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PREPARATION GUIDE / UNITED STATES

Foreign corporations and Form 5471: ownership records

Prepare a dated ownership and control history alongside the foreign company's financial information. A reporting review may depend on changes during the year, not simply the percentage owned at year-end.

Preparation resource. Editorial review: November 3, 2026. This guide helps organize records and questions; it does not determine your tax position. Use the agency instructions for the relevant year and obtain advice for your circumstances.

Records to organize

Prepare the records that relate to your situation and keep the original supporting statements. Use the same filing year or clearly labelled periods so the reviewer can follow the history.

  • Share register and ownership changes
  • Company financial statements and prior disclosures
  • Related-party transactions and distribution records

How to use these records

Show direct, indirect and attributed ownership changes and the company's relevant financial year. Filing categories can depend on more than one year-end percentage. Ask the preparer which schedules and financial records are needed for the applicable category.

The question to resolve before filing

Which reporting categories and additional information apply to this owner's situation?

Start with the facts you can support. Identify missing statements, corrections and earlier filings instead of filling a gap with an estimate that has not been discussed. Tell the team which countries, tax years and agencies are involved so the engagement can cover the right work.

A mistake to avoid

Do not decide the filing requirement from one year-end ownership percentage alone.

A clear handoff to your preparer

  1. Label the evidence. Keep each record with its relevant year, account or activity.
  2. List open questions. Share missing information and anything that differs from the prior return.
  3. Confirm the scope. Ask which returns, disclosures and follow-up work are included before preparation begins.

Do not enter identity numbers, account numbers, verification codes or tax-document copies in a public enquiry. Use your private client portal for requested records after onboarding.

Official starting points

Use the current agency guidance and the instructions for the applicable filing year. A source link is not confirmation that a particular rule, election or claim applies to your circumstances.

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