The words of a US company, in plain English

A short yearly filing that keeps a company on the state's records, with a fee paid to the state. In Wyoming it is due on the first day of the month the company was formed.

The document filed with the state to form a corporation; Delaware calls it a Certificate of Incorporation.

The document filed with the state to form an LLC; Delaware calls it a Certificate of Formation. The state's acceptance is your company's official start.

A corporation's internal rules: how directors are chosen, how decisions are made and how shares are handled. They do for a C‑Corp what an Operating Agreement does for an LLC.

A corporation taxed separately from its owners. It files Form 1120 each year and, in Delaware, pays franchise tax. Venture investors usually expect one.

How the IRS treats a single-member LLC owned by one person: not as a separate taxpayer. When the owner is foreign, the IRS treats it as a corporation for Form 5472 reporting only.

Income connected with a trade or business in the US. A nonresident owner with such income may have a personal return to file, Form 1040-NR.

The Employer Identification Number: your company's federal tax ID, issued by the IRS. Banks, payment providers and the IRS identify your company by it.

The IRS notice that confirms your EIN. If it is lost, the IRS can send a replacement, Letter 147C.

The US personal income tax return for a nonresident individual. An LLC owner files one only in some cases, such as having effectively connected income.

The partnership return a multi-member LLC files, with a Schedule K-1 for each member. For a calendar year it is due by March 15.

The US corporation income tax return a C‑Corp files each year. A foreign-owned single-member LLC files a pro-forma version with Form 5472.

An information return that reports transactions between a US company and its foreign owner or other foreign related parties. A foreign-owned single-member LLC files it for any year with reportable transactions, even with no revenue.

The request for an automatic extension of time to file a business return. It moves the filing date by six months, not the date to pay any tax.

The application for an EIN. Owners without an SSN or ITIN apply by fax, mail or phone rather than online.

A yearly state charge for keeping a company registered, separate from income tax. Delaware corporations pay it with their annual report; Delaware LLCs pay a flat annual tax instead.

A company is in good standing when its state filings and fees are up to date. A registered agent and the yearly report or tax keep it there.

The Individual Taxpayer Identification Number: the IRS's personal tax number for people who cannot get an SSN. You do not need one for our formation and EIN service.

A limited liability company: a US company that keeps your business separate from you personally, with simpler upkeep than a corporation. It can have one member or several.

An LLC with two or more members. It is taxed as a partnership by default and files Form 1065.

The document that records who owns an LLC and how it is run. Banks and payment providers usually ask for it.

A Form 1120 completed only to carry Form 5472 for a foreign-owned single-member LLC. It is informational and does not report the company's income.

A person or company with an address in your state of formation that receives official notices for your company. Every LLC and corporation needs one; both of our plans include it.

Money or property moving between the company and its foreign owner: capital put in, expenses the owner pays for it, amounts paid out to the owner, and loans in either direction. Form 5472 reports them by category.

The statement a partnership gives each member with their share of its income, deductions and credits. It is filed with Form 1065.

An LLC with one owner. When that owner is not a US person (not a US citizen or resident), the LLC files Form 5472 with a pro-forma Form 1120 in years with reportable transactions.

What the state charges to register the company, paid once at formation. It is separate from our price and shown before you pay.