How to Start a US LLC from Australia (2026 Complete Guide)

An EIN is the US tax ID your bank and payment platforms will require. Australian founders without an SSN or ITIN can still get one through IRS Form SS-4, filed by phone, fax, mail, or a third-party designee like EasyBrise.

Once the EIN is issued, Mercury or Relay let founders open a US business account fully online. Mercury is free with FDIC-backed sweep coverage up to five million dollars and free international wires; Relay is free on its Starter plan with native QuickBooks/Xero sync -- both give Australian founders a genuine USD account alongside their existing AUD banking.

Every state requires some annual filing -- a flat fee in Wyoming and Delaware, a free Public Information Report in Texas, nothing in New Mexico, a mandatory report in Florida. Federally, Form 5472 plus Form 1120 is due April 15. Since a FinCEN rule effective August 14, 2026, US-formed LLCs are permanently exempt from BOI reporting.

Australian founders in SaaS, e-commerce, and creative or consulting services who already sell primarily to a US or global audience get the most from a US LLC -- it fits less naturally for businesses purely serving the domestic Australian market.

Choose a state, complete a short onboarding form, and submit a scanned passport. EasyBrise files the Certificate of Formation directly with the state -- approval typically takes three to fifteen business days -- then applies for the EIN and helps open a Mercury or Relay account.

Wyoming suits most founders for cost and privacy. Delaware fits those planning to raise US venture funding. Texas suits revenue-generating businesses. New Mexico offers the lowest lifetime cost. Florida gives a Miami-based presence for LatAm-facing trade, though it publicly discloses member names. Comparison below.

Some Australian founders assume an ABN or company registration is a prerequisite for a US LLC -- it is not; the two are entirely independent. Others skip Form 5472 assuming their existing ATO filings cover it -- they do not, and the 25,000 dollar penalty applies regardless of tax owed.

With an EIN and US bank account, Stripe treats the LLC like any other US business, useful for Australian SaaS, e-commerce, and agency founders who bill US customers directly and want to avoid friction on the payment side.

Running a US-facing business from Australia means most of your customers, and often your bank's support hours, are active while you sleep. A US LLC does not solve the timezone gap, but it does remove every other piece of friction -- US banking, US invoicing, and full Stripe access -- so the timezone is the only real obstacle left.

A US-Australia tax treaty has been in force since 1983, preventing the same income from being taxed twice. A single-member LLC owned by a non-resident is a disregarded entity for US tax purposes, owing no US corporate tax on income not effectively connected with a US trade or business, but it must still file Form 5472 with a pro-forma Form 1120 by April 15. Australia has no exchange controls -- the Australian dollar is freely convertible with no fixed cap on funding a US LLC.