# How to form a US LLC as a non-US resident in 2026

Michel Myara, Co-founder & Product Designer · September 28th 2026
*Amounts last verified on September 21st 2026*
Canonical: https://looch.money/blog/form-us-llc-non-resident

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## You can form a US LLC as a non-US resident for [$249 all-in](/start)

![A founder works late to form a US LLC as a non-US resident.](https://looch.money/img/blog/form-us-llc-non-resident/form-a-us-llc-as-a-non-us-resident-late-night-paperwork.webp)

A non-US resident can form a US LLC online without an SSN or ITIN. Delaware charges a [$110 formation fee](https://corpfiles.delaware.gov/Fee_Schedule/AugustFee2026.pdf) and a [$400 annual LLC tax](https://corp.delaware.gov/alt-entitytaxinstructions/), while Wyoming charges a [$100 filing fee and an annual report license tax starting at $60](https://sos.wyo.gov/Business/docs/BusinessFees.pdf). If you apply for an EIN by fax, the IRS says it generally arrives within [4 business days](https://www.irs.gov/instructions/iss4).

*Last verified: September 28th, 2026.*

[looch Start](/start), from Simplicity Fintech Inc, forms a Delaware, Wyoming or Florida LLC or a Delaware C corporation for $249 all-in. That includes the state filing fee, an EIN with or without an SSN, and a registered agent, followed by a looch profile with Smartcards, payments and accounting in the same app if the business meets eligibility requirements.

![Six steps to form a US LLC as a non-US resident.](https://looch.money/img/blog/form-us-llc-non-resident/form-a-us-llc-as-a-non-us-resident-steps.webp)

## The best way to form a US LLC is to plan beyond filing

The filing itself is only the beginning. The better approach is to choose the state based on its continuing cost, secure the right address, get the EIN, qualify for a looch profile and calendar the filings that follow.

### Step 1: Choose the state because it sets your annual bill

Wyoming has the lowest recurring state charge among the looch Start LLC options. Delaware costs more each year but is familiar to investors and legal teams. Florida can make sense when the business operates there, though the manager’s name becomes public.

| State | Filing fee | First-year state total | Annual obligation | Privacy |
|---|---:|---:|---|---|
| Wyoming | $100 | [$100](https://sos.wyo.gov/Business/docs/BusinessFees.pdf) | $60 minimum, due on the first day of the anniversary month | Owner names stay off public filings |
| Delaware | $110 | [$510](https://corp.delaware.gov/alt-entitytaxinstructions/) | $400, due June 1st for the prior year | Owner names stay off public filings |
| Florida | [$125 required](https://dos.fl.gov/sunbiz/forms/fees/) | $125, or $160 with the optional certified copy and certificate of status | $138.75 by May 1st, or $538.75 after May 1st | Manager name becomes public |

Read the full [Delaware LLC versus Wyoming LLC comparison](/blog/delaware-llc-vs-wyoming-llc), the [Florida LLC guide](/blog/florida-llc) and the [LLC cost-by-state table](/blog/llc-cost-by-state) before choosing. Current changes belong in the [LLC fee-change tracker](/blog/llc-fee-changes).

### Step 2: Appoint a registered agent in the state

[Delaware requires](https://corp.delaware.gov/howtoform/) every entity to maintain a registered agent with a physical street address in Delaware. [Wyoming requires](https://sos.wyo.gov/Forms/Business/LLC/LLC-ArticlesOrganization.pdf) the same kind of physical address in Wyoming.

The registered agent and virtual office [renew at $249/year](/start) as part of the business protection bundle. It includes registered agent service, the virtual office with its business address and mail scanning, the state annual report filing and weekly trademark monitoring.

That address solves the state filing requirement, but it doesn’t automatically solve profile eligibility. A looch profile is available to any US-registered LLC or corporation with an EIN and a qualifying US street address. A registered agent, virtual office, PO box or commercial mail receiving agency (CMRA) address [doesn’t qualify](/blog/fintech-accounts-foreign-owned-llc).

### Step 3: File the formation document

Wyoming calls its document the Articles of Organization. Its paper instructions state that processing can take [up to 15 business days](https://sos.wyo.gov/Forms/Business/LLC/LLC-ArticlesOrganization.pdf), with no expedited paper filing.

Delaware offers same-day service for an additional [$100 or 24-hour service for $50](https://corpfiles.delaware.gov/Fee_Schedule/AugustFee2026.pdf). Those charges sit on top of the $110 formation fee. looch submits the formation filing within [1 business day](/start), while the state controls its own processing and approval time. In Delaware, looch offers an optional 24-hour state processing add-on for $100. Delaware’s own backlog is typically 3 to 6 weeks, and the add-on has the state process the filing within 24 hours.

