Company formationAmericasUS LLC formation for international founders
A US limited liability company (LLC) is a state-registered company that non-US founders use to invoice clients, hold assets and access US payment rails. A single foreign owner's LLC is disregarded for federal income tax by default, but as of October 2026 it must still file Form 5472 every year.
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Forming the LLC itself is quick; making it usable takes a little longer. Once the state accepts the formation filing, the company needs an operating agreement, an initial resolution and an EIN. Owners based abroad without a US Social Security or individual taxpayer number cannot use the IRS online tool and apply by phone, fax or mail instead.
You decide at formation whether the LLC is member-managed or manager-managed. In a member-managed LLC the owners run the company directly, which suits most single-founder businesses; in a manager-managed LLC, banks rely heavily on the operating agreement and the resolution to see who may sign.
Every year a foreign-owned single-member LLC files Form 5472 with a pro forma Form 1120, by fax or mail, because these returns cannot be filed electronically. The penalty for missing it is USD 25,000, whether or not any tax is due.
Redomiciled coordinates formation and introductions; independent US accountants handle filings and tax advice.
Who it suits
Online service businesses and agencies
You sell to clients worldwide and want a company that payment platforms and US customers recognise.
SaaS and e-commerce founders
You need US payment processors and marketplaces that expect a US contracting entity.
Single-venture holding
You want a simple limited-liability wrapper for one project, separate from your personal assets.
Founders testing the US market
You plan to sell into the US before committing to a corporation or local staff.
Requirements
- Required
Registered agent in the formation state
A local address for legal notices; the agent appears on the public filing.
- Required
Owner identification
Passport copies and proof of address for each member and manager, used at formation and again by banks.
- Required
Operating agreement
Private and not filed with the state, but expected by banks and payment providers even for a single owner.
- Required
EIN
The federal identification number needed for bank accounts, payment providers and filings.
- Depends on your case
Initial resolution
Often requested at onboarding to show the LLC authorised opening accounts and signing contracts; some providers fold it into the operating agreement.
- Depends on your case
US business address
Not needed for formation, though some providers ask for one.
Documents
- Articles of organization or certificate of formationPublic record filed with the state; confirms name, state, registered agent and management type.
- Operating agreementSets out ownership, management and how profits and losses are allocated.
- Initial resolution or written consentAuthorises first steps such as opening accounts and adopting the operating agreement.
- EIN confirmation letterIssued by the IRS; banks ask for it as proof of the number.
- Passport and proof of addressFor every member and, in a manager-managed LLC, every manager.
Timeline
- 1Choose state and structureWe agree the state, typically Wyoming, Florida or New Mexico, the company name and whether the LLC is member- or manager-managed.
- 2State filingThe formation document is filed through the registered agent; the LLC exists from acceptance.
- 3Governance documentsThe operating agreement and initial resolution are prepared and signed.
- 4EIN applicationFiled with the IRS by phone, fax or mail when the responsible party has no SSN or ITIN.
- 5Bank and payment provider onboardingApplications go to institutions matched to the business; each runs its own due diligence.
- 6Annual complianceState report or licence tax, plus Form 5472 with a pro forma Form 1120 every year.
Tax notes
- A single-member LLC is treated as a disregarded entity for federal income tax unless it elects to be taxed as a corporation. The LLC is not a separate taxpayer, and whether US tax arises depends on US-source or effectively connected income. LLCs with two or more members are partnerships by default, which brings its own federal filings.
- US tax becomes relevant when business is carried on in the United States through people, dependent agents or premises, or when certain US-source income arises. Many owners live and work abroad and serve clients remotely, but the facts of each case decide.
- Informational filings apply even when no tax is due: Form 5472 with a pro forma Form 1120 at federal level, plus state annual reports. Foreign-owned disregarded entities cannot file the federal form electronically.
- The United States has no federal VAT. Sales tax is a state matter that depends on nexus, and many service and digital businesses never reach a threshold. VAT where you or your customers are based is a separate question.
General information, not tax advice. Your position depends on your circumstances.
