Free · scope before price
I own a business outside the U.S. What U.S. filings may apply?
It depends on what the business is for U.S. tax and how much of it you — and your family — own. A 10% stake in a foreign company generally brings Form 5471; more than 50% U.S. ownership makes it a controlled foreign corporation with its own analyses; a partnership or a branch brings Form 8865 or 8858; trading in your own name is self-employment.
This assessment establishes the facts a specialist needs, names the filings and analyses they point to, and routes the business to a practitioner who handles that level of complexity.
Describe the business
One business at a time: where it is registered, what kind of entity it is, who owns it, what it does and what was filed before. The result names the U.S. filings and analyses it points to — and routes it to someone who handles that complexity.
About 3 minutes per business. Results before any email.
What the assessment looks at
- What the entity is
- Its country and form — and that its U.S. classification needs confirming.
- Who owns it
- Your share, family and related holdings, other U.S. owners, changes in the year.
- What it does
- Active trade versus holding investments or property, revenue, profit, local tax.
- What it paid you
- Salary, dividends or loans.
- What was filed
- Earlier information returns and classification elections.
Who it is for
U.S. citizens and residents who own part or all of a company, partnership or branch outside the U.S., or trade there in their own name.
What it does not do
It does not classify an entity, compute earnings and profits, Subpart F, GILTI/NCTI, previously taxed earnings or a §962 election. It scopes the work and routes it.
Questions people ask
Do I need Form 5471 for my foreign company?
Generally yes if you are a U.S. person owning 10% or more of a foreign corporation's vote or value — counting shares held by close family and related entities — and in some cases as an officer or director when U.S. ownership changes. Which filing category applies decides how much of the form is completed.
What is a controlled foreign corporation?
A foreign corporation more than 50% owned by U.S. shareholders who each hold 10% or more. Its U.S. shareholders can be taxed currently on parts of its income — under Subpart F and the GILTI regime (renamed net CFC tested income from 2026) — whether or not it pays a dividend.
My business is a GmbH / SARL / Ltd. Is it a corporation for U.S. tax?
Often, but not always. Some foreign forms are always corporations for U.S. purposes; others follow default rules or an election on Form 8832. That classification decides whether Form 5471, 8865 or 8858 applies — and it is a professional's call, so the assessment flags it rather than guessing.
Does this calculate GILTI or Subpart F?
No. It names the analyses the facts point to so the work can be scoped and routed to a specialist — it does not compute earnings and profits, inclusions or a §962 election.