LLC by use
A US LLC for Non-US Residents
A non-US citizen living outside the United States can own a US LLC. No state requires its LLC owners to be citizens or residents, and no state asks for a Social Security number on the formation filing. What a non-resident does need is a registered agent with a street address in the formation state, a US mailing address for the company's correspondence in most states, and a plan for the bank account.
Founders abroad form US LLCs to sell to US customers through US platforms, to invoice US clients in dollars, to hold US property, or because a payment processor or marketplace requires a US entity. The formation is the straightforward part. Banking and tax reporting are where non-residents should expect more steps than a domestic owner.
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Pick the state, answer a few questions, and we prepare and submit the filing. Every cost is shown before you pay.
Start My LLCWhy an LLC for This
A US entity for US platforms and clients
Marketplaces, payment processors and enterprise clients often require a US company with a US tax ID. The LLC provides both once the state approves it and the IRS has issued the company's federal tax number.
Ownership without residency
The members can live anywhere. The company is a US person for contracts and accounts while its owners are not.
Separation from personal assets, wherever they are
Claims against the US business are claims against the US company. The owner's assets at home are a separate matter.
What the Application Asks You to Decide
- Which state
- Wyoming and Delaware are the usual choices for a non-resident with no physical US operations: both accept foreign owners routinely, neither lists members publicly on the formation filing, and their annual costs are predictable (Wyoming's report is modest; Delaware charges a flat annual LLC tax). New Mexico has no annual report at all. If the company will have a US office, warehouse or employees, form in that state instead.
- Registered agent
- Mandatory, and for a non-resident it has to be a registered agent service in the formation state, since you cannot serve yourself without a street address there. The agent receives legal papers and official mail for the company.
- Mailing address
- Most states accept a foreign mailing address on the filing. Banks, payment processors and the IRS correspondence are easier with a US address, which is why many non-resident founders use a US mail forwarding address for the company.
- Members and management
- A single founder abroad is a single-member, member-managed LLC. Partners can be added as members; the operating agreement should say who may sign for the company and open accounts.
After the State Approves It
- Get the company's federal tax number from the IRS. A non-resident without a Social Security number can still obtain one; the IRS takes the request by fax or mail rather than online, so it takes longer.
- Open a US business bank account. Some banks require an in-person visit; several online business banks and fintechs open accounts for foreign-owned LLCs remotely with the formation documents, the IRS tax-number letter and identity documents.
- Understand the annual US tax filings. A foreign-owned single-member LLC files an information return with the IRS every year (Form 5472 with a pro forma Form 1120) even if it owes no tax; the penalties for skipping it are large. A US accountant who works with non-residents is worth the fee.
- Calendar the state's annual report or annual tax.
General information about how LLCs are commonly used, not legal, tax or investment advice. Whether an LLC, and which structure, fits your situation is a question for an attorney or accountant who knows your facts.
File in the States Owners Pick Most
- WyomingFile in Wyoming
- DelawareFile in Delaware
- New MexicoFile in New Mexico
- FloridaFile in Florida
- TexasFile in Texas
- NevadaFile in Nevada
Every state and DC is available in the application. Each state page shows that state's fee, filing portal and typical processing.
Questions
Do I need a visa or a US address to form an LLC?+
No visa, and the owner does not need a US address. The company needs a registered agent in the state, which a registered agent service provides, and most states accept a foreign mailing address for the company itself.
Can the company get a federal tax number without a Social Security number?+
Yes. The IRS issues the number to companies whose responsible party has no SSN or ITIN; the request goes in on paper (fax or mail) rather than through the online tool. Expect a few weeks.
Will I owe US income tax?+
It depends on what the company does and where. A foreign-owned LLC with no US office, employees or dependent agents may have no US income tax liability on many kinds of income, but it still has an annual IRS information filing, and your home country taxes you on your worldwide income on its own rules. Get advice from an accountant who handles cross-border owners before the first year ends.
What does the application ask for?+
Company name, state, the company's mailing address (foreign is fine in most states), the members or managers with their addresses, and the registered agent. Identity documents are not part of the state filing; the bank will ask for them later.
How fast is the filing submitted?+
On a standard order your filing goes to the state within 3 business days. Choose same-day submission and an order placed before 2 PM Eastern on a business day goes in that day. The state's own review time comes after that and varies by state.
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