U.S. LLC Taxes for Founders in Saudi Arabia: Form 5472 and Yearly Filings

Entrepreneurs in Riyadh, Jeddah, and across the Kingdom are opening U.S. LLCs to sell to American customers, hold dollar accounts, and work with U.S. platforms. This includes Saudi nationals and the many expatriates who live and work there. Because there is no personal income tax on salaries at home, the idea of a yearly U.S. filing with a five-figure penalty often comes as a surprise.

The yearly federal filing: Form 5472 with Pro Forma 1120

When a U.S. LLC has a single owner who is not a U.S. person, the IRS treats it as a foreign-owned disregarded entity. Since 2017, these companies have had to report their dealings with their owner on Form 5472, attached to a Pro Forma Form 1120. It is an information return. It does not calculate tax. It tells the IRS what moved between you and your company during the year.

The return is filed under the LLC's EIN and is sent to the IRS by fax or mail, not through standard e-filing. For a fuller explanation, read Form 5472 Explained.

What counts as a reportable transaction for a Saudi-based owner

Almost any movement of money or value between you and the LLC counts. Common examples:

• You pay the formation agent or state fee from your personal riyal card or bank account.
• You transfer start-up money from your Saudi account into the LLC's U.S. account.
• You send profit from the LLC back to your personal account in the Kingdom.

Because the riyal is pegged to the dollar, owners often treat these transfers as routine and keep no notes. Record each one with its date and amount. They are exactly what Form 5472 asks about.

Do you owe U.S. income tax?

A single-member LLC owned by a non-U.S. person is normally a "disregarded entity". The LLC does not pay U.S. income tax itself. Instead, the IRS looks at you, the owner.

As a non-resident, you are generally taxed by the U.S. only on income connected to a U.S. trade or business and on certain U.S.-source payments. Many Saudi-based owners do all their work from Saudi Arabia, with no U.S. office, staff, or warehouse, and end up with no U.S. income tax to pay. That depends on your facts, and holding stock in a U.S. warehouse or using U.S.-based people can change the answer.

Saudi Arabia has no income tax treaty with the United States, so there is no treaty relief to fall back on. Certain U.S.-source payments, such as dividends and royalties, face the standard 30% withholding rate. Whether you owe tax or not, the Form 5472 filing still applies.

Tax forms U.S. platforms will ask you for

Payment processors, marketplaces, and U.S. clients often ask for a tax form before they pay you. Because your LLC is disregarded and you are its foreign owner, the correct form is generally a Form W-8BEN in your own name, not the Form W-9 that U.S. owners use. Giving the wrong form can lead to incorrect withholding or to income being reported to the IRS as if you were a U.S. taxpayer.

State filings

Your LLC also answers to the state where it was formed. Wyoming requires an annual report, due on the first day of the month the company was formed. Delaware charges LLCs a yearly tax due June 1. Florida requires an annual report between January 1 and May 1. New Mexico does not require an annual report from LLCs. Missing a state filing can lead to late fees and, in time, the company being dissolved. See our state filings guide.

Other filings to know about

• FBAR. If the LLC holds accounts outside the United States with more than $10,000 combined at any point in the year, an FBAR is also due.
• BOI report. At the time of writing, LLCs formed in the United States are exempt from FinCEN's beneficial ownership report. This does not affect Form 5472, which is an IRS requirement.

The Saudi side

Saudi Arabia does not tax individuals on employment income, but business activity can fall under zakat or income tax rules administered by the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA), depending on your nationality and how the business is run. If you are an expatriate, your home country may also have a claim. We prepare U.S. filings only, so please confirm your position with a local adviser.

If you have missed earlier years

Many owners learn about Form 5472 a year or two after forming the company. The safest step is to file every missing year before the IRS writes to you, with a reasonable cause statement explaining the delay. Read more about late filings and catch-up.

What to keep ready each year

• The LLC's formation documents and EIN confirmation letter
• Your passport details and home address
• All statements for the LLC's bank and payment accounts
• A list of money you put into the company and money you took out, with dates
• Any company costs you paid personally

Common questions from Saudi-based owners

Is there a tax treaty between Saudi Arabia and the United States?

No. Saudi Arabia and the United States do not have an income tax treaty in force, so the ordinary U.S. rules for non-resident owners apply, including the standard 30% withholding rate on certain U.S.-source payments such as dividends and royalties.

I pay no income tax in Saudi Arabia. Does that mean I have nothing to file in the U.S.?

No. The U.S. filing does not depend on your tax position at home. A U.S. LLC with a single foreign owner and reportable transactions files Form 5472 with a Pro Forma 1120 each year, whether or not any tax is due.

Do I need a U.S. visa, SSN, or ITIN to file from Saudi Arabia?

No. Form 5472 and the Pro Forma 1120 are filed under the LLC's EIN, which you can obtain without a Social Security Number. An ITIN is only needed if you personally have to file a U.S. income tax return.

What if I have missed one or more years?

File the missing years as soon as you can, before the IRS contacts you. A reasonable cause statement explaining why the returns are late can be included with the filing.

Meritline Tax prepares Form 5472 with Pro Forma Form 1120 for foreign-owned LLCs at a starting price of $200, confirmed in a free written quote before any work begins.

This article is general information based on federal rules as of October 8, 2026. It is not tax or legal advice for your specific situation. Rules and due dates can change, so confirm your requirements before you file.