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

An EIN is the US tax ID your bank and payment platforms will require. Brazilian founders without an SSN or ITIN can still get one: the IRS accepts Form SS-4 by phone, fax, mail, or a third-party designee like EasyBrise. Processing usually takes one to three weeks.

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, so most Brazilian-founded LLCs have no BOI obligation at all.

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

Some founders assume a US-Brazil tax treaty exists like it does for many other major economies -- it does not, though a properly structured LLC with no US-source income generally still owes no US tax. Others overlook Brazil's IOF tax on the FX conversion itself when budgeting for formation costs. A frequent and costly mistake is skipping Form 5472, assuming no US tax owed means no filing required -- the 25,000 dollar penalty applies regardless. Finally, some founders assume a CNPJ is a prerequisite for a US LLC -- it is not; the two are entirely independent.

Wyoming is the default for most Brazilian founders -- low cost, strong privacy, a simple flat fee. Delaware suits those planning to raise US venture funding. Texas fits businesses expecting real revenue, with zero franchise tax below a 2026 threshold of 2.65 million dollars. New Mexico offers the lowest lifetime cost and never collects member names. Florida gives a Miami-based presence particularly useful for Brazilian founders already close to LatAm trade routes, though it publicly discloses member names. See the comparison table below.

Forming a US LLC from Brazil follows five steps most founders finish in two to four weeks: choose a state, file with just a passport, get an EIN without an SSN, open a US bank account remotely, then maintain one annual state filing plus a federal Form 5472. EasyBrise runs the first four steps end-to-end, without any CNPJ registration.

With an EIN and US bank account, Stripe treats your LLC like any other US business. This matters for Brazilian founders in e-commerce and digital services, since a US LLC with a US bank account provides full Stripe access and avoids Brazil's IOF tax that applies to many direct international card and FX transactions.

There is currently no comprehensive US-Brazil income tax treaty -- Brazil is the largest US trading partner without one, mainly due to a long-standing disagreement over tax-sparing provisions. On the US side, a single-member LLC owned by a non-resident is a disregarded entity that owes no US corporate tax on income not effectively connected with a US trade or business, but it must still file an informational Form 5472 with a pro-forma Form 1120 by April 15. On the transfer side, outward transfers for business formation and operations are generally permitted through registered Brazilian banks, though Brazil's IOF tax may apply to the foreign exchange transaction itself -- founders should confirm current IOF rates with their bank before large transfers.

Once your EIN is issued, Mercury or Relay let you open a US business account entirely 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 Brazilian founders a genuine USD account outside the Brazilian banking system.