Banking fit
- Fintech and EMI providers are usually the quickest route for an LLC with non-resident owners; traditional banks may ask for a visit.
- Expect to explain the business model, customer locations and expected volumes, backed by contracts or invoices.
- Higher-risk activities such as crypto narrow the field; our network includes institutions that work with them, subject to their due diligence.
Questions
Can a non-resident open a US LLC bank account?
Yes, many banks and payment providers onboard LLCs with non-resident owners, often remotely. You will need the formation document, operating agreement, initial resolution and EIN. Each institution applies its own due diligence, so approval is never automatic.
Which state is best for a non-resident LLC?
We typically form in Wyoming, Florida or New Mexico. The right choice depends on upkeep, privacy expectations and where any US activity happens. For federal tax the state rarely matters; how and where you operate does.
What is Form 5472 and do I need to file it?
It is an IRS information return. A US LLC wholly owned by one foreign person files it every year with a pro forma Form 1120, even when no income tax is due. Not filing carries a USD 25,000 penalty.
How do I get an EIN without a Social Security number?
The IRS online tool requires a US principal place of business and an SSN or ITIN. Owners based abroad apply by phone, fax or mail instead. The IRS never charges for an EIN.
Does my US LLC have to report its owners to FinCEN?
Not at federal level. FinCEN's final rule, effective 14 August 2026, exempts companies formed in the United States from beneficial ownership reporting. State rules can differ, and banks will still ask who owns and controls the company.
Do I need to visit the United States to form an LLC?
No. Formation, the operating agreement and the EIN can all be handled remotely. Some banks prefer to meet in person, which is one reason we match clients with institutions that onboard non-residents remotely.
More in United States
Company formation elsewhere
- Panama company formation and the employment routeA Panamanian sociedad anónima (S.A.) or sociedad de responsabilidad limitada (S. de R.L.) can be wholly foreign-owned and is taxed on a territorial basis: 25% on Panamanian-source profits, while genuinely foreign-source income is generally outside Panamanian tax. Every company pays a USD 300 annual franchise tax (tasa única) and keeps a resident agent.View
Panama - Costa Rica companies for regional operationsCosta Rica's two common company forms are the sociedad anónima (S.A.) and the sociedad de responsabilidad limitada (S.R.L.). Both can be 100% foreign-owned and are taxed on Costa Rican-source profits at 30%, with lower bands for small companies. Foreign-source business income is generally outside Costa Rican tax.View
Costa Rica - Cyprus company formation for EU-focused businessesA Cyprus limited company is an EU-resident company used by founders who need dependable European banking and payment access for activities that banks review closely. As of 2026 it pays 15% corporate tax on profits, and dividends paid to non-resident shareholders generally carry no Cyprus withholding tax.View
Cyprus - UK limited company formation for international foundersA UK private limited company (Ltd) is a separate legal entity, owned by shareholders and run by directors, that non-residents can register online with Companies House. As of October 2026 registration usually takes 24 hours, and directors and people with significant control must first verify their identity.View
United Kingdom - Georgia company formation: entrepreneur, LLC or Virtual ZoneGeorgia offers founders a choice between registering as an individual entrepreneur, often with 1% small business status, and forming a limited liability company taxed only when it distributes profits. As of October 2026, distributed profits are taxed at 15% and IT companies with Virtual Zone status are exempt on exported IT services.View
Georgia - Bulgarian EOOD company formationA Bulgarian EOOD is a single-member limited liability company registered in the Commercial Register of the Registry Agency, which foreign individuals and companies can own outright. As of October 2026 the minimum capital is €1 and profits are taxed at a flat 10%.View
Bulgaria
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Sources
- IRS: Instructions for Form 5472, retrieved 2026-10-25
- IRS: Get an employer identification number, retrieved 2026-10-25
- FinCEN: Beneficial Ownership Information Reporting (final rule, August 2026), retrieved 2026-10-25
- Wyoming Secretary of State: business entity fee schedule, retrieved 2026-10-25
- IRS: Limited liability company (LLC) classifications, retrieved 2026-10-25
- Redomiciled case experience: US LLC documents and tax position (internal), retrieved 2026-10-25
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