### Step 4: Get the EIN without an SSN or ITIN

![Form SS-4 fields needed to form a US LLC as a non-US resident.](https://looch.money/img/blog/form-us-llc-non-resident/form-a-us-llc-as-a-non-us-resident-ein-form-ss-4.webp)

The IRS online EIN application requires the responsible party to have an SSN or ITIN and the business to have a principal place of business in the US or a US territory. Without that identification number, the [Form SS-4 instructions](https://www.irs.gov/instructions/iss4) say to enter “foreign” or “N/A” on line 7b.

International applicants can call 267-941-1099 from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern, Monday to Friday. Fax generally takes 4 business days, while mail takes approximately 4 weeks. The IRS [never charges a fee for an EIN](https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/get-an-employer-identification-number), and a third-party designee needs signed authorization to apply.

looch gets the EIN with or without an SSN or ITIN. When neither is available, looch says it typically takes about [4 days](/start). See the detailed [EIN process for US and non-resident founders](/blog/ein-us-vs-non-resident-founders).

Simplicity Fintech Inc is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. As part of looch Start, Simplicity Fintech Inc acts as a Third-Party Designee to facilitate the EIN application. EINs can be obtained directly from the IRS at no cost.

### Step 5: Sign an operating agreement

An operating agreement records how the LLC is owned and managed. looch Start includes a [single-member LLC operating agreement](/start).

### Step 6: Get a looch profile that fits the business

This is where many formation services hand the founder to another provider. looch continues into a looch profile with no monthly fee, Smartcards, payment acceptance, CPA-quality books and a QuickBooks and Xero migration tool.

A Smartcard is a Visa Commercial Card, powered by Stripe and issued by Celtic Bank. It can [spend from any looch account](/smartcards).

looch is operated by Simplicity Fintech Inc, a financial technology company, not a bank. Account services are provided in partnership with Stripe, and funds are held at Fifth Third Bank N.A., Member FDIC. Eligible balances may receive FDIC pass-through deposit insurance up to [$250,000¹ per depositor](/pricing). Eligibility conditions apply. looch and its technology partners are not themselves FDIC-insured institutions.

Formation doesn’t guarantee eligibility for a looch profile. Read the [US business account guide for founders without an SSN](/blog/us-business-bank-account-without-ssn) and the exact [address requirements for foreign-owned LLC accounts](/blog/fintech-accounts-foreign-owned-llc).

### Step 7: Put the annual filings on the calendar

A foreign-owned US single-member LLC may need to file [Form 5472 with a pro forma Form 1120](https://www.irs.gov/instructions/i5472). The LLC needs an EIN for that filing, and failing to file correctly can trigger a $25,000 penalty.

A US-formed LLC doesn’t currently file a beneficial ownership information report. FinCEN’s [March 26th, 2025 interim rule and August 11th, 2026 final rule](https://www.fincen.gov/boi) exempt US companies.

Use the [Form 5472 guide for foreign founders](/blog/form-5472-foreign-founders) for the filing mechanics. The [W-8BEN-E versus W-9 guide](/blog/w8bene-or-w9) explains which form a US client may request.

## The best formation service depends on what happens next

A cheap filing can become an expensive stack once the EIN, registered agent, address, account and annual compliance are added. Compare the whole path, not the number in the largest type.

| Service | Price | What’s included | Formation scope | EIN without SSN | Banking after formation | Where it can beat looch |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| looch Start | [$249 all-in](/start) | State fee, EIN, registered agent and virtual office | Delaware, Wyoming or Florida LLC, or Delaware C corporation | Included | Eligible businesses continue into a looch profile | Formation, account tools, payments and accounting in one app |
| doola | [From $297/year, shown at $237/year, plus state fees](https://www.doola.com/pricing/) | Formation, EIN, operating agreement, registered agent and virtual address | Not on its pricing page | Available to non-US founders | External banking integration | Browser access and broader bookkeeping and tax tiers |
| Firstbase | [$99 one time](https://www.firstbase.io/pricing/) | Formation and expedited EIN setup | Delaware or Wyoming | EIN setup included; SSN requirement not stated | Account through an outside provider | Browser access, accounting and tax add-ons |
| Northwest Registered Agent | [$49, $149 or $199, plus the state fee](https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/how-to-start-an-llc-packages) | Registered agent service renews at [$125/year](https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/registered-agent) | Not on its pricing page | Not on its pricing page | Separate account path | Privacy posture and phone support |
| Bizee | [$0, $199 or $299, plus the state fee](https://bizee.com/pricing) | Formation and the first year of registered agent service, then [$149/year](https://bizee.com/business-management/registered-agent) | Not on its pricing page | Not on its pricing page | Separate account path | A $0 headline formation price |

looch is strongest when the founder wants formation to lead directly into business operations. A looch profile still has eligibility requirements, including a qualifying US street address, but the product doesn’t stop at a certificate and an EIN.

