Documentation required
- Promissory note with terms (amount, interest rate, repayment schedule)
- Operating agreement provision authorizing loans
- Bookkeeping entries (loan receivable or payable, interest)
- Bank wire transfer records
- Annual interest tracking
Interest rate requirements
- IRS Section 7872 imputes interest at Applicable Federal Rate (AFR) if loan is below market rate
- For 2026, mid-term AFR is approximately 4% to 5% (changes monthly; check IRS website)
- Below-market loans can be recharacterized as gift or distribution
- Use market rate to avoid imputation
Form 5472 reporting
- Loan TO LLC from foreign owner: Form 5472 Part V (amounts paid to LLC)
- Loan FROM LLC to foreign owner: Form 5472 Part IV (amounts paid by LLC)
- Interest payments tracked separately
- Loan principal and outstanding balance reported annually