Late on Form 5472? The IRS may assess $25,000 per year per form under IRC §6038A(d)(1).
Most late filers send the form by itself. Our guided builder helps you author a Reasonable Cause Statement alongside Form 5472 and Pro Forma 1120 so a written reasonable-cause showing is attached to your delinquent return. The IRS evaluates any reasonable cause request on a case-by-case basis.
Mail cap $499 for 3+ years · Free until you download · No credit card to start
Document-preparation software. Not legal or tax advice. You review and submit everything yourself. No outcome is guaranteed.
“My CPA quoted $750 per year and stopped returning my calls. Found simple5472 at midnight, had the forms, cover letter, and a Reasonable Cause Statement I authored ready in 20 minutes for $179. Whether the IRS waives the penalty is up to them — but the filing is in.”
Sebastian W.
E-commerce Founder · Chiang Mai, Thailand
Used with permission. Individual results vary; no IRS outcome is guaranteed.
Late Filing Package Includes
- Reasonable Cause Statement (you author via guided builder)
- Form 5472 + Pro Forma 1120 + Part V
- Cover letter & IRS mailing instructions
- Mail cap $499 for 3+ years
What a Reasonable Cause Statement is — and what it isn’t.
IRC §6038A(d)(3) directs the IRS to consider whether a late filing was due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect. The taxpayer is responsible for establishing that in writing. Many late filers don’t attach a statement — some aren’t aware they can. Whether the IRS grants any relief is determined solely by the IRS on a case-by-case basis.
Form alone
Filing Form 5472 by itself.
Under IRC §6038A(d)(1), the IRS may assess a $25,000 penalty for failure to file. With no written reasonable cause showing in the filing, the taxpayer has not put forward the position permitted by IRC §6038A(d)(3) at the time the return is submitted. Additional $25,000 penalties may accrue every 30 days after IRS notice if non-compliance continues.
What’s on the record
No written reasonable cause attached
Form + RCS
Filing with a Reasonable Cause Statement.
IRC §6038A(d)(3) directs the IRS to consider whether a late filing was due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect. The taxpayer is responsible for establishing this in writing, attached to the delinquent return. The IRS evaluates each request on its specific facts; the outcome is solely the IRS’s determination.
What’s on the record
Written reasonable cause statement attached
No outcome is guaranteed. The IRS evaluates penalty-relief requests on a case-by-case basis. simple5472 is document-preparation software — not a tax return preparer, not a law firm, and provides no IRS representation.
How the late-filing flow works
The screener stops you before you pay if your situation is outside the automated-filing criteria.
Automated-filing screener
Six short questions confirm whether your LLC matches the automated-filing criteria. If it doesn't, you are directed to consult a qualified tax professional — before any charge.
Guided builder
Enter LLC details and transactions, then make the factual selections that describe your situation. The guided builder helps you author a Reasonable Cause Statement that you review and edit before signing.
Review, sign, download
Get Form 5472, Pro Forma 1120, your authored Reasonable Cause Statement, and cover letter as PDFs. Mail to the IRS yourself or use the optional convenience-fax transmission.
Late-filer questions
Common questions from foreign-owned LLC owners filing Form 5472 after the deadline.
More questions? See the full FAQ →
Filing late? Prepare your Form 5472 package and author a Reasonable Cause Statement.
Prepare the forms and author a Reasonable Cause Statement via the guided builder in one flow. Free until you download. Whether the IRS accepts any reasonable cause request is up to the IRS, evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
From $179 per late year. Mail cap $499 for 3+ years.
Start Late Filing Package~15 minutes · Filing-ready PDFs · One-time flat fee · No subscription