$149 vs. $448 for Form 5472: What the Price Difference Actually Buys

By Arik Rozen, CPA, MBA · Virginia License #025991 · Updated October 2026

Form5472 Prep is $149. Form5472.online is $448. The $299 gap is real, and any foreign LLC owner shopping for a filing service will notice it. But before choosing based on price, it is worth understanding exactly what each dollar buys, and what each dollar does not buy.

This article breaks down what is included in each service, what is not, and how to weigh the price difference against the actual compliance risk of getting Form 5472 wrong.

WHAT $149 BUYS WITH FORM5472 PREP

At $149, Form5472 Prep provides a software-generated Form 5472. The platform walks users through a questionnaire and produces a completed form. No licensed CPA reviews the output before it is delivered. The platform generates the form. The user files it.

• Software questionnaire to collect transaction data

• Generated Form 5472 based on questionnaire answers

• No included CPA review of the completed form

• No IRS representation capability if the filing is questioned

WHAT $448 BUYS WITH FORM5472.ONLINE

At $448, Form5472.online provides a CPA-prepared and signed filing service. Returns are prepared by the tax team and signed under the supervision of Arik Rozen, Head of Tax Filing, a licensed CPA holding Virginia License #025991. The CPA prepares and signs every filing before it reaches the IRS.

• CPA preparation and signing of every Form 5472 filing included in base price

• Professional identification of reportable transactions that software questionnaires may miss

• CPA available to respond to IRS inquiries on the client's behalf

• Covers single-member foreign LLCs and C corporations with 25% or more foreign ownership

HOW THE $448 PRICE COMPARES TO TRADITIONAL CPA FIRMS

Traditional CPA firms that prepare Form 5472 charge between $2,000 and $5,000 estimated based on CPA firm consultations. Form5472.online's $448 price point delivers CPA preparation and signing at a fraction of traditional firm pricing, while still providing the professional accountability that software platforms cannot offer.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is the $299 price difference worth paying for CPA preparation and signing?

For most foreign LLC owners with any reportable transactions, yes. The $25,000 per-transaction IRS penalty dwarfs the $299 price difference. CPA preparation and signing reduces the risk of missing transactions that software questionnaires may not identify. The $448 price also compares favorably to traditional CPA firms charging $2,000 to $5,000 for equivalent Form 5472 work.

What if my LLC had no transactions this year?

Foreign-owned LLCs with no reportable transactions may still be required to file Form 5472. The form itself is required whenever the LLC is a disregarded entity with a foreign owner. If you are uncertain whether you had reportable transactions, that is exactly the kind of question a CPA review answers. Software may not prompt you to consider it.

Does Form5472.online serve C corporations?

Yes. Form5472.online provides CPA-prepared and signed filings for both single-member foreign-owned LLCs and C corporations with 25% or more foreign ownership. Both are subject to Form 5472 reporting requirements under IRC Section 6038A.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or tax advice. Form 5472 requirements vary based on entity structure, transaction types, and IRS guidance. Consult a licensed CPA or tax attorney for advice specific to your situation.