This Schedule G-1 Form 5471 guide explains the IRS Cost Sharing Arrangement. Schedule G-1 for Form 5471 addresses the covered cost sharing arrangement information. The parties, arrangement and transactions should be documented from the actual agreements and records. It is not a general schedule for every shared business expense.
Reviewed October 31, 2026. This is an independent guide. The version and availability information below identifies the IRS documents used for this page.
What Schedule G-1 Form 5471 does and who prepares it
A required Form 5471 filer provides the cost sharing arrangement information specified by the schedule.
For the connected reporting route, see Form 5471. Keep the role of that document separate from the task explained on this page.
| Official form | Form 5471 (Schedule G-1) |
|---|---|
| IRS title | Cost Sharing Arrangement |
| Guide period | the applicable reporting period |
| Target version | Dec 2023 |
| Availability | Current IRS catalog PDF |
| Last checked | October 31, 2026 |
Get the Schedule G-1 Form 5471 PDF and check its status
Use the IRS source to confirm the document before completing a real filing. The download link is a reference to the official file; it is not a statement that every copy inside the PDF may be printed and submitted. Follow any instructions about electronic filing, scannable copies, recipient copies or attachments.
Which version of Schedule G-1 Form 5471 should you use?
This form follows a revision or continuing-use format rather than a new title for every calendar year. Check the revision printed on the document and the period requested inside it. A revision date, transaction date and tax year are different pieces of information. The current document should be read with the instructions that apply to the actual transaction or return.
Records to gather for Schedule G-1 Form 5471
- Cost sharing agreement.
- Participant information.
- Covered transaction records.
- Allocation and valuation support.
- Foreign corporation return package.
Keep a working reconciliation with these records. It should show the source of each reported item, any correction made before filing and the reason a different amount appears on a connected form. This is especially useful when a statement is corrected or a prior-year balance continues into the current calculation.
How to work through Schedule G-1 Form 5471
- Confirm applicability. Start with the purpose, filer category and version of the form. Complete any eligibility or applicability question before spending time on the numerical calculation.
- Prepare the source workpapers. Gather the records listed below and reconcile their totals. Keep prior-year balances, current-year transactions and estimated payments separate where they serve different purposes.
- Complete dependent calculations first. When a line refers to another form, schedule or worksheet, finish that supporting calculation first. Preserve any classification, limitation and carryforward information.
- Follow the line sequence. Use the actual line labels and arithmetic in the applicable form. A line number from an older version may refer to something different after a revision.
- Reconcile the filing package. Check names, identifying numbers, tax periods, totals and required attachments. Then use the filing method, signature process and deadline that apply to this filer and form.
Form-specific IRS instructions and reporting details
The following points retain the operative wording of the IRS documents linked above. Read each point with its stated conditions and the applicable form version. References to another form or section describe a connected requirement; they do not mean that every reader must file every referenced document.
Important. Complete a separate Schedule G-1 for each cost sharing arrangement (CSA) in which the foreign corporation was a participant during the tax year. Report all amounts in U.S. dollars. See instructions.
Reading the lines and boxes
These selected labels come from the linked target PDF. They are a reading aid, not a replacement for the full line instructions or a completed calculation. Match the label and document version before transferring any amount.
| Line or box | Label in the source form | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Provide a brief description of the CSA with respect to which this Schedule G-1 is being completed. | Use the identity of the person or entity requested on this line. Check that the name and identification number agree with the underlying tax records. |
| 2 | During the course of the tax year, did the foreign corporation become a participant in the CSA? | Use the date or tax period requested by this particular field. A payment date, acquisition date and return year can describe different facts. |
| 3 | Was the CSA in effect before January 5, 2009? | Check the applicable line instructions and keep the source workpaper with the return records. Transfer only the information that matches the field and reporting period. |
| 4 | What was the foreign corporation’s share of reasonably anticipated benefits for the CSA during | Check the applicable line instructions and keep the source workpaper with the return records. Transfer only the information that matches the field and reporting period. |
| 5a | Did a U.S. taxpayer make any platform contributions (as defined in Regulations section 1.482-7(c)) to the CSA | Check the applicable line instructions and keep the source workpaper with the return records. Transfer only the information that matches the field and reporting period. |
Further selected fields
| Line or box | Label in the source form | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| 6a | Enter the total amount of stock-based compensation deductions claimed by the filer for the tax | Follow the stated arithmetic and line references in sequence. Complete the referenced inputs first and retain the worksheet supporting the result. |
| 7a | For the tax year, enter the total amount of intangible development costs for the CSA | Follow the stated arithmetic and line references in sequence. Complete the referenced inputs first and retain the worksheet supporting the result. |
A practical example
A foreign corporation participates in a covered arrangement with related parties. The preparer reviews the agreement and transaction records and supplies the specific arrangement information required with Form 5471.
This example illustrates the order of the review. It does not assume an unverified deduction, exemption, treaty rate or final tax amount. The applicable form instructions and the actual records determine the result.
Common mistakes to avoid with Schedule G-1 Form 5471
- Confirm that the arrangement falls within the schedule instructions.
- Keep the participant details consistent with related-party records.
- Reconcile reported payments with the underlying agreement and accounting.
Questions about Schedule G-1 Form 5471
Does receiving or downloading this form mean I must file it?
A required Form 5471 filer provides the cost sharing arrangement information specified by the schedule. The form purpose and the applicable filing or furnishing conditions determine the action. Downloading a blank PDF does not itself create a filing obligation or establish eligibility for a tax benefit.
Is the revision date always the same as the tax year?
No. Some forms show a tax year, while continuing-use forms show a revision date and ask separately for the reporting period. Check the actual document and instructions. Do not relabel a payment or transaction solely because it was reported in a later calendar year.
What should I do if the underlying information is wrong?
Confirm that the arrangement falls within the schedule instructions. Keep the original record and the correction trail. The issuer correction process, an amended return and an updated certificate can be different procedures. Choose the process that matches the document and the actual error.
Which records should I keep with the completed form?
Retain the source documents, applicable worksheets, submitted version and filing or furnishing confirmations. For this form, the working file should include cost sharing agreement, participant information, covered transaction records. Keep continuing balances and prior-year support for as long as they remain relevant under the applicable recordkeeping rules.
Related forms and next steps
Use these guides when the connected issue applies to your records. Each page has its own purpose, reporting year and availability status.