Can a non-resident own a US LLC?
Yes — completely. There is no citizenship or residency requirement to form or own a US Limited Liability Company. Any foreign national, from any country, can form and own a US LLC 100%. You do not need a US visa, a US Social Security Number, or a US address of your own.
This is one of the most powerful aspects of the US business system: it is genuinely open to global participation.
What you will need
- A valid passport
- A registered agent with a US address (your formation service provides this)
- An EIN — your company's US tax ID number (applied for after formation)
- A US business address for banking (a virtual office or your registered agent's address)
That is the complete list. No US travel, no notarisation, no embassy visits.
Step 1 — Choose your state
For most non-residents, Wyoming is the right choice: no state income tax, strong privacy protections, low annual fees ($60/year), and formation in one business day. Delaware is the right choice if you are raising venture capital. New Mexico has zero annual fees if cost is the primary concern.
Your state of formation does not restrict where you can do business. A Wyoming LLC can serve clients anywhere in the world.
Step 2 — File your Articles of Organization
This is the founding document that legally creates your LLC. It is filed with the Secretary of State in your chosen state. The document includes your company name, registered agent information, and basic company details.
In Wyoming, this costs $100 and takes one business day. A formation service like Accufiler prepares and files this on your behalf — you never need to interact with the state directly.
Step 3 — Get a registered agent
Every US LLC is legally required to have a registered agent — a person or company with a physical US address that receives official legal and government mail on behalf of your company. This is mandatory in every state.
You cannot use a PO box. The address must be a real street address in your state of formation.
Most formation services include year one of registered agent service. After that, renewal is typically $50–$150 per year.
Step 4 — Draft an Operating Agreement
An Operating Agreement is an internal document that defines how your LLC is owned and managed — ownership percentages, profit distribution, decision-making processes, and what happens if a member leaves. It is not filed with the state, but it is required by most US banks before they will open a business account.
For a single-member LLC, this is relatively straightforward. For multi-member LLCs, it is essential to get this right.
Step 5 — Apply for an EIN
Your EIN (Employer Identification Number) is your company's US federal tax ID — a nine-digit number issued by the IRS. You need it to open a US bank account, set up Stripe or PayPal, hire employees, and file US taxes.
As a non-resident, you apply via IRS Form SS-4. The IRS typically takes 2–4 weeks to issue an EIN to non-resident applicants. A formation service prepares and files this on your behalf.
Step 6 — Open a US business bank account
With your formation documents and EIN, you can open a US business bank account entirely online — without visiting the US. The most non-resident-friendly US banks are Mercury and Relay, both of which are designed for remote founders and accept international applicants with no US address required.
Traditional banks like Chase or Bank of America typically require you to appear in person, which is impractical for non-residents.
Step 7 — Set up payment processing
With your US LLC, EIN, and US bank account, you can now set up:
- Stripe — accept card payments globally, with US business credentials
- PayPal Business — the standard for many e-commerce platforms
- Amazon Seller Central — US LLC is required to sell as a US entity
- Payoneer — commonly used for marketplace payouts
US tax obligations for non-residents
A single-member LLC owned by a non-US person is treated as a "disregarded entity" by the IRS. If the LLC has no US-connected income — no US employees, no US servers processing transactions, no US customers paying for services performed in the US — many non-resident owners owe no US federal tax and have minimal filing requirements.
However, if you have US-connected income, you may need to file a US tax return and pay US tax. Every situation is different, and we advise on this as part of every engagement.
Ongoing compliance
After formation, your main ongoing obligations are:
- Annual report — filed with the state each year. In Wyoming, this is $60 minimum. In New Mexico, there is no annual report.
- Registered agent renewal — typically $50–$150/year
- IRS filings — depends on your tax situation. Single-member LLCs with no US income typically file Form 5472 and a pro forma 1120 annually.