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

An EIN is the US tax ID your bank and payment platforms will require. Canadian 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 Canadian founders a genuine USD account alongside their existing CAD 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.

Canadian founders already selling to US customers -- e-commerce sellers, SaaS companies, consultants, and agencies -- are the most natural fit, since a US LLC removes friction that a purely Canadian entity creates when dealing with US-first platforms and clients.

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, with no franchise tax below a 2026 threshold of 2.65 million dollars. 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.

A US LLC solves specific problems a Canadian corporation cannot: full, unrestricted Stripe and Amazon Seller Central US access, a US bank account for USD-denominated clients, and a US-registered vendor identity that some American clients and platforms require outright.

Some Canadian founders assume a Canadian corporation is a prerequisite for a US LLC -- it is not, the two are entirely independent. Others skip Form 5472 assuming their existing CRA filings cover it -- they do not; the 25,000 dollar penalty applies regardless of tax owed. Some also default to Delaware out of familiarity without weighing that Wyoming or New Mexico usually cost less for a founder with no VC-funding plans.

No other country on this list shares a border, a time zone overlap, and as much economic integration with the US as Canada. For Canadian founders already selling into the US market -- whether on Amazon, through SaaS, or via consulting -- a US LLC formalizes a relationship that, in practice, already exists.

A US-Canada tax treaty has been in force since the 1980s, most recently updated by a 2009 protocol, 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. Canada has no exchange controls -- the Canadian dollar is freely convertible with no fixed cap on funding a US LLC. Note that Canada's own tax treatment of a US LLC held by a Canadian resident can be more complex than a straightforward pass-through, since the CRA does not always treat an LLC the same way the IRS does -- a Canadian cross-border accountant can confirm the right approach for your situation.