Interest), on interest.
- Article 12 (Royalties), on royalties.
- Article 21 (Relief from Double Taxation), on relief from double taxation.
- Treaty benefits for income earned through a fiscally transparent entity, such as a single-member LLC, are decided under section 894 and Treas. Reg. section 1.894-1(d) (IRS Pub 515, Form 8833).
US law
- Form 5472: Internal Revenue Code section 6038A and Treas. Reg. section 1.6038A-1; final regulations T.D. 9796 treat a foreign-owned US disregarded entity as a corporation for this purpose (IRS Form 5472 instructions).
- US trade or business and effectively connected income: Code sections 864 and 871 (IRS Pub 519).
- Treaty disclosure: Code section 6114, Treas. Reg. section 301.6114-1, and the section 6712 penalty (IRS Form 8833).
- BE-13: 15 CFR 801.7 (eCFR).
The tax law of Romania itself also applies to you; check it with a local adviser.
Owners in other countries
Every country page uses the same US rules with that country's treaty status and tax ID. See all of them on US LLC tax by country.
- The Netherlands
- Turkey (Turkiye)
- China
- Argentina
- Brazil
- The United Kingdom
- Germany
- India
- Pakistan
- The United Arab Emirates
- South Africa
- Australia
- Panama
- Peru
- Greece
- Italy
- Spain
- France
- Nigeria
- Mexico
- The Philippines
- Poland
- Portugal
- Israel
- Japan
- South Korea
- Thailand
- Ireland
- Switzerland
- Sweden
- Austria
- Belgium
- Denmark
- Norway
- New Zealand
- Singapore
- Hong Kong
- Malaysia
- Colombia
- Kenya
- Ghana
- Saudi Arabia
- Vietnam
- Chile
- The Czech Republic
- Finland
- Iceland
- Estonia
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Indonesia
- Ukraine
- Egypt
- Bangladesh
- Morocco
- Sri Lanka
- Bulgaria
- Cyprus
- Malta
Common questions
I live in Romania. When is my LLC's Form 5472 due?
With the pro forma Form 1120, normally by April 15 for a calendar-year LLC. Form 7004 extends it. The US$25,000 penalty applies if it is not filed.
Which tax ID from Romania do you need from me?
The Personal Numerical Code (CNP), which the Romanian tax administration uses as the tax identification number for individuals. The IRS asks for the same foreign tax ID every year.
Does the United States have a tax treaty with Romania?
Yes. Romania is on the IRS list of US income tax treaties. The treaty can limit US tax on business profits to profits attributable to a US permanent establishment, a position disclosed on Form 8833, and lets you claim treaty rates on Form W-8BEN.
Will I pay US income tax on my LLC's profit from Romania?
Usually only Form 5472 with the pro forma Form 1120 is filed. A Form 1040-NR is needed if the LLC has income effectively connected with a US trade or business, and the treaty may limit US tax to profits attributable to a US permanent establishment.
Sources
Every rule and figure on this page links to the IRS, CRA or other official source it comes from. Amounts change; we re-check them before each engagement.
- IRS: United States income tax treaties, A to Z
- IRS: Instructions for Form 5472
- IRS: Form 5472
- IRS: Form 8833, treaty-based return position disclosure
- IRS: Instructions for Form W-8BEN
- eCFR: 15 CFR 801.7 (BE-13 reporting requirement)
- OECD: Information on tax identification numbers, Romania
Gurleen Kaur, CPA licensed in British Columbia and Washington State. Last updated November 11, 2026. This page is general information, not tax or legal advice for your situation.
Related guides: Form 5472 filing service, Annual compliance package, US LLC tax by country.
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