Form a U.S. LLC or Corporation from Anywhere in the World

Yes. The entire process is handled remotely. LLC formation (3-7 business days), EIN application (1-3 weeks for foreign nationals), and bank account setup can all be completed online. You do not need to visit the U.S.

Every foreign-owned U.S. LLC must file Form 5472 annually with the IRS. Failure to file carries a $25,000 penalty per form per year, even if the LLC has zero revenue. Most formation platforms do not include this filing. All Arc & Ledger packages include Form 5472 for the first year. Filing deadline: April 15, 2026.

For most international entrepreneurs: Wyoming (no state income tax, $60/year annual report, strong privacy) or New Mexico (lowest formation cost, no annual report required). If you operate physically in California, a CA LLC is required regardless of where you incorporate.

An Enrolled Agent (EA) is a tax professional federally authorized by the U.S. Treasury Department to represent taxpayers before the IRS. EAs have the same representation rights as CPAs and attorneys for tax matters. Arc & Ledger is led by an EA with a Master of Science in Taxation, which means we can handle IRS audits, notices, and penalties on your behalf.

First year total: state filing fee ($50-$100 depending on state) + Arc & Ledger service fee ($499+) = $549 - $599. Year one of registered agent is bundled into the package fee, so it is not an extra first-year cost. Annual ongoing: registered agent renewal ($100-$150) + annual report ($0-$60) + Form 5472 renewal at the formation-client rate ($500) = approximately $600 - $710 per year. See our cost breakdown table for details.

Our packages focus on U.S. business formation and tax compliance. The following are not included: home-country tax returns, immigration law advice, trademark/patent registration, and notary/apostille services. State filing fees (paid directly to the state) are separate from the service fee. Form 5472 filing: included in the first year for Starter and E-Commerce packages; included every year in Business and Investor packages. From year two, Starter and E-Commerce clients renew the Form 5472 + pro-forma 1120 filing at $500/year, a formation-client rate that applies only to a company set up or maintained under one of our packages. Standalone Form 5472 filing for any other company is $1,800; see our Form 5472 service page.

State approval: Wyoming 3-5 business days, New Mexico 1-3 business days, California 5-10 business days. EIN applications for foreign nationals can take 4-8 weeks (IRS fax process). During peak season (January-April), timelines may extend. We manage the entire process on your behalf and keep you informed at every step.

Full refund is available before the state filing process has been initiated. Once the filing has been submitted, state fees are non-refundable (these are paid to the state and cannot be recovered). Ongoing services (bookkeeping, tax filing, etc.) can be canceled before the next billing period begins.

There are no hidden fees. Annual ongoing costs: Registered Agent renewal $100-$150, annual report $60 (Wyoming) or $0 (New Mexico), Form 5472 renewal $500 (formation-client rate; included every year in Business and Investor). All fees are transparently listed in every package. Review our cost breakdown table to see first-year and ongoing costs.