Wyoming is where most non-resident founders start, and for good reason: it’s the least expensive state to form and maintain an LLC in, its privacy protections are among the strongest in the country, and there’s no state income tax to plan around. This guide walks through the full process — naming, registered agent, filing, EIN, and the compliance that keeps your LLC in good standing — with current fees and deadlines for 2025 and 2026.
Quick summary: Wyoming LLC formation costs $100 to file with the state and ~$62/year to keep current. Members aren’t listed in public filings, there’s no state income tax, and the entire process — including your EIN — works without a visit to the US.
Why non-resident founders choose Wyoming
Wyoming has topped the Tax Foundation’s State Business Tax Climate Index for years, and its LLC statute was built with exactly this kind of founder in mind — someone running a business remotely, without a US address, SSN, or ITIN on hand. A few reasons it tends to be our default recommendation:
- Ownership stays off the public record. Wyoming doesn’t list members or managers in state filings — only your registered agent knows who you are.
- No state-level taxes at all. No corporate income tax, no franchise tax, no personal income tax, regardless of revenue.
- Charging order protection, even for a single-member LLC — a real asset-protection feature many states reserve for multi-member companies only.
- The lowest ongoing cost in the country — about $62 a year filed online keeps your LLC in good standing, with no complicated formula to track.
- No residency requirement. You can form, own, and run a Wyoming LLC entirely from outside the US.
Wyoming vs. Delaware, in brief
We only form companies in Wyoming and Delaware, and most founders can decide with one question: are you planning to raise venture capital in the next year or two? If not, Wyoming usually wins on cost and privacy.
| Wyoming | Delaware | |
|---|---|---|
| State filing fee | $100 | $110 |
| Annual fee | ~$62/year | ~$300/year franchise tax |
| Members public? | No | No |
| Best fit | Cost-conscious, privacy-focused, solo founders | Raising VC, converting to a C-Corp |
For the full breakdown of legal system, investor familiarity, and how we help clients choose, see our Wyoming vs. Delaware guide.
Forming your Wyoming LLC, step by step
The whole process is remote — no US visit, visa, or Social Security Number required:
- Choose a name that includes “LLC,” “L.L.C.,” “Limited Liability Company,” or “LC,” and is distinguishable from other businesses on file. You can check availability on the Wyoming Secretary of State’s website.
- Appoint a Wyoming registered agent — a physical Wyoming street address (no PO boxes) that receives legal notices on your company’s behalf. This is included in our company formation plans.
- File your Articles of Organization with the Secretary of State: $100 by mail, or about $102 online once the card-processing fee is added. Online filings are typically approved the same day; mail takes about 15 business days.
- Write an operating agreement. Wyoming doesn’t legally require one, but it’s the document that defines ownership, management, and profit distribution — and it’s what protects your limited liability status if a dispute ever comes up.
- Apply for your EIN. Most LLCs need one to open a bank account, file federal returns, and work with payment processors. It’s free from the IRS, and as a non-resident you don’t need an SSN or ITIN — see our guide to getting a US EIN without an SSN for the exact steps.
- File your annual report each year, starting the first anniversary of your formation. More on that below.
Handled start to finish, formation with the state usually clears in a few business days; your EIN typically follows 2–4 weeks later, for an overall timeline of about four weeks from “let’s start” to a fully operating company.
What it costs
One-time, at formation:
- Articles of Organization: $100 (~$102 if filed online)
- Registered agent (first year): $50–$300
- Operating agreement: included in our company formation plans, which start at $199/year
Every year after:
- Annual report: $60 minimum (higher only if your LLC holds more than $300,000 in Wyoming-based assets)
- Registered agent: $50–$300
- Federal tax filing (Form 5472 + pro-forma 1120): $399/year for a single-member LLC through our federal tax filing service
- State taxes: $0
Our $199/year Formation Essentials plan bundles the state filing, a year of registered agent service, your EIN, and the operating agreement into one flat fee, so the state’s $100 is really the only cost paid separately, direct to Wyoming.
Privacy protection, and what changed with the BOI rule
Wyoming has always kept member and manager names out of its public filings — only your registered agent knows your identity, and they’re required to keep it confidential unless legally compelled to disclose it.