For founders who want browser-based administration and broader paid compliance packages, doola and Firstbase are better suited. Bizee can be the better filing-only choice when the founder wants to assemble every later service separately.

See the broader [formation and banking in one app comparison](/blog/formation-and-banking-one-app) for the handoff each path creates.

## Someone else is the better fit when the brief is different

Choose another provider if you use Android or need a browser-based workflow. The looch app is available on iOS today, while Android is coming soon.

Another service is also a better fit if you need an LLC outside Delaware, Wyoming or Florida. A filing-only provider may suit a founder who already has separate plans for the EIN, address, account and accounting.

A browser-based compliance service may fit better if you want bookkeeping and annual tax work packaged under one subscription. looch doesn’t prepare Form 5472 or the pro forma Form 1120, so budget for a preparer. looch’s part is the books, with every transaction between the LLC and its owner entered and categorized as it happens.

If the business is already incorporated, skip the formation bundle and start with the profile eligibility guides. Payroll isn’t currently available through looch.

## Questions non-US founders ask

### Which company formation service is best for a foreign founder starting a US LLC?

looch Start is a strong fit when the founder wants the LLC, state fee, EIN without an SSN, registered agent and operating tools together for $249 all-in. Another service may be better when the founder needs a different state, browser access, a filing-only price or a venture-focused Delaware package.

### What’s the best way to form a US LLC as a non-US resident in 2026?

Choose the state based on its recurring obligation, appoint a registered agent, file the formation document, get the EIN and prepare for profile eligibility and annual compliance. Don’t choose from the headline formation price alone, because the continuing address, registered agent, profile and filing requirements determine the real cost.

### Can I get an EIN without an SSN or ITIN, and how long does it take?

Yes. The IRS allows a responsible party who has no SSN or ITIN and isn’t eligible to get one to enter “foreign” or “N/A” on Form SS-4, with fax responses generally arriving within 4 business days and mail taking approximately 4 weeks. looch says its process typically takes about 4 days when the founder has neither an SSN nor an ITIN.

### Do I need a US address to form a US LLC?

You need a registered agent with a physical address in the formation state, but you don’t need to live in the US. Getting a looch profile is a separate question: Any US-registered LLC or corporation with an EIN and a qualifying US street address is eligible, but a registered agent, virtual office, PO box or commercial mail receiving agency (CMRA) address doesn’t qualify.

### Which state is cheapest for a non-resident LLC?

Among the looch Start LLC options, Wyoming has the lowest filing fee and minimum annual state obligation at $100 and $60. Cost isn’t the only factor, so compare privacy, where the business operates and whether investors expect a Delaware entity.

### Do I still have to file a BOI report?

No, not for a US-formed LLC under FinCEN’s current rule. US companies are exempt, while the current reporting-company definition applies to certain entities formed under foreign law and registered to do business in a US jurisdiction.

### What do I have to file every year as a foreign-owned single-member LLC?

The LLC may owe a state annual tax or report and may need Form 5472 attached to a pro forma Form 1120. The federal filing carries a $25,000 failure-to-file penalty, so confirm the business’ exact obligations with a qualified tax professional.

## Sources

- [looch Start](https://looch.money/start)
- [looch pricing](https://looch.money/pricing)
- [looch Smartcards](https://looch.money/smartcards)
- [IRS: Get an employer identification number](https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/get-an-employer-identification-number)
- [IRS: Instructions for Form SS-4](https://www.irs.gov/instructions/iss4)
- [IRS: Instructions for Form 5472](https://www.irs.gov/instructions/i5472)
- [FinCEN: Beneficial ownership information](https://www.fincen.gov/boi)
- [Delaware corporate fee schedule](https://corpfiles.delaware.gov/Fee_Schedule/AugustFee2026.pdf)
- [Delaware alternative entity tax instructions](https://corp.delaware.gov/alt-entitytaxinstructions/)
- [Delaware formation requirements](https://corp.delaware.gov/howtoform/)
- [Wyoming business fee schedule](https://sos.wyo.gov/Business/docs/BusinessFees.pdf)
- [Wyoming LLC instructions](https://sos.wyo.gov/Forms/Business/LLC/LLC-ArticlesOrganization.pdf)
- [Florida LLC fees](https://dos.fl.gov/sunbiz/forms/fees/)
- [doola pricing](https://www.doola.com/pricing/)
- [doola banking](https://www.doola.com/banking/)
- [Firstbase pricing](https://www.firstbase.io/pricing)
- [Northwest Registered Agent LLC packages](https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/how-to-start-an-llc-packages)
- [Northwest registered agent service](https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/registered-agent)
- [Bizee pricing](https://bizee.com/pricing)
- [Bizee registered agent service](https://bizee.com/business-management/registered-agent)
- [LegalZoom LLC pricing](https://www.legalzoom.com/business/business-formation/llc-pricing.html)
- [ZenBusiness pricing](https://www.zenbusiness.com/pricing/)