For residents of Ukraine who own a US LLC
US LLC Owned From Ukraine: Form 5472, Taxes and Filing
A US LLC owned from Ukraine has a yearly IRS filing even if it earns nothing in the US. This guide shows the filings, the Ukrainian tax ID that goes on Form 5472, and what it means that the US has a tax treaty with Ukraine.
Quick answer
Does an LLC owned from Ukraine 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 Ukraine, and since the US has a treaty with Ukraine, 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 Ukraine
- Yes, per the IRS treaty list
- Your home tax ID
- The tax identification number issued to you in Ukraine
- Currency
- Convert Ukrainian hryvnias to US dollars; the form is in US dollars
- Fees
- See our Form 5472 filing service page, or request a quote
Is there a US tax treaty with Ukraine?
Yes: the IRS lists Ukraine 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 Ukraine; 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.
What a US LLC owned from Ukraine files each year
A US LLC with a single foreign owner is a disregarded entity for income tax, but the IRS treats it as a corporation for one purpose: reporting its dealings with its owner. That is why an owner in Ukraine with no US customers, no US office and no profit can still owe a US filing every year.
| Filing | When it applies | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Form 5472 with a pro forma Form 1120 | Every year the LLC has a reportable transaction with its foreign owner, including money you put in or take out | IRS |
| BE-13 survey | Generally within 45 days when a foreign person sets up or buys a US business | BEA rule |
| State annual report or tax | Depends on the state; see US LLC annual fees by state | State filing office |
| Form 1040-NR | Only if the LLC has income effectively connected with a US trade or business | IRS |
The penalty for a missing or substantially incomplete Form 5472 is US$25,000, and it grows if the failure continues after an IRS notice (IRS).
Documents for owners living in Ukraine
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 Ukraine, are short.
| Item | For an owner in Ukraine |
|---|---|
| Identity | Passport and current home address |
| Tax ID | The tax identification number issued to you in Ukraine |
| Money in and out | Statements showing what you paid into the LLC and took out during the year, including amounts in Ukrainian hryvnias |
| Company papers | Articles of organization and the IRS EIN letter |
The tax identification number your home tax authority in Ukraine issued to you, if you have one (IRS).
The Ukrainian side of your LLC
Ukrainian developers and IT companies use a US LLC to contract with US clients and to be paid in US dollars.
The US view of the LLC does not decide how Ukraine sees it. Ask a tax adviser in Ukraine how the LLC and its profit are treated there; we prepare the US filings and share the figures your adviser needs.
How we help Ukrainian owners
We prepare Form 5472 and the pro forma Form 1120 for Ukrainian 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.
The legal sources behind this page (Ukraine)
The treaty articles and US provisions this guide relies on.
Treaty
- The IRS lists the 1994 income tax treaty. General effective date (IRS Table 3): treaty Jan. 1, 2001 (IRS treaty documents for Ukraine; treaty text; IRS Table 3).
- Article 4 (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 22 (Limitation on Benefits), which sets the tests a resident must meet to claim benefits.
- Article 24 (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 Ukraine 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)
- Romania
- 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
- Egypt
- Bangladesh
- Morocco
- Sri Lanka
- Bulgaria
- Cyprus
- Malta
Common questions
I live in Ukraine. 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 Ukraine do you need from me?
The tax identification number issued to you in Ukraine. The IRS asks for the same foreign tax ID every year.
Does the United States have a tax treaty with Ukraine?
Yes. Ukraine 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 Ukraine?
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)
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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