As of a March 2025 federal rule change, US-formed LLCs — including foreign-owned ones — are exempt from Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) reporting to FinCEN. Only entities formed outside the US and registered to do business here still need to file. Courts are still weighing related challenges to the underlying law, so we’ll keep this section current as it develops — but for now, one fewer form is on your calendar.
Privacy has real limits worth knowing, though. Your identity is still required to open a bank account (standard Know Your Customer checks), for large financing transactions, property purchases, legal proceedings, and anything involving the IRS. Public-record privacy and being anonymous to every institution aren’t the same thing — Wyoming gives you the first, not the second.
Asset protection built into the entity
Wyoming is one of the strongest states for LLC asset protection, largely because of charging order protection: if a creditor comes after a member personally, Wyoming law limits them to a charging order — the right to receive distributions the member would have gotten, not the right to seize company assets or force a dissolution. Unlike most states, Wyoming extends this even to single-member LLCs.
That protection holds as long as you keep the formalities up: separate business and personal finances, no commingled funds, proper records, and annual reports filed on time. Skip those, and a court has more room to look past the LLC entirely.
Your federal tax obligations
Wyoming’s zero state tax doesn’t touch your federal obligations — those come from the IRS regardless of which state you form in. As the non-resident owner of a single-member LLC, you’ll typically file:
- Form 5472, reporting transactions between you and your LLC, due every year even at $0 income.
- A pro-forma Form 1120 attached to the 5472 — a mostly blank return that exists to carry it.
Both are due April 15, with an automatic extension to October 15 if you need more time — see our 2026 tax deadlines guide for the full calendar. If your LLC earns only foreign-sourced income and isn’t engaged in a US trade or business, you typically owe no federal income tax — just these two informational filings. Our federal tax filing service prepares and files both every year; for how they fit together, see our pro-forma 1120 guide.
Mistakes worth avoiding
- Skipping the operating agreement. Wyoming doesn’t require one, but it’s what protects your liability shield if members ever disagree.
- Trying to use a foreign address for your registered agent. Wyoming requires a physical in-state street address — our registered agent service covers this automatically.
- Missing the annual report deadline. Wyoming administratively dissolves LLCs that go unpaid past 60 days; our annual report guide covers the exact date and what’s on the form.
- Assuming no state tax means no federal filing. Form 5472 and the pro-forma 1120 are still due every year, even with zero revenue.
- Commingling personal and business funds. It’s the fastest way to undermine your liability protection — our accounting service keeps business finances separate and current in Xero.
Quick answers
Can non-US residents form a Wyoming LLC?
Yes. Wyoming has no residency requirement for owners or managers. You’ll need a registered agent with a Wyoming address (which we provide), but you can run the business entirely from your home country.
How long does formation take?
Online filings are typically approved the same day; mail filings take about 15 business days. Add 2–4 weeks for your EIN, and the full process — company plus EIN — usually lands around four weeks.
Do I need to visit Wyoming?
No. Filing, registered agent service, and your EIN application are all handled remotely.
What does annual compliance involve?
One report a year, due on the anniversary month of your formation, listing your registered agent and principal address. The fee is $60 minimum. We offer annual reporting as part of our compliance plans so it’s never something you have to track yourself.
What taxes does a Wyoming LLC pay?
None at the state level — no income tax, no franchise tax, no gross receipts tax. At the federal level, LLCs are pass-through entities by default, so profits flow to your personal return, and non-resident owners pay US tax only on US-source income. Form 5472 and the pro-forma 1120 are still due annually, regardless of income.
Can I use a Wyoming LLC to open a US bank account?
Yes — it’s one of the most common reasons founders form here. Once your EIN is issued, a Wyoming LLC works well with most US banking and payment platforms; see our guide to opening a US bank account as a non-resident for what banks look for.
Ready to get started? Our company formation plans start at $199/year and cover your Articles of Organization, a year of registered agent service, EIN application, and operating agreement in one pass. From there, our accounting and federal tax filing services keep your Wyoming LLC compliant year over year — and if you ever need to close it down, our dissolution service handles that too.
