Why a CPA and not a general adviser
A Certified Public Accountant is licensed by a US state board of accountancy and is one of the professionals authorised to represent taxpayers before the IRS. When your question is "Do I owe US tax?" or "Which return does my company file?", a CPA's answer carries weight that general guidance cannot.
This consultation connects you with a US CPA who works with foreign-owned LLCs and corporations. It is a paid, focused session on your specific facts, not a sales call.
Who this is for
- Non-resident owners of a single-member LLC unsure whether they have US income tax to pay or only an information return.
- Multi-member LLCs filing Form 1065 for the first time and issuing K-1s to foreign partners.
- C-Corp founders with questions about corporate tax, dividends or transfer pricing with a home-country company.
- Founders who received an IRS notice or penalty letter and want to understand their options.
- Anyone about to add a member, change tax classification or move money between related companies.
Common questions we see
Do I owe US income tax?
For a foreign-owned single-member LLC, the answer depends mainly on whether the business has income effectively connected with a US trade or business. Selling services performed entirely outside the US is often treated differently from running a US warehouse or employing US staff. The rules are fact-specific, and treaties can change the result.
What do I have to file even with no tax due?
A foreign-owned US disregarded entity must file Form 5472 attached to a pro forma Form 1120 each year it has reportable transactions, which include the owner putting money in or taking it out. The IRS penalty for failing to file starts at USD 25,000 per form. The form cannot be e-filed; it is faxed or mailed to the IRS.
Which forms do I give my clients?
US clients often ask for a Form W-8 or W-9 before paying you. Which one, and in whose name, depends on how your LLC is classified for tax. Getting this wrong can lead to incorrect withholding.
How do US filings interact with tax at home?
Your US company does not replace your tax obligations in India, Nigeria, the UK or the UAE. A US CPA can explain the US side and what documents your home-country accountant will need, so both returns tell the same story.
What BookMyLLC handles
- Matching you with a US CPA who works with non-resident owners.
- A short intake form so the CPA reviews your facts before the call.
- Scheduling across time zones.
- Collecting your formation documents, EIN letter and prior filings in one place for the CPA.
- Next steps after the call, such as return preparation through our federal tax filing service.
Step-by-step process
- Book the consultation and complete the intake form with your company details and questions.
- Upload documents: formation certificate, EIN letter, operating agreement, and last year's returns if any.
- Meet the CPA by video or phone. Bring your questions ranked by importance.
- Receive a summary of the answers and any action items with deadlines.
- Act on it, either yourself or with our filing and bookkeeping services.
What to prepare
- Your LLC or corporation's formation documents and EIN confirmation letter.
- Where each owner lives and is tax resident.
- A rough income and expense summary, and where customers are located.
- Bank statements showing money moving between you and the company.
- Any IRS letters or notices you have received.
Timeline
Consultations are usually scheduled within a few business days, and sooner outside the February to April filing season. If your question is tied to a deadline, tell us the date when you book. Questions about an IRS notice should be booked as soon as the letter arrives, because notices carry their own response dates and those dates do not move for time zones or holidays.
Deadlines worth knowing
For calendar-year companies, Form 1065 for multi-member LLCs is due March 15, and Form 1120, including the pro forma 1120 with Form 5472, is due April 15. Extensions are available by filing Form 7004 before the deadline. An extension gives more time to file, not more time to pay any tax owed.
What a consultation cannot do
A single session answers questions. It does not prepare returns, reconstruct a year of missing bookkeeping, or represent you in an IRS examination. If the CPA sees that you need one of those, they will say so and explain the scope and cost before any work starts.
The CPA also advises on US federal tax. They can point out where state tax may apply, and what your home-country accountant should look at, but they cannot sign off on your Indian, Nigerian or UK tax position. Where a question falls outside US tax, you will be told plainly rather than given a guess. That keeps the advice you receive accurate and usable.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Asking a CPA after the deadline. Book before the filing season, when options such as extensions are still open.
- Arriving without records. A CPA can only advise on facts they can see. Unreconciled books mean vague answers.
- Relying on forum advice. The same question can have different answers for a founder in India and one in the UK, because treaties differ.
- Mixing personal and company money. It makes reportable transactions hard to identify and weakens your liability protection.
If your books are not in order, start with US bookkeeping. For background reading, see how non-US residents pay US taxes and LLC taxation explained.
CPA consultation at a glance
| Question | Short answer |
|---|---|
| Who you talk to | A Certified US CPA. |
| Best for | Tax filings, IRS notices, Form 5472 and foreign-owned company questions. |
| Format | A scheduled call with a written follow-up. |
| Urgent notices | Book as soon as a letter arrives; notices carry their own response dates. |
| Not included | Preparing your return; that is a separate service. |
Questions people bring
| Topic | Example question |
|---|---|
| Form 5472 | Do I file one even with no income? |
| Owner payments | Should I take a distribution or a loan? |
| Deadlines | What is due, and can I extend it? |
| IRS letters | What does this notice mean, and what do I reply? |
| Entity choice | Would a C-Corp suit me better than an LLC? |
Bring any letters, filings or statements you want to discuss. For help beyond the call, see tax preparation or our virtual VCFO service.
Getting the most from the session
- Send documents ahead: the IRS letter, prior returns or a draft balance sheet.
- Write your questions in priority order.
- Mention any deadline, even one that is weeks away.
- Tell us where the owners live; it shapes the answer.
The call ends with a written summary of what was discussed, so you have a record to refer back to and to share with your accountant at home.
When a consultation is not enough
A consultation answers questions and points you in a direction. If your situation needs a return prepared, books cleaned or a notice answered formally, the next step is a service. We tell you plainly at the end of the call which of those you need and what each involves, so you can decide without pressure.
