Who we serve
Running a US company from outside the US
You don't need to live in the US, visit it or have an SSN to own a US company. You do need to set it up properly and file every year. We handle all of it, as one firm.
Published 11 November 2026
The five things every non-US owner needs
- A US company. Usually an LLC in Wyoming, Texas or Florida; a C-corporation in Delaware if you're raising investment. → Form a US LLC, from inside the US or anywhere else
- A registered agent (and an address). Required by law in your formation state. Included in every plan. → Registered agent for your US company
- An EIN. Your company's tax number. Without an SSN or ITIN it's applied for by fax. Included in every plan. → EIN for your US company, with or without an SSN
- A bank or payment account. Several providers open accounts online for US companies owned from abroad; the provider decides. → Bank and payment accounts for your US company
- A federal tax return every year, plus your state's annual report. Even with zero income. → US tax returns, filed by one firm
And an ITIN only if you need one: usually when you have US business income and must file a personal 1040-NR. → ITIN application through our Certifying Acceptance Agent
Which return do you file?
| Your company | It files | You personally file |
|---|---|---|
| One owner, work done outside the US | Form 5472 + pro forma 1120 (April 15) | Usually nothing |
| One owner, US business income (e.g. Amazon FBA stock in the US) | Form 5472 + pro forma 1120 (April 15) | Form 1040-NR with Schedule C (June 15 without US wages); needs an ITIN |
| Two or more owners | Form 1065 with K-1s (March 15) | Usually nothing, unless the company has US business income |
| A C-corporation | Form 1120 (April 15), with Form 5472 if a foreign owner holds 25% or more | Usually nothing |
| An S-corporation | Not possible: non-US residents can't own one | — |
Not sure which applies? We check six facts about your business before we classify it. → Form 5472 filing for foreign-owned US LLCs
Mistakes we fix most often
- Skipping Form 5472 because the LLC "had no income". The penalty is $25,000 per missing form.
- Getting an ITIN "for the bank". An ITIN needs a US tax reason; banks don't need one.
- Letting the registered agent lapse. The state can dissolve the company.
- Thinking the state's annual report is the federal tax return. They're separate filings.
Each item links to its guide (What Happens If You Do Not File Form 5472?, EIN vs ITIN: Which One Do You Actually Need?, Registered agent for your US company, US LLC Compliance Calendar for Non-Residents).
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to travel to the US?
No. Formation, the EIN, most bank accounts and tax filings are done online, by fax or by courier.
Do I pay US tax?
If all your work is done outside the US and you have no US staff, office or stock, there's usually no US income tax. Your company still files every year.
Will my home country tax the profit?
It may. We prepare your US filings only; check your home-country rules with a local adviser.
Can you do everything, or only formation?
Everything: formation, agent, EIN, ITIN, bank help, state filings and every US tax return.